Robert Adam Architects

Salisbury Civic Society New Buildings Awards Scheme 2010 awarded a Commendation to a replacement house set within mature grounds in Wiltshire, designed by Nigel Anderson.

The site was previously occupied by an unsightly 1960s bungalow that was unsympathetic to the character of the village and surrounding older properties.

The new house is a compact building with a cruciform plan, relating to the framework of the existing gardens. The Society’s report on the house noted

“…(it) achieves its impact without any slavish copying of earlier styles. The unusual plan form created a variety of interesting effects as the viewpoint varies, with the central octagon expresses to greater or lesser degrees depending on the angle of view”

and

“overall the house was considered to be a successful response to the challenge of creating a substantial replacement house on a sensitive village-centre site, and fully deserving of a commendation.”

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McGraw-Hill Southeast Construction’s Award 2008 for Best Public Building Award to Millennium Gate in Atlanta Georgia, USA

Robert Adam Architects is pleased to announce that Millennium Gate monument in Atlanta USA has been awarded McGraw-Hill Southeast Construction’s award for Best Public Building This is an annual award which recognises construction and design projects from the Southeast region of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The Millennium Gate takes the form of a monumental arch with a public gallery for contemporary classical sculpture and various meeting and reception rooms. The design is embellished with a sculptural allegory by Alexander Stoddart, telling the story of peaceful accomplishment over the last 2000 years. Decoration is restrained. Reaching 70 feet in height, the building is the first classical monument of this scale to be built in the USA since the Jefferson Memorial in 1936. The building is set on the edge of a new park, and forms part of the urban regeneration of an old steel mill. The new monument is framed by two further sculpture groups of Peace & Justice representing the return of civilising values to the city. Commissioned by The National Monuments Foundation and funded mainly through private donations. The initial design was the result of an international competition and conceived by The National Monuments Foundation as a great public structure that would use the beauty of classical design to lift the human spirit. Ten winners were selected to collaborate on a preliminary design. Hugh Petter of Robert Adam Architects was commissioned by The National Monuments Foundation to work alongside National Monuments director, Rodney Cook Jnr, to develop the initial concepts into the final architectural design. In addition to creating a unifying design for the structure, Hugh Petter positioned the monument within its dramatic lake-side setting and is also working on the design of the interiors with Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill.

Cheltenham Civic Trust Awards 2008 for a new modern classical villa in Cheltenham by Hugh Petter received a commendation in the New Building category of the Cheltenham Civic Trust Awards 2008

This new house replaces a mid-twentieth century building within a line of listed Regency villas. The property sits comfortably within the Conservation Area setting, referring to local architectural traditions without being a copy of an historic design. There are 6-bedrooms within the property and a swimming pool set within a raised terrace at the rear. Rooms are arranged around a central, top-lit, cantilevered staircase in cast stone, minimising the need for corridors and retaining open vistas through the house. It is decorated sparingly with detailing limited to restrained Greek mouldings.

The Brick Awards 2008 for Best Craftsmanship awarded to George Saumarez Smith for a new house at Hayes in Berkshire

Robert Adam Architects is pleased to announce that it has won The Best Craftsmanship Award at The Brick Awards 2008 for a new house at Hayes, Berkshire. The annual Brick Awards is one of the longest established and most widely respected design awards in the UK. The Awards recognise excellence in design and construction using brick. Each year hundreds of entries are submitted and 14 prestigious trophies and more than 50 certificates are issued to the successful projects. The architect/designer, brick manufacturer and specialist brickwork contractor are all acknowledged on each project.

Hayes, designed by George Saumarez Smith, is situated at the centre of a 52-acre estate, midway between the villages of North End, and East and West Woodhay, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The existing house on the site had been substantially extended over the years to the point that the original farmhouse was entirely engulfed by modern additions. Additionally, a barn to the west of the house was previously converted to provide staff accommodation. The new design by George Saumarez Smith involves the demolition of existing dwelling and barn, and the construction of a new Palladian house and garages, alongside overall improvements to the estate.

