The controversial new building at 53 Cinque Ports Street has won a prestigious architectural award from the Sussex Heritage Trust. At its annual awards ceremony held at Pangdean Old Barn, Pyecombe near Brighton on Thursday July 7.
Trust chairman Dr John Goddard, announcing the award for this mid-scale residential scheme, said: “the development took a modern design approach to the regeneration of this former garage site. It fitted well with the grain and scale of Rye and provided light and airy modern flats within Rye’s historic centre.” The site had lain vacant since 2002, leaving a derelict infill site in the town centre. The building was designed by the locally based architectural practice of Jonathan Dunn.
Chairman of Rye Conservation Society, John Griffiths, commented: “I personally think the building is superb, but I don’t know whether the award will please all members of the Society. It has made a very skilful and successful use of the space available. In our next newsletter, due out in September, we shall be asking for nominations for our own awards which will be announced in December at the annual Christmas gathering. There are some very good shop-front repainting schemes being undertaken at the moment”.
One other award given locally went to new beach houses in Camber. Situated next to a designated SSSI (site of special scientific interest), the beach houses offer spectacular views of the sea and unparalleled access to the beach. Architect, Stuart Martin from WAMdesign, set out to minimise the houses’ impact on the environment, both visually and physically, whilst taking advantages offered by the views and landscape in a very understated but confident architecture.
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Photos: Sussex Heritage Trust
Image Credits: Sussex Heritage Trust , Sussex Heritage Trust .