Awards 2024

CORNISH BUILDINGS GROUP AWARD WINNERS 2024

Morlanow, Falmouth

(Alex Cox & Nina Jones – for themselves)

This tiny home, prominently yet sensitively located at the corner of Florence Terrace and Trelawney Road, was born out of a derelict former garage/workshop/stables that was beyond saving. Alex and Nina have contextually combined Cornish vernacular construction in stone, slate and corrugated metal with modern craft techniques, sustainable local materials and ‘yacht design principles’ to create a modern and efficient home.

Attention to detail is apparent in everything from the back-bedded Trevillett slatestone walling to the oak panelling and stairs within. Huge stone lintels were created from slitting a piece of reclaimed Carnmenellis granite, and a granite staddle-stone designed by Alex & Nina and hand-carved by Tim Marsh granite, supports a corner post by the front door.

A worthy winner by two of Cornwall’s new aspiring young architects.

The Old Library, Bodmin

(LePage Architects for intoBodmin)

This important Grade II-listed building, once a Passmore Edwards Free Library, has been repurposed for community use for intoBodmin, a community and arts organisation. The judges were impressed by the light-touch and sensitive repairs, including the cleaning and repointing of the stonework, repairs to rotting timber windows and leadwork.

The repurposing of the building provided an opportunity for improvements to energy efficiency, including the installation of secondary glazing, a full re-wire to provide energy-efficient lighting and heating systems.

Historic detailing was restored, and new facilities installed to make the building fit for flexible future use. The whole project was undertaken with enthusiasm and care, and the judges felt that Passmore Edwards would be proud that one of his libraries will remain in community use.

JENNY GASON AWARD FOR RESTORATION OF A SMALL HISTORIC STRUCTURE

Roskruge, Manaccan

(Koha Architects and The Cob Specialist for the owners)

A two-storey cob and stone wing of the original Barton farmhouse, which has medieval origins, built with local stone from the area and thought to have been a cider barn, is being converted with a kitchen-diner and living room downstairs, and an ensuite bedroom upstairs. While restoring the cob, additional dove nesting holes were found corresponding to those which were visible. These were reinstated and are now home to nesting garden birds.

The attention to detail and sensitivity to the building, its construction techniques and materials (and its evolution over time) has led to a well-executed restoration and conversion, with a pleasing finish that should preserve this important Grade II*-listed building for many years to come.

CORNISH BUILDINGS GROUP COMMENDATIONS

Penrose Nursery, Canonstown, Hayle

(Create Design Ltd for Kevin & Hazel Mackness)

The client’s brief was to build a ‘home full of light, taking in the views in which the property stands, using natural materials throughout and having its own ‘wow’ factor’.

This house has achieved that – in a subtle way which keeps its wow-factor hidden from the street but reveals itself from within, looking out towards the garden.

The cedar shingles and slate give the sharpness of the architecture a softness, whilst the frame and double-height glazing to the rear fill the house with light

St Elowyn’s Barn, St Eval

(KAST Architects for Tom & Ella)

Built out of the footprint and remnant walls of an old barn, St Elowyn’s combines the historic stone walls of the former building with a double-pitched timber frame, clad in charred larch.

The interior has been kept simple, organic and raw with a palette of birch-ply panelling, plaster to the stone walls, and a Douglas fir scissor-truss frame.

The reuse of the existing walls and slab helped minimise the carbon footprint of the build, and ultimately keeps this high-quality modern building grounded in its past.

Photos are those submitted with the Award applications, and are therefore copyright of the applicants.

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