Hertford Civic Society Awards 2007

The 2007 Hertford Civic Society Awards presentation party was held on Wednesday October 31st 2007 in the Downshire Suite at Hertford Castle.

CIVIC SOCIETY AWARDS were presented to

Hertford House Hotel - Less is more

The former office of the Hertfordshire Mercury is prominently located on Parliament Square. The 19th century Grade 2 Listed Building is distinctive for its bronze statue of mercury, the winged messenger, high on the front facade. (Some may recall the rumpus a few years ago when Mercury disappeared, only to reappear following letters to the newspaper!)

The conversion from newspaper office to hotel has been achieved with elegant understatement. Change to the well known frontage is minimal with new signs limited to simple lettering and a distinctive banner, all respectful of the formal brick and render of the original. Clever spotlighting provides a dramatic effect at night.

The new hotel adds to the list of facilities in Hertford while retaining an important part of the town's heritage.

40 Castle Street - Small but perfectly formed

The small, curved site of the former bicycle shop would present a challenge to any architect. Close to Hertford castle, adjoining listed buildings and prominent in views from Gascoyne Way, any new building would have to meet a demanding brief.

The solution for charity Faith & Hope is an imaginative design which maximizes the site area for a shop, office and flat. Details include crenellations around the top, rubbed brick lintels and thoughtful window designs. The brickwork is superb and considerable effort has been made to make the roof "work" on this awkward shaped site.

Such excellence in design and construction should not go unrecognized.

In the HIGHLY COMMENDED category were

Old Library Lane and Nicholas Lane - Desirable houses

A small site adjoining the riverside has been re-developed for housing. Simple, traditional designs have been used with materials that fit well with the local vernacular. these short terraces of simple, unpretentious dwellings fit in perfectly with the street scene and sit well alongside the sympathetic conversion of Old Cross malthouse and kiln tower.

The dwellings are a valuable addition to Hertford's stock of housing.

10 Highfield Road - Can't see the join

More and more people are choosing to extend rather than move, but how to do it so that it does not look like a "bolt-on?"

This large, double fronted Edwardian villa has a new two storey side extension that is immaculate in it's execution, with special bricks and details that are a true match. A clever construction detail that links the extension to the garage demonstrates the thought behind the scheme.

Few will believe now that the building as it stands was not how it was originally built.

In the COMMENDED category were

Hertford County Hospital - A building with no complications

Most Hertfordians will have at some time visited the old County Hospital, but now there is a new hospital alongside the old. The question for the architect was how to design what is essentially an office block alongside the impressive facade of the original hospital building. Working with a limited budget, the new building does not seek to compete visually, but reflects the square simplicity of the old building (which is being converted to apartments).

Decoration is limited to an attractive panel of carved natural stone alongside the entrance.

Dolphin Public House - Home Brew

What to do when a pub closes and you can't demolish the building, in this case a Listed Grade 2 building? This solution is a conversion to apartments with a minimum of external changes. This town pub and hotel with its exuberant details and polychromatic brickwork is a well known landmark close to Hertford east station. The flush re-pointing of the brickwork is a skilled but tedious task and has been carried out very neatly.

The Dolphin is now good for another century and will continue to give pleasure to all who see it in the street scene.

The purpose of the Awards is to give public recognition to those who serve the cause of improving the environment and amenities of Hertford, and thus encourage others who are in a position to improve the town to act responsibly.

For 40 Castle Street, full Award Certificates were presented (by Graeme Bell – Chairman of the Panel) to Jim Thornton (Ashby and Thornton Plc.), Simon Cove (Kirby Cove Architects), Dr Gareth Johnson (GD Johnson Associates) and Chris Shattock (Ashby and Horner Limited).

For Hertford House Hotel full Award Certificates were presented to Nick Shipton and Mattias Heyman (from the Hotel), Stanley Haines (Haines Phillips Architects) and Seamus Quinn (Quinn London Ltd).

“Highly Commended” Certificates praising the extension to 10 Highfield Road were presented to Mr and Mrs E Loughrey and M J Cook Architect RIBA. The Redevelopment for Housing at Old Library Lane / Nicholas Lane was also “Highly Commended”. For that project the Certificates were presented to Mr Marron (Marron Homes Ltd) and Acanthus LW Architects represented by Wyndham Westerdale.

For the conversion of the former Dolphin Public House to apartments, “Commended” certificates were presented to A W Newbury, Property Director, McMullen and Sons Ltd and, again, Acanthus LW Architects.

Also “Commended” was the new Hertford County Hospital. The Certificates of commendation for the hospital were presented to James Philipps (Murphy Philipps Architects) and Denise Montague (County Hospital Sister) representing the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.