Granit Chartered Architects Wins Prestigious Green Apple Award

Granit Chartered Architects is pleased to announce it has been awarded the National Gold Award in this year’s International Green Apple Awards for the Built Environment and Architectural Heritage. The awards, organised by the Green Foundation, recognise and reward environmental endeavour in building projects all over the world. Granit’s winning project is a barn refurbishment and conversion in Hampshire, England.

Formerly a working farm building built in the 1890s (approx), the barn fell into disrepair, before being bought by Granit’s client in 2004. The subsequent renovation of the barn transformed the building back into use, although this time as a modern and luxurious family home.

The architectural design was intended to be sensitive to the original characteristics of the barn. The use of the existing door and window openings enabled the building to retain its original form and remain true to its working history. The materials used, such as the flint applied as the building’s skin, were sourced locally which has helped to ensure the building matches the regions vernacular.

The flint and brickwork building techniques applied are specific to this region of the country. Due to the time and labour costs involved these traditional techniques are rarely incorporated into modern projects and the skills are on the verge of being lost. Using these building techniques has helped to ensure the barn adds to, rather than detracts from, the region’s aesthetics.

In order to reduce the environmental impact of the conversion, an extra layer of insulation was incorporated into the building. This helps to keep the heating costs very low. A rainwater harvesting system helps to reduce the demand on the local infrastructure.

Granit’s Architect Director, Robert Wilson said “we’re very pleased to win this award. It recognises the hard work we put into the project to ensure it was both sensitive to the barn and its surroundings.” He went on to say “We would like to thank the Green Foundation for giving us this award which we are proudly displaying in our office.”

About Granit Architects:

Granit Chartered Architects is a specialist residential architects practice based in Battersea, South London. Established over 18 years ago by Architect Director Robert Wilson, Granit thrives today providing architectural design services to private individuals and commercial developers in London, throughout the UK and internationally.

Architect Director Robert Wilson is available for comment and interview. Please contact via Andy Bargery.

About the Green Organisation:

The Green Organisation is an independent, non-political, non-activist, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.

The International Green Apple Awards for the Built Environment and Architectural Heritage were launched in 2000 and they have since become a prestigious annual event: one of the major award schemes recognising and rewarding environmental endeavour in this sector around the world.

Andy Bargery
Granit Chartered Architects
Tel: +44 (0)20 7924 4555
Email: andy@granit.co.uk

This release was published on openPR.