Solent Quality Places Design Awards
Sponsored by PUSH, the Solent Design Awards are all about the encouragement of Quality place-making: schemes that create special places, lift communities, create richer experiences …not just iconic buildings but also the places in-between, the carrier spaces for our daily lives. South Hampshire is a wonderful place to live and the Solent Design Awards will recognise new developments that add to rather than detract from the quality of life it offers; to our experience of the workplace, to our appreciation of the environment we live in.
The standard of entries received was high, illustrating the wealth of good quality schemes which have been built in the PUSH area in the last 5 years. From the 12 shortlisted schemes the winners are:
- Quality Places Award, Overall Winner: University of Portsmouth Library
- Quality Places Award: Wellstead Primary School, Hedge End
- People’s Choice Award: University of Portsmouth Library
- Highly Commended:
The winners were announced at an Awards Dinner at Winchester Guildhall sponsored by Portsmouth based construction company, Warings. Star guest was Red or Dead creator, Wayne Hemingway, who has now turned his talents to become an urban design guru. He spoke about his passion for his concept of “Liveability” – making buildings, places and spaces good to live in, which perfectly matched the Awards theme.
Paul Grover, Chief Executive SCA+D, who organised the Awards on behalf of PUSH was delighted: “Both of the winning buildings are not only great designs, but draw inspiration from their location and enhance the community.”
University of Portsmouth Library
Wellstead Primary School
The 'Peoples Choice' Shortlisted Finalists:
Click on each image for a larger picture and more information.
A gateway to the city centre, the scheme design set out to place a greater emphasis on the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, whilst maintaining the operational requirements of a busy high street.
Traffic calming measures through means of a new layout of roads and pavements have reduced speeds to less than 10 mph which, along with the introduction of a doorstep green park and planting, have made the area much safer and more appealing in which to live and play.
The construction of a new studio and link building, with alterations to the existing building have provided new facilities for local people, young actors and dancers, school children and professional performers. The changes have allowed the building to address the park for public performance and greater public engagement.
The extension to the library creates a highly visible entrance and provides much needed additional accommodation including IT facilities, flexible seminar rooms, study areas and a café. The public are actively encouraged to walk through the grounds of the building, creating a new pedestrian route through the city.
A historically sensitive conversion of a former naval storehouse into a new home for Portsmouth’s contemporary art gallery, including an education studio, café, shop, artist’s resource centre and offices.a.
A carefully designed one form entry school in a recently built neighbourhood which includes 7 classrooms, music/drama space, main hall, food-technology space, CDT space, SEN rooms, admin and necessary staff accommodation.
The first building in the planned re-development of the University of Portsmouth’s northern quarter, the building is stand alone as well as taking its place in a series of landscaped courts. It provides a social hub for students and staff, dining halls and kitchen, teaching spaces and houses the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation.
A residential development of 174 homes, which re-establishes the historic urban grain of St Marys and ensures a series of well defined streets and spaces. The scheme was awarded a Gold Standard Award under Building for Life.
Refurbishment and development of a former parchment works in the heart of historic Havant.
Structural, landscaping and interpretive enhancements of the oldest part of the City by means of a themed approach based on Nelson’s associations with the area.
A new development to provide housing and invigorate buildings along Queen Street, Admiralty Quarter is made up of a block of housing above a car parking plinth that surrounds a private garden courtyard and a housing tower.
Flagstaff Green forms the centrepiece of the Royal Clarence Victualling Yard. The scheme involves the conversion and extension of the former Police Lodge, the buildings to either side of the Ceremonial Entrance, and the rebuilding of the former Royal Engineers House. Re-landscaping completed the works which now comprise a series of residential units and a small office.
