GREEN APPLE AWARDS
We were at Hampton Court Palace today to receive our Green Apple Award.
From the right: Kath our fabulous interior designer, Kate O'Mara (giving out the awards) Cath our architect.

We had some lovely strawberries and ice cream. Oh, and our trophy was an engraved plasterers trowel.

Hampton Court Palace was built in 1514, that's a long time ago. It has been used by kings and queens as well as Cardinal Wolsley who started the development of the site next to the river Thames. Read more about the history of the palace or even go and see it by following the links below,
http://www.hrp.org.uk/hamptoncourtpalace/ for the offical visitor information site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Court_Palace for information about the history of the palace

GREEN APPLE AWARDS

Another outing! We go to London (Hampton Court Palace-home of Henry the Eigth) on June 29th to collect a 'GREEN APPLE AWARD' we wonder if it will be edible?

LOCAL NATURE RESERVE

Work is underway to designate our roof as a 'Local Nature Reserve'. special visitors came last week to look at everything and we're keeping out fingers crossed that it will be the first reserve on a building!

Gardeners World

...Britain has such a city (a city in a garden) leading the way in green roofs technology so I'm visiting one of its newest and most exciting projects aimed at educating the next generation.

Just click on the arrow/picture to play

The above is an extract taken from the BBC Gardeners World programme earlier this year. Wow...fancy that, Singapore, London and Paris...and then Sheffield.

"It's heartening that one enlightened Local Authority has had the vision to create this wonderful environment. If only more civic authorities would follow their lead." Joe Swift-BBC gardeners World

Watch us...

video coming soon hopefully when we figure out how to convert quick time to somethign we can upload!

At a star studded ceremony in Leeds (sparkly curtains that is!) Harry Gration TV presenter for BBC yorkshire presented the 8 RICS awards (we were shortlisted in 4 categories if you remember). Brix had to get his posh bow tie out again as it was a 'black tie' event.

WE had some funny little fruits for dessert (pudding) they are called Physalis and they are the CApe Gooseberry fruit. They tasted very nice and sweet.

Oh yes, we also picked up the Award for Design and Innovation!

Follow the link to the RICS article...

RICS Pro Yorkshire Awards Winners Announced

Region's top schemes rewarded at Pro-Yorkshire awards
18th May 2009
By Ian Briggs - Deputy Editor (The business desk.com)

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/news/11485-region-s-top-schemes-rewarded.html

AN EDWARDIAN theatre refurbishment, a school design and a retirement development have all been recognised as top building projects at the 2009 RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards.

The awards recognise and celebrate inspirational initiatives and developments in land, property, construction and the environment.

Sharrow School in Sheffield picked up the award for design and innovation: (l-r) Evelyn Abram, Jo Tingle, Lynne Ley and Cath Basilio with RICS Yorkshire chairman Colin Harrop.

Harrogate's Royal Hall won the highly-acclaimed project of the year accolade after the theatre complex underwent a £10.7m refurbishment.
A total of seven projects from across the region were given top prizes at the awards, which were held at the Saviles Hall, Royal Armouries in Leeds.

Several of the winners have now been automatically entered into the national RICS awards later this year, where they will compete against building projects from across the UK.

Colin Harrop, RICS Yorkshire and Humber chairman, said: “Our independent judges had an extremely tough task choosing the winners as the awards attracted an initial entry of 76 projects this year. This is more than any other region in England, and the vast majority of entrants were of an exceptionally high standard.

“The winners really do put Yorkshire and Humberside on the map as a region that offers world-class, innovative buildings - they are truly inspirational projects that demonstrate the skills and creativity of our property professionals and their commitment to sustaining and improving the property landscape.”

Jennifer Welch, operations director of RICS North, added: “We had a great turnout on the night, which we really appreciate, as these awards symbolise excellence in the Yorkshire and Humberside property and construction sector and provide an invaluable opportunity for the region to celebrate and showcase its exceptional projects.”

Category winners at the RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards were:
Building conservationWinner: Royal Hall, Harrogate Highly commended: St James Church, Baildon
CommercialWinner: Stanhope Buildings, Horsforth
Community BenefitWinner: Castleford River Crossing and Fish Pass, Castleford Highly commended: The Art house, Wakefield Highly commended: The Green Lane Neighbourhood Centre, Whitby
Design and innovationWinner: Sharrow School, Sheffield Highly commended: Brompton Lakes, Richmond
RegenerationWinner: Bridlington Spa, Bridlington
ResidentialWinner: pad55, Pickering
SustainabilityWinner: pad55, Pickering
Tourism and leisureWinner: Leeds City Museum
Project of the year Royal Hall, Harrogate

RICS awards tonight

We're off to another awards ceremony and big dinner (we'll have to start watching our waistlines soon). Keep your fingers crossed for us and your school!

