SPACES Awards 2019 – Small Building

Winner – Battle of Britain Bunker & Visitor Centre, London. Application Faithful+Gould
Runner up – The Lookout at Lepe Country Park in Southampton. Application Hampshire County Council Property Services
Runner up – RHS Garden Hyde Hall Hilltop Complex, Chelmsford. Application Concertus Design and Property Services
Highly Commended – Galashiels Academy SEN Provision in the Scottish Borders. Application Scottish Borders Council

Battle of Britain Bunker and Visitors Centre

Client – London Borough of Hillingdon
Architect – Pattern Architects
Project Manager & Surveyor – Faithful & Gould
Contractor – Volker Fitzpatrick

With an extremely well designed exhibition hall benefiting from excellent daylighting, the centre features state-of-the-art museum displays, detailing the development of the UK’s air defence system from the First World War to the end of the Second World War. There is a 95 seat auditorium; large and small meeting rooms with views of the exhibition; a café and gift shop; reception area and toilets. The building is striking both internally and externally and is adjacent to the Battle of Britain underground bunker visited by Sir Winston Churchill during the war. The Exhibition and Visitor Centre has increased both visitor and volunteer numbers to the bunker and provides a fantastic insight into the RAF’s finest hour in 1940.

Lepe Country Park in Southampton

Client – Hampshire County Council
PM and Full Design Services – Hampshire County Council Property Services
Contractor – W Stirland
Runner up – RHS Garden Hyde Hall Hilltop Complex, Chelmsford
Client – Royal Horticultural Society
Full Design Services – Concertus Design and Property Services
PM & Contractor – Brooks & Wood

This is a Local Authority funded scheme who in the face of losing a valuable beach-side community facility and café (due to rising sea levels/ storm surges), have made a modest investment for a huge reward for social value in an area with some social deprivation.
The judges were impressed with the project’s vision, high quality of design and detailing and the need to design to an anticipated 100 year flood level zone which posed a number of technical challenges for the team.

RHS Garden Hyde Hall Hilltop Complex

Client – Royal Horticultural Society
Full Design Services – Concertus Design and Property Services
PM & Contractor – Brooks & Wood

Commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society, Hyde Hall impressed the judges with the way the new buildings harmonised into the grounds and sit so well into the site context. The restaurant and events barn are constructed with a glulam frame and CLT roof with large glazed sections providing excellent daylighting and fantastic views of the Essex countryside. The building incorporates a number of sustainability features and the use of sustainable materials adds considerably to the aesthetic.