annual design awards
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In order to promote the Chilterns Buildings Design Guide, as well as good practice and excellence in design of new buildings in the AONB, an Annual Buildings Design Awards event is held.

This is organised jointly with the Chiltern Society and entries are invited from within the AONB as well as the wider Chiltern Society area. Each year about 20 entries are received that cover all sorts of different building projects. Past winners include a converted barn and an artist’s studio. Entries can be submitted up to the beginning of March and awards are given out at a special event that takes place early in the summer.

You can download a copy of the entry form here.

In 2009 the overall winner was a glass and steel extension to a Victorian house in Berkhamsted. The extension encloses a courtyard and the judges were very impressed with the way it complements the main house and allows the attractive Victorian building to shine through whilst also being a beautiful structure in its own right.

Two Commended awards were also given. One went to the development of The Akeman bar and restaurant in Tring, for its thoughtful and ingenious mix of a traditional Victorian façade and a large modern extension to house the kitchen and restaurant. The other award went to Chisbridge Farm at Frieth near High Wycombe for a barn extension to house a swimming pool. The judges commended the sensitivity of its design and the quality of the construction which used traditional local materials such as clay tiles and flint.

In 2008 a new house in Penn near High Wycombe was chosen as the overall winner. Holmwood is a six bedroom family home built in the traditional Arts and Crafts style and set in beautifully landscaped gardens. The judges were very impressed with the attention to detail shown in the design and construction of the house and felt it was a great addition to the built environment of the Chilterns.

A highly commended award was given to the sensitive conversion of a historic barn at Flamstead Farm near Chesham to residential use. A special project award was given to a new sports hall at Moulsford Preparatory School in Moulsford near Goring-on-Thames which fits its riverside surroundings very well.

In 2007 the judges chose a new accommodation annexe at The Crown Inn at Playhatch near Reading as the overall winner. The award was given for the bold use of materials in the building and its form. The judges were also impressed with the way the annexe sits within its site in the grounds of the 16th century pub.

Two commended awards were given. One went to a two storey extension to Sandene, a 1930s house in Gerrards Cross, which ties in very well with the original house. The other went to a development of five new affordable homes at Bledlow, near Princes Risborough, where good attention has been paid to the design detail of the scheme. A special project award was given to the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted for its new building, in recognition of the huge enthusiasm and vision which has gone into it and the resulting building which functions very well.

In 2006 the overall winner of the Chilterns Buildings Design Awards was Manor Farm, in Bledlow near Princes Risborough. The judges admired the skilled way in which the farmhouse was extended and barns converted to offices and workshops, with plenty of local materials used. In addition to the overall winner two Highly Commended Awards were given out. One went to Crown Farm in Amersham for the re-building of an oak-framed barn that had been reduced to ashes by a freak fire. The second was given to Russell’s Farm Cottage at Rockwell End near Hambleden, Bucks for the restoration and extension of a 400 year-old cottage. Both projects demonstrated extensive use of traditional techniques and materials to bring vernacular buildings back to life.

In 2005 Thatched Cottage, Mill End, Hambleden was chosen as the Overall Winner of the Chilterns Buildings Design Award. Thatched Cottage is a 19th century cottage that has been sensitively extended to incorporate a new hallway, bathroom, study and balcony in a manner that complements the existing dwelling and makes the most of its excellent location.

Two Highly Commended Awards were given: one to Greenfield Farm at Christmas Common for the removal of a flat roof and its replacement with a pitched roof with dormer windows, and the other to Lavender Cottage at Flaunden for a two storey side extension to the Grade II listed cottage. Both of these showed excellent design and use of local materials. Two Special Project Awards were given: one to Saint Nicholas Church at Hedsor for the construction of a new toilet block with disabled facility and access to the church and the other to 173 High Street in Berkhamsted for the major repair and opening up of a 16th century shop which was previously unlisted but which is now Grade II listed.

In 2004 two entries were chosen as joint overall winners. Klee House near Great Missenden is a 1950s modernist house which has been extended in a manner which complements the existing house extremely well. Its interior has also been furnished in an authentic 1950s style. Crown Meadow in Old Amersham is a new house sensitively sited on an old orchard. Its design and location accentuates the interest of the back of Amersham's historic high street.

Two Highly Commended Awards were given: one to Cane End Stud in south Oxfordshire for a conversion and extension to create a new stables complex and the other to Crowmarsh Battle Barns near Wallingford for the sympathetic conversion of an old granary into an office. A Special Project Award was given to Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway Association for the re-built station building in Chinnor which was constructed entirely through volunteer effort.

Further details of all winners, both past and present, can be obtained from the Conservation Board office.