Shortlisted in four categories:

Design and Innovation
Brompton Lakes, Richmond
Creative Arts Building, Huddersfield
Innovation Hub, Leeds
Pad 55, Pickering
Sharrow NIL School, Sheffield
University of Information Commons

Community Benefit
Castleford River Crossing & Fish Pass, Castleford
Hillside School, Beeston, Leeds
Sharrow NIJ School, Sheffield
Shibden Park, Interpretation Centre, Halifax
The Arthouse, Wakefield
The Green Lane Neighbourhood, Whitby

Regeneration
Brewery Wharf, Leeds
Bridlington Spa, Bridlington
Castleford River Crossing & Fish Pass, Casteford
Eastbrook Hall, Bradford
Sharrow NIL School, Sheffield
The Bay, Filey

Sustainability
Creative Arts Building, Huddersfield
Henley Rise, Rotherham
Pad 55, Pickering
Sharrow NIJ School, Sheffield
Shibden Park Interpretation Centre, Halifax
St Margarets Parish Centre, Horsforth

NATURAL ENGLAND

Sharrow School roof has been proposed as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR)

If successfully accepted then it will join 16 other LNR's in Sheffield, but it will be the first ever on a building!!!

How are Local Nature Reserves declared?
Local Nature Reserve (or LNR) is a statutory designation made under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, and amended by Schedule 11 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, by principal local authorities.

For further information go to the website...
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/lnr/declaration.aspx

Another award!!!

It was back on March 3rd posting that we said we'd been shortlisted by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers for one of their 'specification' awards.
Well, we were shortlisted in the sustainability category...and...WE WON!

Our good friend and technical wizard Steve took us all the way to London to receive the award at a special lunch held in the historic 'Long Room' at Lords Cricket Ground in London (home of the famous Marylebone Cricket Club) founded in 1787, a very long time ago!

We had a very nice dinner and a little bit of wine to drink.

We got to see some amazing things. Steve took lots of pictures and we're posting them here for you to see.

Here is Steve (2nd from the right) collecting our certificate, Paul (from Lloyd Worrall the ironmongers) collecting the trophy with their name on and Lloyd Worrall with their certificate. The two presenters, ....are on the left and Jim Steve's boss is on the right.

We had a special treat on the way home and were allowed a drop of fizzy champagne in the very nice champagne bar at the St Pancras railway station that has been beautifully refurbished and was up for an award as well but only got 'commended'.

What a great day...Brix saw inside the museum and Morta got to see inside the media centre (by Architect's Future Systems) where all the journalists and commentators watch the games of cricket and do all the writing for the papers and all the talking for the radio. Thanks guys

LOL Brix & MortaXXX

DID YOU SEE US ON GARDENERS WORLD?

More pictures to follow...

SNOW SNOW quick quick SNOW Yes, we know it's a while since it snowed but we thought these pictures from back in February were worth putting up for everyone to see.

A series of 4 lectures with four speakers each week held annually included us this year. Held in the really big lecture theatre in the Leslie Silver building at Leeds Metrpolitan University. Robin, Director of West & Machell did a great job introducing everyone and keeping us all on time.
Mike (on the left), Director of Buro Happold a really exciting company of engineers went first and talked about how new tools like computers make it possible to build things that would have been impossible not so long ago.
Katayoun (on the right)was next and showed us some of her lovely work recording light and lighting effects and buildings.
Cath (our architect second from the right) was next and showed how buildings use all of our senses when we experience places and spaces. Taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing all pay a part. She also showed how the roof at our school responds to the senses. Sunand (President of the Royal Institute of British Architects and second from the left) then finished the night off with showing the beauty of places all over the world.
We never knew just how different buildings and spaces could be. People say that our school is beautiful and delightful; they love the way it works and what it is able to do. There is just so much to learn if you want to understand what makes places beautiful.

Ian whose bright idea the 4x4 series is invited us to supper with lots of interesting folks. Speakers and other guests, we even had a piece of pizza.

RICS PRO YORKSHIRE AWARDS

Sheffield STAR

Date: 18 March 2009
By Bob Rae

Three property schemes in Sheffield and a fourth from Doncaster have reached the short list of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' Pro Yorkshire Awards.
Sheffield University's award- winning Information Commons has been short-listed for the Design and Innovation Award, while Endcliffe Student Village is vying for the Regeneration Award.