The judges commented, “The craftsmanship displayed on this Palladian house is awe-inspiring. Everyone concerned with the project from Client to Architect to Contractor has demonstrated a determination to produce only the best. The immaculate brickwork with penny-jointed mortar and elegant arches will long stand as a testament to the skill of the bricklayers.”

Georgian Group Awards 2008 commendation awarded to Robert Adam for 198 - 202 Piccadilly in the category New Building in the Classical Tradition

Robert Adam Architects is pleased to announce that it has received a commendation in the category New Building in the Classical Tradition at the Georgian Group Awards 2008 for 198-202 Piccadilly.

The Georgian Group Architectural Awards, sponsored by international estate agents Savills, recognise exemplary conservation and restoration projects in the United Kingdom and reward those who have shown the vision and commitment to restore Georgian buildings and landscapes. Awards are also given for high-quality new buildings in Georgian contexts and new architecture in the Classical tradition.

198-202 Piccadilly, designed by Robert Adam, is a new building in the heart of London’s West End. It faces three ways: north onto Piccadilly, south onto Jermyn Street and west onto Church Place - an important pedestrian link between the two main streets. It is eight storeys high and will house over 70,000 square feet of office space and nearly 30,000 square feet of retail space. It is a modern classical design that complements the character of its surroundings while adding something fresh and new.

The 2008 awards were presented by the The Rt. Hon. and Rt. Rev. Dr. John Sentamu, Lord Archbishop of York, on 5 November 2008.

European Prize of Architecture 2008 diploma awarded to Nigel Anderson for Bear Wharf in Reading

Robert Adam Architects is pleased to announce that it has received a diploma from Philippe Rotthier European Prize of Architecture 2008 organised by The Fondation pour l'Architecture, in collaboration with A Vision of Europe & Civicarch.

Set up in 1982 by the architect Philippe Rotthier, this triennial architectural prize rewards projects that consciously identify with the traditional concept of the town or city as seen through European eyes. The prize aims to draw attention to contemporary urban architectural work which is often ignored by critics and the specialised press and to raise the expectations of the public, elected representatives and sponsors.

Bear Wharf, designed by Nigel Anderson, occupies a site within the city centre of Reading alongside the River Kennet and adjacent to the Oracle Shopping Centre. The site measures some 90 metres along the riverside with a depth back to Fobney Street of approximately 25 to 30 metres. The developer required a high density and high quality open market scheme containing a mix of two and three bedroom flats with each having one secure allocated car space. The scheme provides a distinctive landmark in this part of Reading and sets new standards and values for new residential accommodation within the City Centre.

Daily Mail UK Property Award for Best Architecture (single unit) awarded to Hugh Petter for 45 The Park

Robert Adam Architects is delighted to announce that it has won an award in the category of Best Architecture (single unit) at the Daily Mail UK Property Awards ceremony last week, for 45 The Park in Cheltenham. This is the third national award for this property.

The property sits amidst a line of listed Regency villas and was built to replace a modern, undistinguished building within a Conservation area. It follows the model of a large villa and refers to common local features such as the deep Doric porch and rusticated ground floor. It was judged the best overall entry in this category and was given a five-star award.

The 2008 Daily Mail UK Property Awards are now established as the biggest in the world, judged by a panel of independent professionals, chaired by Eric Pickles, British Shadow Secretary of State. Winners from each country are re-judged and up to five are nominated within each category for the chance of being chosen as the Best in the World. The award was presented by Eric Pickles at a gala dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 31st October.

Hugh Petter, Director at Robert Adam Architects and architect for this building commented, “It is a great honour to receive this award. The commission provided an opportunity to replace a modern, undistinguished building within a Conservation Area, with one that endeavours to fuse more sympathetically with the surrounding Regency urban character whilst, at the same time, retaining our unmistakably modern and contemporary feel.”

45 The Park has also been awarded the The Giles Worsley Award for a New Building in a Georgian Context at the Georgian Group Award 2007 and a commendation from Cheltenham Civic Society in recognition of its environmental contribution.

