cIVIC vOICE dESIGN aWARDS

February 01, 2018

New website full of case studies celebrating the people’s choice for architecture

Civic Voice today launched a new website devoted to celebrating the best in new architecture, public realm and historic buildings, as nominated by local communities. The website is available at www.civicvoicedesignawards.com

The Civic Voice Design Awards website will provide community groups and policy makers with more in-depth details of a wide variety of schemes across the country that are leading the way in involving communities. 

Packed with case studies recognising projects both large and small, previous winners of the awards featured on the website include Winton Chapel, Winchester (2017), Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool (2016) and Gloucester Services (Northbound) (2015). The key theme running through all winning projects is communities celebrating high quality design and having a great community story behind the projects.

Joan Humble, Chair of Civic Voice said: “This new website launches as we extend the deadline for Civic Voice Design Awards 2018 until March 14th. We are using the site to say to people, “Do you have something in your area that is as good as previous winners?” This website will make it easier for communities across the country to have a one stop shop of examples of schemes that are raising the bar in terms of design quality and engagement with communities. We hope these examples inspire community groups and civic societies across the country to call for high quality development in their own community.”

The Civic Voice Design Awards new website will be updated on a regular basis with news and case studies showing how communities are engaging in local development projects and celebrating high quality design. Visitors are encouraged to explore the website and sign up for direct emails from Civic Voice to stay in touch with the awards.

Max Farrell, chair of the Civic Voice Design Awards judging panel said: “The design of the building or scheme is just one part of the story. What matters just as much is how it was developed. That is what the Civic Voice Design Awards are about. It is great to see the many community stories on the new website and to see architecture and urban design having a tangible positive impact on the lives of people throughout the country. The judges look forward to seeing more applications come in through www.civicvoicedesignawards.com” 

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Ian Harvey, Civic Voice (m) 07877 096968

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

The Civic Voice Design Awards are the people’s choice for architecture and the built environment. Unique in England, the awards are a national celebration of well-designed new build, heritage and public realm projects nominated by local community organisations. What makes the awards different from other industry awards is that they recognise those buildings, places and spaces that are loved by local people, for both their high-quality design and positive impact on the local community.

About Civic Voice
Civic Voice is the national charity for the civic movement in England. Our mission is to develop a society where everyone can say “I care about where I live”. We promote civic pride through our network of over 75,000 individual members.

Further information:

Sarah James at info@civicvoice.org.uk or via

Post: Civic Voice, The Coffin Works, 13-15 Fleet Street, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B3 1JP

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Telephone: 0121 792 8177

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January 01, 2018

Civic Voice Design Awards 2018 open for applications with Civic Voice highlighting examples showing that “new development can enhance a conservation area”

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Award ceremony to be held in The Leadenhall Building, second tallest building in the City of London

Civic Voice has, today, officially opened the Civic Voice Design Awards 2018 by encouraging communities from across England to nominate schemes that are of high quality design and help enhance conservation areas and other parts of our towns, cities and villages across England.

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Max Farrell, Partner at Farrells and Chair of the Civic Voice Design Awards judging panel said: “We look forward to seeing the very best in new build, housing, heritage, public realm and open space projects as nominated by communities across England. And continuing Civic Voice’s Big Conservation Conversation to make the case for conservation areas, there will also be a special prize again this year for an outstanding development within a Conservation Area, which could be awarded from any category. The judges will be looking for excellence in terms of high quality of design and construction and community participation and engagement throughout, we call upon all communities to start nominating!”

Ian Harvey, Executive Director for Civic Voice added: “We are delighted to open the Civic Voice Design Awards a day after Heritage Counts 2017 is released. New evidence gathered for Heritage Counts 2017 shows that conservation area designation isn't about preventing change. It's about preserving and enhancing the distinctive character of a local area. They are places people want to live in because conservation area designation ensures careful consideration is given to the design of new development and how it harmonises with its surroundings. In 2017 we presented special awards to Cedars Hall, Wells; Sunbridge Wells, Bradford; and Warwick Hall Community Centre, Burford all for being visionary projects enhancing conservation areas across England. We look forward to seeing more in 2018.”

Laura Sandys Civic Voice Vice-President said: “Conservation areas form a vital part of England’s historic environment covering 2,938 sq. km or 2.2% of land and providing homes for over 6.8 million people. The research commissioned for Heritage Counts 2017 looks at how conservation areas can contribute to good growth and reveals the positive impact that can be achieved. This doesn’t surprise us as over 80 civic societies across England organise their own local design award scheme and regularly share with us the best of what is happening. It is why we are running the awards once again and we are delighted that we will again have the support of Farrells and Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners.”

Max Farrell finished by saying: “Communities are demanding more of a say in what is happening in their local area. Through these awards we are showing how some communities are already working with partners with a shared vision for a better built and historic environment, sadly this is the exception, not the norm. Through the Civic Voice Design Awards we are going to help make it the norm”.

Civic Voice Design Awards 2018
Information on categories and to apply for the awards can be access via.

http://www.civicvoice.org.uk/get-involved/designawards/

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Heritage Counts – 50 Years of Conservation Areas https://historicengland.org.uk/research/heritage-counts/2017-conservation-areas/50-years-conservation-areas/

The Civic Voice Design Awards are the people’s choice for architecture and the historic and built environment. Unique in England, the awards are a national celebration of well-designed new build, heritage and public realm projects nominated by local community organisations. What makes the awards different from other industry awards is that they recognise those buildings, places and spaces that are loved by local people, for both their high-quality design and positive impact on the local community and enhancing the local area. To submit a scheme for the 2018 awards, the project needs to have been completed in the 2 year period between 1 st January 2016 and 31st December 2017.

Conservation Area Survey Summary Findings
This document summarises the findings from the two Conservation Area surveys which were open to Civic Voice and IHBC members between 11 November and 5 December 2016. http://content.historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/research/conservation-area-survey-findings.pdf

Previous winners of the Civic Voice Design Awards have included Gloucester Services, Gloucester (2015), Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool (2016) and Winton Chapel, Winchester (2017).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Further information
Sarah James on sarah.james@civicvoice.org.uk
T 0121 792 8177
T @civic_voice 

January 28, 2018

Civic Voice announces winners for the Civic Voice Design Awards 2017.

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Winners includes a housing development in a World Heritage Site, creative re-use of a set of historic underground tunnels and a historic chapel restoration.

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Civic Voice, the national charity for the civic movement, has today announced the shortlist for the third annual Civic Voice Design Awards. 18 schemes from across England have been shortlisted by the expert judging panel for their high-quality design and positive impact on the local community. The awards are sponsored by British Land and Farrells.