The launch of the 2020 York Design Awards marks the search for York’s best buildings, developed or renovated in the last three years.
The annual awards programme celebrates and rewards good design in the city. The awards are free to enter and property developers, housebuilders, architects, building owners and private homeowners can enter their projects for independent scrutiny by some of the country’s top architects and property experts.
The official launch event took place at St Peter’s School, which has previously won two York Design Awards. In 2019 it won in the Community category for the Pascal Building and in 2015 it won The People’s Choice Award, sponsored by the York Press, for its new reception and entrance area.
The event’s guest speaker was Annalie Riches, Founding Director of Mikhail Riches Architects, which has been appointed by City of York Council to create over 400 highly energy-efficient Passivhaus-standard homes in the next five years.
Annalie explained how lessons learned from the creation of Stirling Prize award-winning council housing in Norwich will be applied to the new homes in York. Mikhail Riches is currently leading a series of public engagement events to design the homes, streets and open spaces on seven council-owned sites across the city. The next event is a hands-on workshop to help design the new homes at the Ordnance Lane site on Saturday 22nd February at York Steiner School.
Ann Reid, Chair of York Design Awards said: “Annalie and her team have the ability to deliver homes that reduce carbon emissions and energy bills for residents, whilst at the same time designing homes that forge strong communities and attractive open spaces. This is exactly the kind of design that the York Design Awards aims to celebrate, and her lecture was very inspiring.
“We’re so pleased that she has helped us to launch the 2020 York Design Awards. We urge the local property and construction community to enter the awards before the closing date of 20th March and receive the recognition and reward that good design deserves.”
Full details on the categories and how to enter the prestigious awards, are available at www.yorkdesignawards.org. Winners will be announced and presented with their awards at the awards evening which takes place on Monday 15th June at the Tempest Anderson Hall, Yorkshire Museum, Museum Gardens.
Previous winners include The Chocolate Works new build phase 1, Little Knavesmire Sports Pavilion, The Rattle Owl, York Art Gallery, The Hiscox Building, York Racecourse, St. Everilda’s Church extension and the restoration of the Old Probate Office as well as a number of private residences.
The awards are funded and supported by a wide range of sponsors including Hiscox, Arup, CG Building and Restoration, City of York Council, Crombie Wilkinson, Fulprint, George F White, Leeds Environmental Design Associates (LEDA), LNER, O’Neill Associates, Ravage Productions, Shepherd Group, St Peter’s School, The Grand Hotel, The Partners Group, The Press, United By Design, University of York, York Architectural Association, York Civic Trust, York Conservation Trust, York Explore, and York Guild of Building.
See photos from the launch event here.
Photo credit; Ravage Productions
