Architect:  Martyn Goodwin of KLH Architects

Contractor:  Ben Allen of Birch Homes

Client:  Mr & Mrs Jeremy Goddard

Special Mention to: Windows Etc.  Colchester

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Judge’s comment: “

This wasn’t the first design for a new house on this important, perhaps unique site.  It wasn’t the first application to appear in the Local Authority Planning Office.  The demands of the client who effectively wanted an art gallery as well as a new home.  Early layouts were, perhaps, a little too ostentatious.

I refer to the site at the top of the sheep meadow off Valley Road, a site with an open vista beyond the bypass to open countryside.  Having rejected the first couple of proposals the client appointed KLH to design a townhouse worthy of its prime position whilst at the same time having the right internal spaces for their requirements.

The composition responds to the established genteel Edwardian character of Constitution Hill with a quiet contemporary order. It does however display a quality that wasn’t easily achieved - with various trades having to return to site to ‘improve’ their finished product.

Ben Allen and his team have achieved a very high standard, not least because of the difficulties of working through the pandemic.  My congratulations to Birch Homes for this project, they deserve the accolade."

Architect:  Tim Hannon, Brooks Architects

Contractor:  Stowe Building Contractors

   Jamie Cotterell – Contracts Manager

   Tom Thurston – Working Site Foreman

Client:  Rory and Aisling Bowman

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Judge’s comment: “The houses on the right as you drive down into Aldeburgh have the potential of a view across the marshes to the river, and to Orford Ness beyond. But not, unfortunately if your property is a bungalow.

It takes a brave property owner to knock down the family home, a bungalow and rebuild a two storey conventional house with a cosy snug on the first floor.

The couple that took the decision were Alison and Rory Bowman, flour millers of Hertfordshire.

The new property was expertly executed by Andrew Stowe of Marlesford and his team to a design by Tim Hannon of Brook’s Architects of Leiston

There are a couple of excellent examples of craftsmanship in the project, notably in the external fabric. Of particular note is the new building housing the swimming pool, utilising the existing shell, a situation where is isn’t easy to intergrate old and new.  The Stowe team have successfully achieved, not only in this leisure facility but throughout the whole house. I congratulate them.

Architect:  James Rush of Wincer Kievenaar ably assisted by Staszek Stuart Thompson 

Contractor:  Rose Builders,  Alan Burdon was Contracts Manager and Kinsey Mann, the site foreman.

Client: Mr & Mrs David Alston.

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Judge’s comment: “An insignificant gate off a dark quiet lane just off the A12 and the Essex border leads to a sizeable plot overlooking the Stour Valley. An ideal spot for a modern Country House, a property that is both traditional and modern.

The entrance is central to what appears, at first glance to be a 17th century five bay mansion, but wait, away to the right a new extension, except it isn’t an extension but simply a modern addition to the traditional, built at the same time to contrast and enhance.

The whole is a magnificent and very picturesque contribution to Constable Country.  And as we’ve seen frequently in this competition, the quality delivered by Stephen Rose and his team is second to none.

I was particularly taken by the plasterwork in the entrance hall, particularly by the curved work on the soffit of the elliptical stairs.

Architect:  Concertus, Charles Coulson, Project Architect assisted by Laura Morris De’ath and Matt Smith

Contractor: 

R G Carter

Ian Powell (Contracts Manager), 

John Irons (Construction Director), 

Richard Groom (Project Manager

Client: Suffolk County Council

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Judge’s comment: “Collaboration!  The new Council Offices in Mildenhall are different, different in that the building is multi-purpose.  Not only is the building offices for the local authority but included within the walls, Mildenhall Academy, a secondary school, Mildenhall’s Leisure Centre, Library and Police Station (amongst others).

Therein lies the challenge, shoe horning these multi-functions into a single building was a challenge for the architect but Concertus have the experience of creating functional spaces within limited budgets.

What impressed me about the building was how RG Carter had maintained the quality of finish across each of the varied functions, not least in the very public central core with reception, library and café.  My congratulations to the extensive site team for their comprehensive achievements."

Architect:  Concertus, noteably Stephen Ryles together with Bryony Briggs as interior designer.

Contractor:  SHE French, Simon Hubert was Contracts Manager and Shane Davis as Site Manager.

Client: Jamie Ashfield of Basetek

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Judge’s comment: “To describe this building as an industrial unit is pushing the boundaries of that description.  One third of the building is a very efficient hi-tec office with a young workforce selling and distributing spare parts for oil rigs around the world.

The remaining two thirds is a warehouse for the above mentioned parts, parts that are usually delivered and dispatched on the same day.

Additionally this was a fresh step into the commercial world for design team at Concertus.  A demanding client ensured the finished product met his requirements.

Concertus incorporated most of the clients’ foibles into the finished offices, what appears to be a container on the mezzanine, exposed timbers in the boardroom and, as you would expect, the very latest in high Tech’ communications."

Architect: Matthew Bell, Modece

Contractor: 

M Chisnall & Sons Ltd

Paul Dodsworth, Contracts Manager

Client: Graham & Lindsay Panton

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Judge’s comment: “I first visited this project in 2019 on what then was the completion of the restoration of the folly.  I elected not to include the project in that year’s awards to allow completion of the linked new property. 

