National Awards for b2 Architects

Thursday, 5th March 2015

benjamin+beauchamp architects have received both Regional and National Civic Trust Awards for two recently completed major projects at Durslade Farm, Bruton and at The Walronds, Cullompton.

The Civic Trust Awards scheme was established in 1959 to recognise the very best in architecture and to projects that make a positive cultural, social or economic contribution to the local community. b2 architects are very pleased to be included amongst this year’s winners which will be announced at a ceremony held at the Globe Theatre, London in early March.

The Walronds is an early seventeenth century Grade I listed house and has been restored for the Cullompton Walronds Preservation Trust. It now houses community facilities on the ground floor and a holiday let that sleeps nine on the upper floors. Marcus Chantrey, director has stated: ‘This project has been in the office for over five years and it is wonderful to see the building returned to its former glory and back in regular use’. The latest Civic Trust Awards add to the English Heritage sponsored ‘Angel Award’ where it was short listed for being in the top four of the Best Rescued Historic Buildings in the country.

Durslade Farm has been created from a dilapidated farm complex which was on the English Heritage’s ‘Building At Risk Register’. The repaired buildings have been extended and adapted to house new public galleries for Hauser & Wirth Somerset that have exhibitions of some of the world’s top twentieth and twenty-first century artists. Other alterations on the site include a new restaurant within the former cow shed, offices within the stables and an education centre from the original cart sheds, whilst the farmhouse has been converted into guest accommodation. Pat Benjamin, the project director describes ‘the whole scheme as an exciting combination of new accommodation juxtaposed with sensitively repaired historic buildings’.  Durslade Farm also received a William Stansell Award in 2014 which recognises outstanding conservation projects in the region.