Woodblock House, a home designed by dRMM for Hackney artist Richard Woods, made almost totally of timber, is among 23 homes on the longlist for the UK’s foremost private housing design award.
The Royal Institute of British Architects’ Manser Medal, in association with Hiscox, is awarded for the best new house or major extension in the UK.
Woodblock House in London has timber floors, walls and ceilings, and uses blocks of colours on the facade and staircases based on Woods’ cartoon-style prints.
The building is made of an expressed cross-laminated timber (CLT) panel structural system, which was far quicker to construct than its equivalent in brick or concrete would have been and it also has exceptional sustainability credentials. The architect points out that it is the only carbon positive method for long-span superstructures, since more carbon dioxide is absorbed through the lifetime of the trees’ growth than is expended through the manufacture, delivery and installation. The contractor was Cape Construction.
Highlights from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland include:
Farningham House Cottage
By Emrys Architects
A subtle unification, through the use of glazed corridor forms, of a traditional cottage with outhouse and stable block in the picturesque Kent village of Farningham.
High Edge
By Evans Vettori
A contemporary take on the Swiss chalet, overlooking the River Derwent in England’s “Little Switzerland”.
House No 7
By Denizen Works
The restoration and utilitarian agricultural-inspired extension of a listed Tiree black-house that hunkers down to provide a light, bright, welcoming and cosy home on the exposed Isle of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides.
The Kench
By MELOY Architects
A modest beach house with commanding views on Hayling Island in Hampshire, which appears to float above the existing ground levels to avoid flooding risk.
Lens House
By Alison Brooks Architects
The restoration and contemporary extension of a Victorian villa in north London – invisible from the street but when viewed from the garden looks like “an otherworldly masterpiece”.
Loughloughan Barn
By McGarry-Moon Architects
A modernised barn loyal to its pastoral surrounds, made of stone, timber, glass and zinc, in County Antrim with views of Slemish Mountain.
Stormy Castle
By Loyn & Co Architects
A modern castle in a stunning Gower peninsula-setting.
Tree House
By 6a Architects
An elegant extension wrapping around a tree in the garden of a Grade II listed 1830s brick weavers’ cottage in east London.
Westering
By Annie Martin Architect
A comforting cedar and granite clad bling-less home in the dramatic surroundings of Dartmoor National Park.
Wildfowl Cottage
By 5th Studio
A brave rescue of a listed waterside inn in Cambridge that includes an innovative new response to flood risk.
RIBA president Stephen Hodder said: “The 2014 RIBA Manser Medal longlist reveals the most innovative, sustainable and beautiful new homes to have been completed in the past year. The exciting line-up is a testimony to the wonderful talent and achievements of some of the UK’s best architects.”
The shortlist for the 2014 Manser Medal will be announced on Thursday 4 September, and the winner will be announced at the RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony on Thursday 16 October.
The RIBA Manser Medal was created in 2001 to celebrate excellence in housing design and was named to honour Michael Manser CBE, a designer of exceptional homes and former RIBA President. Previous winners include Carl Turner Architects for Slip House (2013) and Acme Architects for Hunsett Mill (2010).