This complex of buildings is ideally located alongside the River Brett within yards of the shops in Hadleigh High Street.  The new home is unusual being trapezoidal in plan, with storey high pocket windows on the river elevation.

What impressed me about this project was not only the architectural innovation but the quality of the workmanship, both internally and externally.  I was particularly impressed with the integration of insulation into the fabric going a substantial way towards achieving Passive Haus status.

The architect has carefully located the windows, particularly those on the first floor such that the owners catch glimpses of the garden, the river the abundant wildlife.  What has been created is a very pleasant place to live.  In 2019 I saw the potential; it was the right decision to allow full completion."

Architect: Claire Gasson

Contractor:  Seamans Building under the watchful eye of Mark Theobald, Site Agent.

Client: Claire and Tom Gasson

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Judge’s comment: “London architect Claire Gasson has lived at Otley House for some twenty years and throughout this time has been pondering the best way to enjoy an indoor – outdoor experience adjacent to the back door.  It is not a surprise then that the result is an extremely well executed extension with a loggia patio.

What Claire has created is the perfect balance between enclosed, and open to the sky spaces, with warmth, depth and quality.  But there is more to it than that, Claire has created a very usable space, a space to entertain, to enjoy and to relish.  The quality is outstanding, the finishes superb, and the materials well chosen."

Architect: Stuart Edgar of KLH

Contractor:  F A Valiant & Sons, with a particular special mention to the site foreman Mark Francis who worked on, usually alone during the Covid crisis.

Plasterwork and Rendering:  G Cook & Sons Ltd,

Master Plasterer: Nigel Davies

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Judge’s comment: “This was an interesting project on an important historical building in the centre of Ipswich.  Built 320 years ago for the princely sum of £350 (on land costing an additional £150). 

Last years repairs were in excess of three-quarters of a million pounds, but don’t go looking for changes, the work has been successfully incorporated into the existing fabric such that, not only does it not show externally or internally, it shouldn’t deteriorate for another century.

Actually a close inspection of the building will reveal a new roof covering, repairs to the original leaded glass windows and the convenience of a new toilet.

Most important was the removal of the external cement render, replaced with historically accurate lime render.  Ground levels were changed such that the paving at the front of the building is now lower than the internal floor (with a level threshold to meet access requirements).  I commend Stuart Edgar and the team at KLH for a superb, but very subtle project."

Architect:  Initial ideas and Regs’ Approval – Peter Wells

Detailing – Matthew Payne of Hollins Architects, Framlingham.

Contractor: Seaman’s Building – Site Agents: Colin Lockwood and Philip Page

Client: Sir Guy and Lady Jenny Quilter

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Judge’s comment: “Very occasionally we come across a project where superlatives simply don’t do it justice.  With 48 rooms spread over 14,000 sq ft this £3.5 million Georgian Mansion stands in 35 acres of parkland close to the centre of the village.

Architect Peter Wells did some initial work but then handed the project over to Matthew Payne of Hollins.

Working with property owner Jenny Quilter, Matthew detailed the restoration and building work required to bring the accommodation up to 21st Century requirements, exquisitely decorated with some exclusive wallpapers, carefully balanced paint colours and just the right soft furnishing the outcome is outstanding.

Work included some new build, the former swimming pool was moved, a new orangery constructed in ashlar stone.  As you can imagine for a property worthy of its history, its setting and its ambience both the new extension and the restoration work is quality personified."

Architect:  Modece - Matthew Bell and Andrew Elliot

Contractor: WillBuild Developments - William Bell and Ricky Byam

Client: Juliet Fraser

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Judge’s comment:  "If I refer to this project as a former pig sty I’m really telling a half truth. / It was a typical small Suffolk multi-purpose loose box with small yard,  used variously as milking parlour, a weaning shed and a pig sty.

Across Suffolk animal husbandry has given way to arable crops and these little barns have become redundant, allowed to fall into disrepair and, as in this case partially collapse.  Until that is the daughter of the family decided that it would make a super one bedroom retreat, what is virtually a studio flat where the main space is dedicated to music, and where the occupier can make as much noise as she likes.

Juliet is a classical singer, and finds it necessary to practice late into the evening in the days before a concert, but what an inspiration, an audience of rolling fields, trees and birdsong.  Juliet was also the inspiration behind some of the design features, the incorporated art work, not hanging on the wall but built into it, the shingles as external cladding rather than the traditional black weatherboarding and the standing seam roof covering on the low pitched slope. 

All expertly put together by the very small team at WillBuild."

Architect:  Paul Weston

Contractor:  Mixbrow - Mike Cates (Site Man’),

Nick Page (Construction Man’)

Client: Paul and Alison Weston

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Judge’s comment:  "When Paul Weston and his wife Alison decided to build a new house in the back garden of the former ‘Crown’ public house in Westhorpe they imagined all would be straightforward.  In true Grand Design drama no sooner had the first sod been turned that the water appeared.  Clearly traditional foundations weren’t possible, replaced at no inconsiderable expense by 14 m deep piles.

Manoeuvring the piling rig close to the Grade II listed former pub wasn’t easy but they were soon out of the ground and on their way to completion.

What they, and Mixbrow have created, and I should also credit Forefront for their contribution to the joinery is a residential property with architects office (for Paul) and artist studio (for Alison). 

As could be expected with this client perfection was required, and was delivered."