THE HARLOW Architecture Awards were held at Latton Park on Sunday afternoon.

This was the second year of the awards, run by the Harlow Civic Society and sponsored by Places for People.

Paul McLintic, Organiser of the Awards said:

“This year’s competition was fiercer than many predicted and the candidates all showed great architectural merit.

“In the residential category, 4 Forebury Lane captured the support of the public, while the judges liked its elegant sculptural lines and positive feel as a very nice home.

“In the non-residential category, judges felt the Gates Ford building design complimented the prominent landmark entry point into the town and was the clear winner in the eyes of voters”.

Organised by Harlow Civic Society and supported by founding sponsor Places for People and annual sponsor Architecture & Design Services, the Awards were launched in 2016 to celebrate the best examples of recent architecture, to encourage better design for the future of the town.

The trophies were awarded, respectively, to architects Sheppard Robson and DWW Design and were presented by Stan Newens, chair of Harlow Civic Society. An additional award was presented to ING Construction for the restoration Grade 2 listed Kingsmoor House, a project with significant technical challenges in which they brought back to life an important building that had for years been neglected.

Alan Price, President of Harlow Rugby Club, gave a thoroughly entertaining and informative talk on the background to the new home of the club at Latton Park, which co-incidentally won last year’s Award in the non-residential category.

The winners were:

Residential Shortlist 2018

4 Forebury Lane

This three-bedroom end of terrace house on Newhall, designed by Sheppard Robson, has wonderful proportions and a striking combination of lines, angles and shapes. There is also lots to appreciate in the choice of materials and colours that blend well together, complement those of the neighbouring houses and indeed the street, and the particular setting of the street which faces woodland.

With a balcony at the back as well as the front, there is a feeling that the occupiers are being really spoiled by this design.

Non-Residential Shortlist 2018

Gates Ford

The new Gates dealership building is a striking addition to the commercial landscape of Edinburgh Way. The continuous curved span of the roof reflects the shapes of Harlow’s Civic Centre and Leisurezone and the barrel-vault of the original Gates.

Some eco-friendly aspects worth mentioning are the on-site crushing and reuse of the previous building’s concrete, and the high levels of insulation and rainwater harvesting. All the lighting is LED.

Harlow Building Control has put this project forward for a Local Authority Award for the quality of the partnership between client and architectural team.

The architects were DWW Design (of Derrick Wade Waters) and saw the project through from inception to completion.

Regeneration Award

Kingsmoor House

This entire Grade 2 listed building has been sympathetically restored to its former glory after having been derelict for around 8 years up to 2014.

Kingsmoor House suffered from water ingress, timber decay and the activities of vandals. Such was the damage that ingenious techniques and modern equipment were needed in the work. These included a 50mm “air cushion” throughout the shell of the building to combat damp and dry rot problems, thermal insulation to roofs and external walls to help energy efficiency, and a masonry dehydration system to help dry out the basement.

English Heritage and Harlow Council requirements were met and, in the end, everyone was very pleased with the overall outcome and finish of the project.

The architects were Treme Design LLP and the work was by ING Construction Ltd.