Sharrow infant and junior school has been short-listed for the Community Benefit, Sustainability, Regeneration and Design and Innovation Award and Cusworth Hall and Park in Doncaster has been chosen for the Building Conservation Award.

Colin Harrop, Chairman of the RICS regional Board and chartered surveyor with King Sturge in Leeds, said: "We received strong support for this year's awards.

"In fact the Pro Yorkshire Awards attracted more entries than any of the other RICS regional property awards.

"All four of the projects short-listed in South Yorkshire are a credit to the region, and illustrate the important, skilful work that chartered surveyors and property professionals in the area have completed.

"Their inclusion in the short list puts South Yorkshire on the map as an area that offers world-class, innovative buildings, I wish them all the very best of luck."

DON'T FORGET GARDENER'S WORLD ON FRIDAY

DON'T FORGET GARDENER'S WORLD ON FRIDAY

DON'T FORGET GARDENER'S WORLD ON FRIDAY

DON'T FORGET GARDENER'S WORLD ON FRIDAY

DON'T FORGET GARDENER'S WORLD ON FRIDAY

DON'T FORGET GARDENER'S WORLD ON FRIDAY

DON'T FORGET GARDENER'S WORLD ON FRIDAY

DON'T FORGET GARDENER'S WORLD ON FRIDAY

GARDNER'S WORLD SPECIAL

bringing horticulture to the city streets

20th March we think...watch

or set your recorders now

More AWARDS ???

Our School has been shortlisted by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers in the Sustainable Buildings category of their Specification Awards.

We won't find out if we've won until the 30th March when we've been invited to lunch at Lords Cricket Ground in London! WOW BRIX is a huge fan of sporty things and can't wait to see inside their museum. Personally I think it'll be cool to see their spaceship media centre!

We're also on the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) shortlist for their awards in May.

We really pushed the boat out here and entered in 4 categories and we have been shortlisted in all 4! Regeneration, Community Benefit, Sustainability and Design & Innovation.

We have to wait until a dinner at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on the 15th May to find out about this one!!!Definitely a new dress for Morta now!

NOW LET'S GET THIS RIGHT...
We can't believe it! How manay awards is that? In reverse order (most recent at the top)... is that 8 awards!

Sheffield Design Awards
Neighbourhood and Community Design-Winner (Joint)
Best Building-Commendation

Society of Chief Architects of Local Authorities (SCALA) Awards
Civic Building of the Year (Joint)

Royal Institute of British Architects White Rose Awards
Sustainable Futures Award-GOLD
White Rose Architecture Award-SILVER
Client of the Year Award

Care 4 Air Awards
Runner up

Sheffield Telegraph Environment Awards
Runner up-Design and Building category

At this rate Morta will need a new dress!!!

LLOYD WORRAL-PAUL BELLAMY
MORE FRONT PAGE NEWS

Our school is on the front page of the 'Architectural Ironmongery journal'.

Do you know what 'ironmongery' is?

It's door handles and locks and lots of other complicated things to do with doors and windows (mostly) although it can include all sorts of other things like balustrades (thats the glass and metal posts that stop you falling off the balconies and stairs). Ironmongery is really complicated, you have to choose the right things to go together so they work right and they have to look the same and hopefully don't get in the way.

Paul from LLoyd Worrall was the man behind our ironmongery, we think he did a good job as we didn't have loads of money to spend.

Helen the 'editor' (the person who decides what goes in the magazine) thought Sharrow School was a good example to use to tell other people about ironmongery.

Double click on the pictures to open them up so you can read the text.

Click link below to see full report on RIBA website.


http://www.architecture.com/RegionsAndInternational/
UKNationsAndRegions/England/RIBAYorkshire/Awards/SheffieldDesignAwards2009.aspx

N E W S

AWARDS JOY FOR BUILDINGS
From the STAR newspaper
Published Date: 13 February 2009
By Richard Marsden

Buildings around the city have been honoured at Sheffield Design Awards. Six entries had progressed to the final of the competition, run by Sheffield Civic Trust and the Royal Institute of British Architects Yorkshire. Joint winners of the Neighbourhood and Community Design Award were the new green-roofed Sharrow School at Sitwell Road, Sharrow, and Sterling Works, Arundel Street.

Best Building Award was given to Sheffield University's Information Commons, designed by RMJM architects. The new car park on the corner of Charles Street and Arundel Gate won the Citizen's Award.