Surface Design Awards (Complete – Download Only)

• Housing - Interior (£ 50.00)

We completed this Maidenhead project in May 2024, with a total investment of approximately £250,000 covering both the build and furniture. Our goal was to balance luxury, functionality, and accessibility, aligning perfectly with the client’s lifestyle needs. Structural changes included removing a wall to transform two narrow bedrooms into well-proportioned spaces, with one redesigned as a home office featuring garden views. The master suite received high-end enhancements, with an expanded ensuite, bespoke walnut furnishings, and a Japanese-inspired bed.

On the ground floor, accessibility and flexibility were prioritised. The dining room features a central-base table to allow wheelchair access, while the lounge was updated with sound-absorbing panels, custom media units, and a rich green palette to create a warm atmosphere. Throughout the home, we curated a Japandi-inspired aesthetic, blending new and refurbished furniture pieces for visual harmony. Finishing touches like electric blinds, air conditioning, and consistent wall colours added comfort and continuity, creating a refined, family-friendly space designed for both daily life and future gatherings.

In the lounge, we tackled both aesthetic and acoustic challenges by introducing innovative wood and felt slat panels. This room had two different ceiling heights, which initially created a disjointed feel and a major sound issue. By framing a section of the lounge wall with wooden slats, we were able to unify the space visually and improve the acoustics, reducing echo and creating a more harmonious environment.

The slat panels also offered a subtle way to introduce colour to the room without needing to paint the entire wall. Painting would have drawn attention to the awkward ceiling transitions, but the wood slats allowed us to add depth and interest while blending the room's varying heights seamlessly. This design choice transformed the lounge into a warm, balanced space that feels cohesive and visually captivating.

The panels were used minimally within the project to add character and acoustic value. Here is a Summary of Estimated Sustainability Calculations (per 100 sq. meters)

Carbon Sequestration: 500 kg CO₂ captured (100 sq. meters x 5 kg CO₂).
Manufacturing Emissions: 1,100 kg CO₂ produced.
Transport Emissions: 62 kg CO₂ (for a 1,000 km distance).
Overall Balance: ~662 kg CO₂ net emissions for production and transport, offset by 500 kg of carbon stored in the wood itself.

In summary, Trepanel walnut wood slat panels have a moderate upfront carbon footprint, but with their carbon sequestration and recyclability, they represent a sustainable choice for enhancing interior spaces while contributing to a lower overall environmental impact.

Key challenges in this project included tackling acoustic issues and visual flow in the lounge, which had two ceiling heights creating a disjointed feel and sound problems. We addressed this by using wood and felt slat panels, improving both sound and continuity.

We believe we deserve to win this award because we have transformed a common material into an innovative design feature that enhances both functionality and aesthetics. By creatively using wood and felt slat panels in the lounge, we not only addressed acoustic issues but also added a visually appealing element that brings warmth and character to the space. The design was specifically tailored to create a masculine atmosphere, perfectly suited for an all-male home.

Our thoughtful approach showcases how traditional materials can be reimagined to meet modern needs while maintaining style. This project exemplifies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of design, making a strong case for recognition.

• Housing - Exterior (£ 50.00)

Located at 70 High-street Maidenhead in London, this project comprises two buildings: an existing structure meticulously refurbished to house residential units and a brand new five-story building solely dedicated to flats. Both structures are interconnected by a central courtyard with green spaces. The ground floor facing High-street Maidenhead will accommodate two retail spaces as it will serve for an active frontage upon the main commercial street. Embracing sustainability principles, the project incorporated various eco-friendly strategies and underwent a comprehensive construction phase, encompassing the preparation of detailed construction drawings and specifications which were fully compliant with building regulations.

The careful selection of materials for this project was driven by a commitment to sustainability, elegance, tranquility, and durability. The use of local brick for the front facade not only respects the local architectural character but also emphasizes a connection to the surrounding environment. The interior finishes, such as Krono Swiss flooring and Dulux paints, offer a balance of sophistication and practicality. The inclusion of sustainable materials like Interlocking Outdoor Deck Tiles and Nova Matt slate panels further reinforces the project's eco-conscious approach. These materials not only contribute to the building's aesthetic appeal but also ensure its longevity and the well-being of its residents. By prioritizing sustainable and durable materials, this project aims to create timeless spaces that promote tranquility and elevate the living experience.

The project's sustainability credentials are underpinned by its holistic approach. Refurbishing an existing building significantly reduced the project's environmental impact compared to new construction. The central green courtyard, a vital element of the design, not only enhances the psychological well-being of residents but also contributes to the local ecosystem. The meticulous selection of materials, prioritizing sustainable sources and low-carbon manufacturing processes, further reinforces the project's commitment to environmental responsibility.

Rigorous SAP and SBEM calculations were conducted to ensure compliance with UK building regulations, optimizing the building's energy performance and minimizing its long-term energy consumption. By incorporating energy-efficient appliances, the project aims to reduce operational carbon emissions and promote sustainable living practices.

