5 July 2004 | Download this press release (Adobe PDF format, 106KB)
An innovative public lavatory, an historic timber railway viaduct, a transformed Trafalgar Square, a dramatic glass bridge and a school for children with special educational needs are just some of the highlights of this year's Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award.
Now in its fourth year, this annual award recognises excellence in design quality and procurement practices of publicly funded building schemes. This year a total of 17 schemes have been nominated for the award from a record number of entries.
In Brockenhurst, New Forest District Council commissioned an innovative public convenience reminiscent of agricultural barns, demonstrating how a modest building can make an important contribution to the public realm.
Architect Magnus Ström from John Pardey Architects, said: 'We wanted to break away from the so familiar traditional dark and smelly public toilet and replace it with a light and airy design. This was achieved by a simple steel frame enabling the walls to be lifted off the ground and the roof to hover above the walls. These gaps have more in common with a European sense of openness about private functions, such as the French pissoires, yet sightlines are carefully controlled to maintain a more English modesty.'
In London, Trafalgar Square, once an isolated traffic island for tourists, has been transformed into a grand public space with increased pedestrianisation, and a resulting 25 per cent reduction in noise and air pollution. Judges said: 'This project has taken more than a decade from conception to delivery - but has proved well worth the wait. Trafalgar Square is now a cleaner, safer, and more pleasant place to visit.'
London Mayor, Ken Livingstone said: 'Trafalgar Square is now recognised as a focal point where visitors can sit and relax and is a place that all Londoners can take pride in and visitors can share. The work to improve the square highlighted the importance of creating safe and accessible spaces. It was also an opportunity to showcase the importance of the highest quality design and provides a template for enhancing other public spaces in the capital.'
In Bury, an award winning early years centre for children with special educational needs has brought imaginative thinking to the table in the design of facilities where children can learn and think. The Head Teacher of Hoyle Early Years Centre, Clare Barker, said: 'The building is super - it is light and airy - the total opposite of the previous building.'
In Inverness, the Grade A listed Moy Viaduct - the oldest timber railway viaduct of its kind - had been deteriorating to the extent that speeds had been reduced to 40 mph for passenger trains and 20 mph for freight. By replacing the central track-supporting section, Arup Scotland and Carillion Rail, have according to the judges made 'a successful response to the challenges of working in the rail environment with the safety requirements that that entails and a careful, sensitive treatment of a valued listed building.'
Launching this year's short list, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Chairman of the Ministerial Design Champions Group, said:
'This year's wide range of projects reflects the scale and ambition of the Government's construction programme and demonstrates the success of the Better Public Building initiative, which has done so much over the last four years to raise awareness of the need for design quality in all our public buildings and spaces - regardless of size, cost and procurement route.
While there can be only one overall winner, all these projects should act as an inspiration to public sector clients. We have to learn from these successes. Not seeing them as one-offs, but seeing them as the benchmark, a foundation on which to build.'
Paul Finch, Deputy Chairman of CABE and a judge of the awards, said: 'This year's shortlist is a real cross-section of building types from the very largest to the smallest. However, they all have in common an excellence in design quality which as these awards demonstrate is becoming an increasing feature of our public services.'
John Oughton, Chief Executive of OGC, said: 'OGC is proud of its association with CABE in sponsoring this prestigious Award. I am pleased that this year has seen a significant rise in entries. This demonstrates an ever-growing recognition of the role that good design can play in ensuring optimal value for money in public sector projects, and ultimately in delivering high-quality public services.'
The complete short list is as follows:
The Award has been jointly sponsored by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). It is part of the British Construction Industry Awards and the winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on 28th October.