The Isle of Wight Society Conservation Awards and RIBA (IW) Design Awards Presentation took place at Northwood House at the end of last month.
While the awards have been presented jointly for the last thirteen years, the Isle of Wight Society was celebrating the 50th anniversary of their Conservation Awards.
The Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Susie Sheldon kindly presented the awards, and she spoke of how much valuable effort had been made by the owners, architects, designers and the craftspeople who had carried out the work.
All the entries, whether they had won awards or not, contributed to enhancing the character of the Island. The evening was a celebration of good design and conservation work.
Overall winner: RIBA IW Design Award
The overall winner of the RIBA IW Design Award was Wacklands Farmhouse, where comprehensive restoration of the farmhouse and a delightful sequence of spaces form a new link between the house and the walled garden.
Isle of Wight Society Conservation Award
The major Isle of Wight Society Conservation Award was presented for the work achieved at The Old Tin Hut, Rookley. Here, a derelict “Tin Tabernacle,” a Boulton and Paul “flat pack” chapel of 1882, has been carefully rebuilt incorporating the original designs.
It now provides an excellent two bedroomed house with A rating energy efficiency, and having salvaged and reused as much as possible of the old materials.
RIBA Design runner up
The RIBA Design runner up was Headon Reach, Totland, where a range of seven custom-built detached houses has allowed customers to create surprisingly different results.
Other awards
RIBA presented their Chris Butterworth Small Project Award, and the Isle of Wight Society presented a Certificate of Merit to the same property, Buccaneers, Fairy Road, Seaview.
Both RIBA and the Isle of Wight Society were impressed with the imaginative and immaculately detailed features of the extension.
RIBA Commendation
The Garden Cottage, Hulverstone, received the RIBA Commendation in their Small Project category, where an Island stone cottage has been carefully adapted for a wheel chair user and her family.
Martin Pearce Innovation Award
An Isle of Wight Society certificate, and the RIBA Martin Pearce Innovation Award, were presented to Rowlands Farmhouse.
The judges were very pleased to see the restoration work and careful garden room, and the innovation shown by the farm pond being turned into a swim-pond.
Isle of Wight Society Certificates of Merit
Three more Isle of Wight Society Certificates of Merit were also presented.
The Goose bookshop at St Helens received a Certificate for the excellent work achieved in restoring the shop front and improving the internal layout.
A Certificate went to 84-86 Trinity Road, Ventnor, where all the Island stone work has been repaired and repointed, conserving the building delightfully.
A landmark building, the Old Cowes Police Station, received an Isle of Wight Society Certificate. The building has been restored, carefully extended and given a new lease of life.
Sybil Bodycomb Small Project Award
The final IWS award was the Sybil Bodycomb Small Project Award, presented this year to Sandown and Lake Town Council.
Volunteers have painstakingly restored what may be the last of the Sandown pier benches, which was rescued from an Island Road’s skip.
News shared by Sarah on behalf of Isle of Wight Society Conservation Awards and RIBA (IW) Design Awards. Ed
