The finest architecture and building projects in the city have been revealed.

A team who are referred to as the ‘City’s Watchdogs’ whittled down the winners from nearly 30 nominations.

The prizewinners were announced at the St Albans Civic Society Awards Evening that took place at the Maltings Arts Theatre on October 11.

Winners:

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

Society Award winner - Parkside View Flexicare Housing, Marshalswick

Was presented with the award for the outward-looking building with numerous balconies, rooftop restaurant and terrace and has been called the 'new face of sheltered housing'.

  • Instigator: North Hertfordshire Homes Limited.
  • Architect: Kyle Smart Associates - Caddington Contractor: Bouygues UK- London SE1

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

Society Award winner - New House, 71/73 Hemel Hempstead Road, Redbourn:

  • Instigator: Mr and Mrs Tim Hall - Redbourn Designer: Tim Hall, Studio Forty Six - Redbourn
  • Contractor: Tim Hall - Redbourn. Timber Frame: Taylor Lane - Hereford

This self-build house has been built to use every corner of the restricted site that it sits on. The judges were impressed by the quality of the materials used. 

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

Trevelyan Prize 2016: Tuck Pointing to St Stephen’s House, Watling Street

  • Instigator: Mr and Mrs Matthew Wallis - St Albans Contractor: Point Builders Limited - St Albans

The Grade 2 Listed Georgian house, opposite St Stephen’s Church has recently been restored by its new owners. The judges were very impressed by the extensive work undertaken in the renovation of the tuck pointing to the front façade of the house, a key historic feature. A specialist and time-consuming exercise was used to create the appearance of distinctive, very thin, joints between the bricks. 

Commendations:

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

Cotlandswick Leisure Centre, London Colney

  • Instigator: St Albans City and District Council
  • Architect: Pozzoni - London EC1
  • Contractor: Willmott Dixon - Hitchin  

The lighting throughout the centre was noted by judges, as the asymmetrical curved roof with its high glazing makes for interesting, well-lit internal spaces. 

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

Renovated House, 16 Homewood Road, Marshalswick

  • Instigator: Mr and Mrs J Poole - Marshalswick
  • Architect: Chris King, Ponsford King - Redbourn
  • Contractor: W.H.Allsop and Sons (Builders) Ltd – Caddington

The original red brick house on this site was too small, dark and inefficient. By retaining, adapting and extending the original structural core, adding external insulation, rendering, re-roofing, replacing all windows and external doors, and renovating all services, new life has been injected into the building.

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

New House, 56a Spencer Street

  • Instigator: Mr Jack Pia - St Albans
  • Architect: Roy Darby - St Albans
  • Contractor: TSS Construction Limited, Hemel Hempstead

New gates, in the high garden wall to the street, are the only clue to the presence of this small, modern, single storey house, which replaces a large, decrepit, two storey barn in the verdant grounds of the larger original house.

Built as a wheelchair accessible, one bedroom dwelling, to enable the owner and his late wife to move out of the main house. 

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

Trevelyan Prize Commendation 2016 Ceremonia shop, George Street

  • Instigator: Andrew Masi and Helen Searle - St Albans
  • Designer: Andrew Masi and Helen Searle - St Albans
  • Contractor: Andrew Masi and Helen Searle - St Albans

This male outfitters and wedding dress shop replaces the former antique emporium here. In the process of adaption the owners have undertaken an exemplary restoration of the battered medieval heart of the building. The Panel considered it a fine example of creative restoration.