CAMDEN DESIGN AWARDS HONOUR BOROUGH’S OUTSTANDING URBAN ARCHITECTURE

07 December 2006

Images of the winning buildings are attached. A wider selection of images of the winning buildings and of the winners receiving their awards are available from the Press Office on 020 7974 5719.

The spectacular refurbishment of Camden Town’s landmark Roundhouse and a stunning conversion of the Grade II listed Fitzjohn’s Primary School in Hampstead were amongst the winning projects at the 2006 Camden Design Awards.

The bi-annual awards, run by Camden Council since 1998, celebrate high quality standards of urban design in the borough. The honours were presented by Sunand Prasad, President Elect, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) at a ceremony last night (6 December 2006).

The overall winner was the recently restored Roundhouse in Camden Town by architects John McAslan & Partners, which also hosted the event.

The historic former engine hall was restored to retain its majestic principal space, at the level of the original rail tracks, as a highly flexible auditorium and performance space. The vaulted undercrofts were reinvented to form a creative centre for young people, whilst a new curved wing provides a range of catering and hospitality facilities as well as a studio theatre connected to the original building by a contemporary three storey glazed gallery space.

The other winners were:

Fitzjohn’s Primary School NW3 – by Curl la Tourelle Architects
Great Turnstile House WC1 – by Mary Thum Associates Ltd
Tercelet Terrace NW3 – by KSR Architects

Commendations were also awarded to:

Monmouth Street WC2 by Tim Long and Dave Jenkins, London Borough of Camden
Parliament Hill School NW5 by Haverstock Associates
2b Pilgrim’s Lane NW3 by Woollacott Gilmartin Architects
South End Green Island NW3 Dawe & Partners Ltd

Cllr Mike Greene, Executive Member for Environment, Camden Council said:

“The quality of urban design affects everyone in Camden and our enjoyment of life in our borough. These awards reflect the council’s desire to recognise and promote high quality standards of architecture. We value Camden’s great historic buildings but also take the opportunity to celebrate the role of contemporary, innovative and sustainable design.”

Sunand Prasad, President Elect, RIBA, said:

“The high quality of these winning and commended buildings shows that the art and science of making buildings and places is thriving in Camden. I congratulate the architects, design and construction teams and also Camden Council for promoting excellence in urban design and architecture.”

Torquil Norman CBE, Chair of The Roundhouse Trust, said:

“It is great credit to the architects that they conceived a simple but imaginative design that has preserved the original 150 year old building, and given us wonderful new space where young people can learn about and develop their skills in music and other arts.”

Rob Earrey, Deputy Head of Fitzjohn’s Primary School, which won one of the awards, said:

“On behalf of the parents, staff and children I’d like to thank Curl la Tourelle Architects for changing a wonderful but dilapidated old building into a beautiful, inspiring and even more wonderful building.”

A panel of judges made up of representatives from local groups, architects and the council deliberated over 20 entries covering a wide range of schemes. Nominations ranged from new buildings to conservation of historic buildings to improvements of public spaces. All schemes nominated had to show how they had enhanced and improved the local environment and be largely visible to the public.

Judge Professor Matthew Carmona, Head of the Bartlett School of Planning, UCL said:

“Increasingly Camden is attracting some of the most interesting and challenging architecture and urban design in the country. This was a very great pleasure to judge, from start to finish.”

There will be an exhibition of the Camden Design Awards in the ground floor reception of Camden Town Hall, Argyle Street starting on 11 December 2006.

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