Building for Life Award winners announced

Despite the challenging economic climate, more schemes than ever before were submitted for the prestigious Building for Life standard - 125 in 2008, rising from 35 in 2007. A record number of developments have achieved the Standard, which means they demonstrated a commitment to high quality design, good placemaking and sustainable development.

Six of those 24 schemes which achieved Building for Life standard were outstanding enough to also be given a Building for Life Award at a ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The schemes range from townhouses in Brighton to terraced housing in central London, and town-centre flats in Stockport and Sheffield. All were designed by British architects.

Wayne Hemingway, chair of Building for Life for five years, presented the awards. He said: "This is almost certainly the most challenging economic climate that developers have ever had to face, but I think this year’s winners point to a positive future for the home buyer - and might just point to a new paradigm in housing delivery.

“The winners show that the concept of creating places where it’s possible to have access to leisure, public transport and employment is alive. The fact that we have a first time developer – with an interest in their own community - amongst the winners shows the value of fresh thinking and perhaps signals how we should be thinking about delivering homes in the future."

One award has gone to the Sinclair Building in Sheffield where first time developer Christian Sinclair with architects, Project Orange, have transformed a run-down terrace on a main road into a characterful scheme with retail on street level and homes above. In Portsmouth, the massive Gunwharf Quays project has shown how a scheme can regenerate a city centre by providing retail, leisure space and housing. A bold move by a high-volume housebuilder who took on an ex-military site has paid off with an award going to the Royal Arsenal in Greenwich.

2008 awards

• Adelaide Wharf, Hackney, London
• City Point, Brighton
• Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth
• Rostron Brow, Stockport
• Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London
• Sinclair Building, Sheffield

2008 standards

Angela Carter Close, Brixton, London
Client: Metropolitan Housing Trust
Architect: Anne Thorne Architects Partnership
A good response to a tricky infill site, with adaptable homes performing to very high environmental standards grouped around a well-overlooked pocket park.

Artesian House, Bermondsey, London
Client: Hyde Housing Association
Architect: Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects
Good quality housing and community facilities accommodated in a distinctive new building adjoining a neighbourhood park.

Atalanta Apartments. Brighton
Client: Affinity Sutton Group
Architect: Conran & Partners
Carefully designed to a high environmental standard, including a green roof to offset the visual impact of the development.

Banstead Court, Acton, London
Client: L&Q Group
Architect: Gardner Stewart Architects
The innovative design solution recognises and addresses the difficulty of providing good quality housing on a site blighted by a heavily trafficked highway.

Bourbon Lane, Shepherd’s Bush, London
Client: Octavia Housing and Care
Architect: Cartwright Pickard Architects, B C Architects
An excellent response to a uniquely challenging setting, drawing innovatively from international best practice to provide good family housing in inner London.

Chelsea Bridge Wharf, Battersea, London
Client: Berkeley Homes Urban Living
Architect: Scott Brownrigg
A mixed use development aiming to capitalise on proximity to the Thames and maximise the potential of a challenging site constrained by major transport routes.

Cliveden VIllage, Taplow (near Maidenhead)
Client: Countryside Properties, The National Trust
Architect: onko architects and LDA Design
A contemporary development on the National Trust estate, aimed specifically at the retirement market and designed with exceptional sensitivity and attention to detail.

Consort Road, Southwark, London
Client: Presentation Housing Association
Architect: Walter Menteth Architects
Designed with a particular focus on the environmental performance of the new homes and mediating the impact of adjoining railway tracks.

Coopers Road Estate, Southwark, London
Client: Peabody Trust, Countryside Properties
Architect: ECD Architects
A mix of flatted and terraced housing centred around a communal courtyard, cleverly laid out to create a contemporary take on the traditional street-fronted block.

Gladstone Row, Brighton
Client: Quoin Estates and Development
Architect: WCEC Architecture
Close to amenities and public transport, this development provides adaptable homes which meet high environmental standards on a site incorporating disused railway arches to create a carefully landscaped public space.

Islington Square, Manchester
Client: Great Places Housing Group
Architect: Fashion Architecture Taste (FAT)
The distinctive high-profile design of façades belies a successful contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional neighbourhood, including flatted and terraced housing.

Lorna Lodge, Manchester
Client: Great Places Housing Group
Architect: PRP Architects
Provides housing for single mothers, close to facilities and public transport and arranged around a central courtyard providing safe play area for children.

Mowbray Park Apartments, Sunderland
Client: Gentoo Ventures
Architect: Napper
Distinctive new apartments accommodated in a building complex that integrates a landmark historical building.

Oxley Woods, Milton Keynes
Client: George Wimpey South Midlands
Architect: Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
A distinctive new neighbourhood featuring the Design for Manufacture competition-winning house type, providing high environmental standards, generous room sizes and excellent use of natural daylight.

Parcel 1C, Harlow
Client: MOAT Housing Association
Architect: Roger Evans Associates
The layout of this development promotes a strong sense of community around the central courtyard and ensures good overlook onto communal and public spaces.

Quayside Lofts, Newcastle upon Tyne
Client: City Loft Developments
Architect: Conran & Partners
The development responds to a very steep site by providing continuity along the street frontages, creating an access route through the site and through a sensitive choice of materials.

Tachbrook Triangle, Pimlico, London
Client: Barratt West London
Architect: Assael Architecture
Makes maximum use of a difficult inner London site, whilst sensitively refurbishing a terrace of Georgian town houses and providing space for a new walk-in medical centre.

Westwood Court, Cirencester
Client: Archstone Lifestyle Homes
Architect: Martin Young
Distinctive scheme designed in tune with the character of the location, arranged around a carefully designed garden and sensitively incorporating mature trees