Robert Adam Architects wins prestigious CNU award for masterplan in Edinburgh

Robert Adam Architects’s master plan for Western Harbour in Edinburgh’s port, Leith, has been selected by the important American urban pressure group, the Congress for the New Urbanism, (CNU), to receive its prestigious 2008 Charter Award.

Each year, CNU gives awards to urban designs from around the world that are considered to best embody and advance CNU’s principles, supporting the creation of walkable, neighbourhood-based development as an alternative to urban sprawl. The CNU’s principles influenced the Prince of Wales’s thinking on urban design and in particular the design of his new village in Dorset, Poundbury. There remains a strong connection between the CNU and the Prince of Wales’s Foundation for the Built Environment in London.

Robert Adam Architects’ winning master plan for Western Harbour for Forth Ports PLC is part of the continued regeneration of the Leith area of Edinburgh. The winning master plan is a distinct departure from other mainstream urban design. It looks to existing and traditional towns and cities and draws its lesson from their success. This traditional urban design avoids grand gestures and iconic buildings in favour of friendly places to live. The master plan is a contrast with the usual standard of urban design and a distinct departure from mainstream urban design.

Western Harbour is the only European winner in any category of the awards (the other winning projects are in America, India, Bahamas and Saudi Arabia).

The plan was developed by a multi-disciplinary team, lead by classical and traditional practice Robert Adam Architects. Through a series of design workshops that studied related urban design, such as other historic ports in Scotland, the team considered the impact of other local factors such as ecology and climate. Their research has translated into an urban layout and form both suitable to the area and identifiable with it.

The judges recognised that Robert Adam Architects and Forth Ports have created a complex, non-stylistic design coding based on the character of existing streets, which enables flexibility for further designs both now and in the future, providing a strong framework that is more inherently sustainability.

On receiving the Award, Robert Adam commented: “Our master plan is based on traditional principles similar to those advocated by the CNU. It will create a new area which will be interesting and varied, based around pedestrian-scaled streets and public space, and will be easily accessible to public transport. We believe that people will identify with the place and its buildings. The new architecture will not be any one style and will be individual but will be controlled to ensure continuity and the use of local materials.”

The plan has about 2,000 new homes, including affordable housing for local people, all mixed with shops and offices to create a complete community.

Major New Houses Win Two National Awards

Robert Adam Architects have won “Best New Building in Classical Tradition” and the “Giles Worsley Award for a New Building in a Georgian Context” at the Georgian Group Architecture Awards this year.

The 2007 Georgian Group Architectural Awards recognise excellence in the restoration of Georgian buildings, and awards are also given to the best new classical building and the best new building in a Georgian context. These premier conservation awards are sponsored by Savills and were presented by The Rt. Hon. Lord Heseltine C.H. at Christie’s, London on 1 November 2007.

The Giles Worsley Award for a New Building in a Georgian Context was awarded to 45 The Park in Cheltenham, a house that sits comfortably amidst its regency neighbours without being a simple copy of an historic design, as well as providing accommodation tailored to the owner’s lifestyle.

The judges said, “The architect has taken the more difficult path of assimilating the essentials of Regency Cheltenham and manipulating them to produce a building that harmoniously marries tradition and innovation.”

Hugh Petter, the architect for this building commented, “It is a great honour to receive this award. The commission provided an opportunity to replace a modern, undistinguished building within a Conservation Area, with one that endeavours to fuse more sympathetically with the surrounding Regency urban character whilst, at the same time, retaining our unmistakably modern and contemporary feel.”

The Best New Building in the Classical Tradition was awarded for Ashley Park, a Country House in Hampshire, a literate but highly individual classical design house, designed to accommodate modern family life and facilities. The house was planned with a consistent and clear geometry, and elevational treatments to reflect the different internal uses of parts of the building.

The judges said, “Ashley Park, in Bath stone and brick, is a cleverly conceived essay, influenced by Greek Thompson and Schinkel but by an architect at the top of his game and fluent enough in the classical language to make his own subtle innovations.”

