Acme architects has won the award for its arresting extension to Hunsett Mill, a 19th century Grade 2 listed mill keepers house on the Norfolk Broads. Building a major extension that more than doubled the size of the original house on a uniquely picturesque site was challenging. Acme created an extension in the form of a shadow of the original house, which the judges describe as ‘more akin to a piece of art than a piece of rural, domestic architecture.’
Speaking about the winning building Ruth Reed, president of the RIBA stated that as opposed to creating either an imitation of the Victorian red-brick cottage, or a self-effacing glass box, the architects sought to create a kind of triple-shadow of the original, in black charred timber, crossed by the shadow of the neighbouring windmill’s arms.
Hunsett Mill is conceived as a specific response to a specific space: an arcadian setting on the Norfolk Broads. The windmill and its out-buildings appear on jigsaws, postcards and chocolate boxes as a famous view from narrow boats. The new building is clad in black, charred timber so that it is truly a shadow with flush glazing that add to the sense of insubstantiality. The overall impact is more akin to the response to a piece of art than an example of rural, domestic architecture.
The roof is designed as a series of linked gables that are asymmetric but rhythmic. Further changes of angle are added to create a series of interesting spaces, with the first floor walkway to the bedrooms particularly special. The whole is consistently detailed and well crafted with interesting use of off-site construction.
Overall the restoration of the cottage and the new building, which are linked internally, can be described as an intellectually stimulating response to the strange rural setting.
The presentation of the award took place at a ceremony at the RIBA, at which the winner received a prize of £10,000 ($16,131) and a new specially commissioned trophy designed by artist Petr Wiegl from presenter, designer, author and host Kevin McCloud.
The five other shortlisted houses were: Bateman’s Row, London by Theis and Khan; Furzey Hall Farm, Gloucestershire by Waugh Thisleton Architects; Leaf House, London by James Gorst Architects; Martello Tower Y, Suffolk by Piercy Conner Architects with Billings Jackson Industrial Design; and Zero Carbon House, Birmingham by John Christophers.
Judges for this year’s award were: past RIBA President Michael Manser CBE; HSBC Private Bank’s property expert Peter Mackie, Managing Director of its Property Vision subsidiary; architects Luke Tozer from Pitman Tozer and Deborah Saunt from DSDHA; and the RIBA’s Head of Awards, Tony Chapman.
The Manser Medal 2010 Award by RIBA, in association with HSBC Private Bank rewards the architects of the best one-off house or major extension designed by an architect in the UK.
