Two of Islington’s newer buildings have been shortlisted as regional finalists for the Civic Trust Awards.
15 Clerkenwell Close and Tufnell Park Primary School were both nominated for the award, which recognises excellence in architecture, sustainability, accessibility and community.Â
Tufnell Park School was built and completed in 2019 by Haverstock, a Camden based architectural practice. Valued at £13 million, the building has a brickwork façade, and large rectangular and square windows giving the building an open and light appearance.
Claire Barton, Partner at Haverstock told Islington Now about the construction techniques used in the build, including building the school in modules off site and then assembling the modules as a final stage: “Tufnell Park Primary School is our first fully off-site manufactured school and we are extremely pleased with the quality – it really proves what can be achieved through modern methods of construction.” This technique was used to minimise disruption to the existing school.
15 Clerkenwell Close has a rustic appearance of modern architectural stylings contrasted with a natural cladding of large cut stone, forming frames around the glass walls of the building. Designed by architecture and design studio Groupwork, the building has already won a Royal Institute of British Architects award.
Amin Taha, Chairman of Groupwork said: “On top of those received by the Royal Institute of British Architects, we’re really proud of the Civic Trust Regional Award and to be shortlisted for their further awards.”
Taha said that he values the importance of buildings becoming a part of their natural surroundings. “The limestone design, roof garden and the new public pocket park that had been inaccessible, makes a far better contribution to the conservation area than the pretend, old-look, brick skin clipped to a concrete frame that has sadly been a prevalent idea for so long.”
The winners of the Civic Trust Awards will be announced in January 2021.