The architect of Ashley Park, Robert Adam, commented, “I am delighted to win this award. The project was the first on a Greenfield site to be won at planning appeal under to Governments’ PPG7 policy that permitted the construction of new country houses only that were proven to be of ‘the highest quality’ and ‘truly outstanding.”

A new house by Robert Adam at Ashley, Hampshire was recently commended in the Natural Stone Awards

A new house by Robert Adam at Ashley, Hampshire was recently commended in the Natural Stone Awards. The Awards are held every two years, and recognise projects demonstrating exemplary design and execution of stonework, completed during the two year period. Organised by the Stone Federation of Great Britain the awards were held at the Millennium Hotel in London Mayfair. This year the ceremony was attended by over 300 delegates, representing clients, architects, main contractors, specialist stone contractors and stone suppliers. The new classical house was entered in the New Build (load bearing) category, and the judges commented that: "The elegant and well balanced facades of this stone built residence respect and enhance the site. This house demonstrates how building with natural stone melds with the landscape". The Natural Stone Awards is the industry's most prestigious event and was presented this by Dr. Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage.

This major new country house has been built on virgin farmland in Hampshire. It was the first planning appeal to be won for such a development under a four-year-old government policy that required a design has to be of the highest quality and truly outstanding. The house is built of bath stone and brick and has a highly individual classical design. The house and outbuildings have been designed together with a new 50-acre, 20-hectare, landscaped park. Robert Adam worked closely with Barton Wilmore Environmental to create a unified concept for the park and house.

Millennium Gate has been awarded a Palladio Award 2006 in the category Public Spaces: Parks, Plazas, Gardens, Streetscapes

Millennium Gate has been awarded a Palladio Award 2006 in the category Public Spaces: Parks, Plazas, Gardens, Streetscapes The Palladio Awards competition recognises ten architectural firms for outstanding work in traditional design for commercial, institutional and residential projects. The programme is co-produced by Traditional Building and Period Homes magazines and was named after Andrea Palladio, the Renaissance architect who created modern architecture for his time while drawing on past models for inspiration.

The Millennium Gate takes the form of a monumental arch with a public gallery for contemporary classical sculpture and various meeting and reception rooms. The design is embellished with a sculptural allegory by Alexander Stoddart, telling the story of peaceful accomplishment over the last 2000 years. Decoration is restrained. Reaching 70 feet in height, the building is the first classical monument of this scale to be built in the USA since the Jefferson Memorial in 1936. The building is set on the edge of a new park, and forms part of the urban regeneration of an old steel mill. The new monument is framed by two further sculpture groups of Peace & Justice representing the return of civilising values to the city. Commissioned by The National Monuments Foundation and funded mainly through private donations. The initial design was the result of an international competition and conceived by The National Monuments Foundation as a great public structure that would use the beauty of classical design to lift the human spirit. Ten winners were selected to collaborate on a preliminary design. Hugh Petter of Robert Adam Architects was commissioned by The National Monuments Foundation to work alongside National Monuments director, Rodney Cook Jnr, to develop the initial concepts into the final architectural design. In addition to creating a unifying design for the structure, Hugh Petter positioned the monument within its dramatic lake-side setting and is also working on the design of the interiors with Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill.

For more information on this award www.traditional-building.com/palladio/pw2006t4.htm

A classical summerhouse by George Saumarez Smith is announced as the overall winner of the RIBA Ibstock Downland Prize 2006

A classical summerhouse designed by George Saumarez Smith has been announced as the overall winner of the RIBA Ibstock Downland Prize 2006. The Prize is awarded annually to an architect in the RIBA South East and South regions whose nominated building best demonstrates the value of using the skills of an architect in a low cost project.

The new summerhouse stands in the grounds of a Grade II* listed house which dates from the mid-18 th century and is located on the edge of a predominantly Georgian town in Hampshire. Various alterations and extensions had been made to the house by Robert Adam Architects, and all parties had been particularly impressed by the quality of brickwork, in particular, with the chief bricklayer, John Howell, and his assistant, Gary Kail. It was decided that the new summerhouse should provide them with a much bigger challenge.

