The Future Cities Forum has announced the winners and runners-up who have been successful in receiving awards in Summer 2021 judging forum.
… selected three separate projects across seven categories…
Future Cities Forum writes:
Future Cities Forum selected three separate projects across seven categories: master planning, science buildings and R&D campus design, new housing projects, infrastructure / infrastructure-related development, cultural buildings, Net Zero planning and energy, and Future High Streets, to be judged by a high experienced all female panel. It was not a necessity that all projects should be physically finished.
Our judges were:
Eleanor Kelly Chief Executive, London Borough of Southwark; Kim Wright Chief Executive, London Borough of Lewisham; Leonie Bell Director of the V&A Dundee; Annelie Kvick-Thompson Partner, Grimshaw; Eftychia Koursari Senior Civil Engineer in Amey Consulting’s Structures Team; Cora Kwiatkowski Divisional Director, Stride Treglown; Joanne Cave Partner, David Lock Associates / Co-Chair of the Oxford Design Review Panel; Marcelina Zielinkska Director, Chapman Taylor; and Lucinda Turner Head of Spatial Planning, Transport for London and Associate Director of Built Environment, Greater London Authority – see below for full profiles.
The overall criteria for the awards judging were whether the projects showed real vision in their concept and design and additionally but not least, sustainability in how they would be delivered and how they would add to their host cities.
Judges’ thoughts and marks were recorded by Future Cities Forum on 26th May 2021…..
HIGH STREETS
The judges were asked to consider the use of heritage to improve the high street from economic, social and aesthetic perspectives, the re-purposing of the department store and how universities have supported investment in retail provision and are connecting with their host cities.
Winner The Burges, Coventry (Historic England / Historic Coventry Trust / Coventry City Council and architects Corstorphine + Wright). Historic England’s Heritage Action Zone programme has released funds for restoration and upgrading of one of the few remaining medieval / Victorian streetscapes in Coventry, including Hales Street and Palmer Lane, boosting the local economy and engaging directly and successfully with the community.
The Burges, Coventry High Street Heritage Action Zone | Historic England
Burges restoration – June 2020 | Coventry City Council
Runners-up
Dept W, Whitechapel, London E1 (the repurposing for a modern high street and sensitive restoration of Wickham’s department store for Schroder UK Real Estate Fund by Buckley Gray Yeoman, now let in entirety through Allsop to Queen Mary University of London)
Dept W (bgy.co.uk) Schroders lets 55,380 sq ft Department W in its entirety to Queen Mary University – Allsop
Northgate, Oxford (MICA Architects for Jesus College, Oxford University – re-design of Jesus College-owned Cornmarket facing shops on ground and first floors with college / student facilities and accommodation above, creation of new college quad and modern gatehouse opening to Market Street.
Northgate (micaarchitects.com)
Cora Kwiatkowski of Stride Treglown admired the Coventry project: ‘It has a lot of detail and on the local economy and is impressive in getting whole community behind it. The Burges is public space so a lot of people would benefit. It is about taking responsibility for the space. Best scheme.’
Kim Wright of Lewisham Council was struck by Historic England’s HAZ project: ‘This was about shops and conserving heritage and history, using abandoned upper floors and making a connected community.’
Leonie Bell of V&A Dundee remarked that ‘I like the way they (the Coventry teams) were analysing place and moving back to move forward.’
Future Cities Forum would like to congratulate all winners and runners-up in our Summer 2021 Built Environment Awards and for the commitment of the high-level and experienced team of judges, their time and thoughts.
We are now preparing for our Winter 2021 Built Environment Awards which will be judged in December.
