Issue 44 winter 24 - Journal - Page 27
RIBA commended the project for being a tasteful,
sensitive and innovative reinvention of a historic building,
delivering flexibility of use while preserving and enhancing the existing features and involving the local community, thereby successfully promoting social and heritage
values for generations to come.
The Old Court House was another RIBA winner taking
home three awards at the RIBA West Midlands Awards
in 2018: Project Architect of the Year, West Midlands
Award and West Midlands Conservation Award. The
project was also shortlisted for Grand Designs ‘House of
the Year’ in the same year.
This 500-year-old, Grade II listed property is located on
a large, private farm in the West Midlands. The farm had
been purchased with a number of outline consents for the
conversion of the various farm buildings into habitable
dwellings and staff accommodation, but these consents
were all linked to the repair of one particular building on
the site, The Old Court House.
Above, the new windows were a modernisation for the Town Hall,
but remained true to the original aesthetic while improving the energy
performance of the building
HawkinsBrown oversaw an extensive refurbishment
programme on behalf of the Council and this included
the replacement of all the original steel windows.
Clement W20 steel windows were chosen as the right
product. The new, top hung and side hung opening
casements are painted RAL 9010 (Pure White) with
complementary fittings in a dark bronze finish.
In the words of the architects, Harrison Brookes, The Old
Court House was more “ecosystem” than building.
Derelict for over 30 years, it was close to collapse and on
the Buildings at Risk register. It was home to bats, newts,
slow worms and badgers and its location on the edge of
several Sites of Special Scientific Interest presented
further challenges.
John Cattermole, Senior Project Manager at the Town
Hall, commented: “The team at Clement provided a
great service in supplying new windows as part of the
Town Hall refurbishment. Very specific aesthetic and
energy performance criteria needed to be met when it
came to the window replacement. The W20 windows
supplied by Clement were able to meet all of these
requirements.”
Below, the Old Court House, Worcestershire, post renovation
project. Photos courtesy of Harrison Brookes Architects.
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