The summerhouse is set within a walled garden and is constructed on the site of an 18th century orangery, which was demolished in the 1930's leaving no records of its appearance. The new design follows the English tradition of architecturally significant garden buildings. Firmly rooted in the classical tradition, it is not a replica of another building, but rather a modern variation on an historic theme. It particularly refers to the work of the Veronese renaissance architect Michele Sanmicheli, (1484-1559) who was a military engineer as well as an architect, and his buildings are generally characterised by their robust simplicity, as well as by skilful handling of the classical orders. The summerhouse also echoes the work of Nicholas Hawskmoor at the Kensington Place Orangery.

Every type of bond can be found in the building, including English, Flemish, Header, English Garden Wall and Monk Bonds. In this way, the summerhouse suggests a giant apprentice piece, traditionally produced to demonstrate the skill of the craftsman in his handling of materials, techniques and finishes. The bricks used were Ibstock Swanage fine sanded handmade red multi facing bricks laid in lime mortar, together with three additional specials designed for the project, and rubbed and gauged arches laid loose in the traditional manner. George Saumarurez Smith commented that: 'Much of the skill of the bricklayers was in making the building appear even and regular whilst using a hand-made brick which naturally varies in size and shape. The degree of accuracy achieved is remarkable. There is really very little tolerance in the design at all, and the bricklayers took extraordinary care to lay every brick with the precision required.' The summerhouse took nine months to build, under the supervision of RJ Smith of Whitchurch, whose recent work at the nearby Grange Opera House had won much praise and admiration for the quality of construction and attention to detail. The summerhouse, which contains a swimming pool, was described by the jury as:

'A delightful, classically inspired, giant "apprentice piece" in a Grade II* setting...' that '...demonstrates both a great eye for design detail and exceptional craftsmanship.'

Best Luxury Home award for Arts & Crafts house in Scotland designed by Hugh Petter at the Herald Property Award 2009

Hugh Petter’s design for a new Arts & Crafts house in Avenel, Kilmacolm in Scotland has received an Award for Best Luxury Home at the Herald Property Awards. The award was presented to the developer, Scops Developments at a ceremony in Glasgow.

The house is one of six new homes within the gardens of the original home of Wallace Forrester. The beauty of the 10-acre site in Kilmacolm is attributed to Forrester who acquired the estate in 1962 and set out to develop lush landscaped gardens and woodland that is now an important local wildlife habitat. When he died in 2001 his family were determined to preserve his legacy, however the original house was small and incapable of modernisation as a family home. Each of the six new homes has a unique character and is traditionally inspired reflecting the established local architecture. The houses disturb as little of the landscape as possible, preserving the unique qualities of this mature landscape setting.

Resident historian highly commended in the 2009 Garden History Society Essay Prize

Helen Lawrence, Robert Adam Architect’s in-house Historical Researcher has been highly commended in this year’s Garden History Society Essay Prize. Currently in its fifth year, the prize was established to encourage vibrant, scholarly research and writing. Helen’s essay, entitled ‘Gentleman Traveler, Courtier and ‘A Favourite With The Rich’: New Light on Thomas Archer as Garden Maker’ takes a fresh look at the work of Thomas Archer (c.1668-1743), a key architect of the English Baroque. The paper explores his garden buildings within their corresponding landscapes, and reconsiders his wider involvement in garden design. This involves Archer’s work at several estates, considering his patrons, the political climate of the time and newly discovered details of his travels abroad. The findings suggest that he was a capable aesthete and a much-overlooked figure in this period of landscape design.

The work is the result of Helen’s MA in Garden History at the University of Bristol. She is now starting a PhD at Bristol and embarking upon further research into the life, work and travels of Thomas Archer, whilst continuing to work at Robert Adam Architects as an architectural and garden historian.

Image 1: The Pavilion at Wrest Park, Bedfordshire, designed by Thomas Archer for Henry Grey, the Duke of Kent, from 1709-11.

Image 2: Helen is now undertaking a PhD and conducting further detailed research into the life of Thomas Archer.