Praise for school building in annual design awards
A NEW classroom block at a Derby school has been singled out for praise, together with three restoration projects in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site.
The projects were highlighted in awards made by Derby Civic Society.
A lack of “good new buildings in Derby in recent years” led the society to not award a first prize in the new buildings category.
Instead it gave a commendation to a new classroom block at Murray Park School in Mickleover in its annual A Brighter City of Derby Awards.
Underfloor heating, interactive whiteboards and extra-wide corridors are all features of the new £9 million state-of-the-art building, which opened to pupils last September.
It also has a large reception area, 15 classrooms, a library and new offices for the head teacher and administration staff.
Three of the prizes for restoration are in the Darley Abbey Mills complex. First prize went to the Long Mill; highly commended was the Cotton Shed and commended was the Cotton Works Bistro and Cafe. Also highly commended was the Coach House, Kedleston Road.
David Ling, secretary of the Derby Civic Society, said: “They are all important listed buildings at the mills complex. In previous years, we have given awards to the Mill Manager’s House and the West Mill wedding venue.
“The restoration of these mill buildings has been the achievement of one family who have put their heart and soul into this mammoth project.”
The awards were presented at the society’s coffee morning in the Council House, Derby.
Here are the results in full with judges’ comments:
NEW BUILDINGS COMMENDATION
NEW classroom block at Murray Park School Mickleover
Promoter: Derby City Council Education Department and Murray Park School
Architects: Lungfish Architects Design and Build contractors: Wates Construction Ltd
The judges thought that on entering the site the new school’s appearance was enhanced and made more stimulating by the use of orange coloured highlights around the dark grey windows and door frames. The vibrant orange colour had been used successfully internally too and on the cover of the new school brochure.
They said: “The new classrooms were bright and comfortable and overall it was a well-designed and functional building that deserved to be recognised with an award.”
RESTORATIONS
FIRST Prize
THE Long Mill, Darley Abbey Mills.
Promoter: Patterns Properties Ltd Architects: Mr Hesketh, CTD Architects
The judges recognised how much careful planning and patience the owners had put into the restoration of the Mill. They said: “The owners and their design team have been careful to ensure that any interventions that had been made during the change of use to offices were not inappropriate in the listed building.
“The work, has been carried out gradually over a period of years, once funding had been released when new tenants were found, culminating in a successfully restored building of national importance which deserved our highest award.”
Highly Commended
The Cotton Shed Darley Abbey Mills
Promoter: Andrew Rose of West Mill Wedding Venue Ltd Architect: Paul Stanton, Guy Taylor Associates
The judges said that this extremely important building in the Darley Abbey Mills “complex” links the North Mill and the Mill Manager’s House.
They said: “The restoration has
The new classrooms were bright and comfortable ... a well-designed and functional building.
Judges
been carriedout carefully and creatively to make an exciting events space with large re-glazed north light roof-lights and is available to the public for hire.” Highly Commended THE Coach House 29 Kedleston Road Derby
Promoter and Architect: Paul Stanton, Guy Taylor Associates
The judges felt that the architect and owner of the property had done a splendid job of restoring this charming building for his own offices.
They said: “Although the building was not listed he had worked closely with the Derby city conservation officer and with the help of grants for sustainability he had managed to fund the work himself.”
Commended Cotton Works Bistro and Café
Promoter: Garrancha Ltd Architect: Paul Stanton, Guy Taylor Associates
The judges said that this protofireproof building is listed Grade II* and is of exceptional importance as one of only two known surviving instances of a type of proto-fireproof construction pioneered by the Strutts in the 1790s, and the only known example in which the technique is applied to part of the building rather than the whole.
They said: “This building has been restored with minimal intervention to the fabric indicated by the internal walls which have been unadorned.
“However, a modern bar, stair case to the upper floor, and kitchen have been incorporated to enable the building to be used for catering.”