The successful execution of this project hinged on the meticulous application of carefully selected materials. As the project was meticulously planned and specified, it was imperative that the materials were installed with the utmost care and craftsmanship. The construction phase was particularly sensitive, as any deviations from the specifications could have compromised the project's aesthetic and functional integrity.

• Commercial Building - Interior (£ 50.00)

Refurbishment of the WCs for the Orangery at Kew Gardens.
The new designs needed to reflect the history, period and development of the Orangery whilst ensuring modern
facilities were fully embraced and included. In order to achieve this, historic tiling by H E Smith was used but the
design and installation patterns were very contemporary. Combined with this, Corian wash troughs were specially
manufactured offering a contemporary fitting with a traditional marble effect.
Project completion: March 2023
Total Project Cost : £150,000 (the tiling and solid surface materials were part of this cost)

Ceramic tiling by H E Smith: To achieve a reflection of the historical development of buildings and gardens at Kew, the
beautiful moulded, embossed and patterned tiles from H E Smith were chosen in a variety of shades of green. These
were laid in a complex and unusual layout to reflect contemporary requirements for this area. Feature areas were
picked out to really 'pop' visually, whereas the more functional ares were softer in a cream crackle glaze tile with
moulded dados.
Solid surface by Corian: Wash troughs were specially manufactured from a marble effect Corian. This enabled a 'nod'
to the history whilst allowing efficient and very smart sanitary ware to do it's required job.

Tiles: H E Smith use a double fire production process to produce their tiles which would be around 17kg CO2 per m²
per firing so in total around 35kg CO2 per m².
However due to the nature of the product, once the tiles are fixed they remain in place for a number years compared
to other types of wall decoration so this is designed to help reduce the carbon foot print throughout their lifetime.
Corian: Corian states that they continuously innovate their manufacturing processes to reduce energy consumption,
eliminate or minimise production scraps and waste, and optimise packaging. Corian is a durable product, as it is
designed to last longer and can be easily repaired if needed. Selected colours are made using 6% to 14% of preconsumer recycled materials/ingredients.

We were tasked with finding materials that would reflect the need to find an empathetic approach for the look and feel
at Kew. Added to this the materials were to be extremely robust in a very high traffic area. These WCs had to be very
'smart' as they host large weddings and other events as well as being the main WCs for all the restaurant and café
traffic during the opening times. Everything specified had to fulfil heavy contract requirements, without looking like
heavy contract materials. The balance achieved was extremely successful with the clients fully happy with the results.

The use of modern materials in a historic setting illustrates how a thoughtful approach can enhance a space without
compromising the values and history integral to the building. The full support of clients with in this process made the
job so much easier, and the skills required and implemented from the tilers gave a complex scheme and great finish.

• Surface of the Year - Exterior (£ 50.00)

*Original Architect: Rainer Schell, Wiesbaden
*Original Construction Year: 1962-1964
*Client: City of Göttingen
*Facade Redesign: 2017
*Reopening: January 26, 2024
*Sorting and Cleaning of Existing Tiles for Reuse: 5 Colors, 2 Relief Geometries

The facade of the Göttingen Town Hall has consisted of ceramic tiles in various glazes and geometries for over 50 years. As part of the renovation, m&r Manufaktur GmbH was commissioned to produce new tiles and refurbish existing ones. Unlike the original design, the current execution features a ventilated façade (VHF). As experts in three-dimensional architectural ceramics and glaze development, m&r Manufaktur provided new glazes, a new geometry, and professional processing for over 6,000 existing tiles. To preserve the distinctive ceramic facade as an object of identification, as many existing tiles as possible were retained. A new geometric relief has been added in terms of form. Two new glaze colors were developed by m&r Manufaktur in close coordination with the lead architects Inga Soll and Heiko Sasse. Both the old facade tiles and the newly produced stoneware objects are made from 100% natural materials.

*Production of Supplementary Tiles: 2 Colors, 1 Relief Geometry
*Ventilated, Hinterlüftete Facade made from preserved colorful original tiles as well as newly manufactured tiles as supplements
*3,000 new three-dimensional tiles produced using casting ceramics method, allowing for precise implementation of the architects' design intentions

Result: A facade that embodies sustainability on multiple levels and preserves the Göttingen Town Hall as an object of identification while considering ecological aspects. On October 24th, the annual award ceremony for the German Facade Prize for ventilated facades took place in Frankfurt. The Göttingen Town Hall was nominated in the category "Building in Existing Structures" and won this prestigious award in that category.

New Ceramic Tiles and Refurbishment of Existing Tiles
For the production of our ceramics, we rely on stoneware. The facade tiles fired from this material meet the properties of brick and terracotta facades. They are frost-resistant, non-combustible, and color-stable. For individual glaze development and replicating ceramic glazes, we utilize additional processing techniques. Ceramic screen printing and digital printing are also applied in the finishing process. This allows us to bring images, gradients, or patterns onto architectural materials, including the facade ceramics produced in-house.
In architecture, the selection of the appropriate material is of immense importance: weight, tactile quality, surface behavior—many criteria play a role in functionality, durability, and appearance. Since every building is different, we primarily produce on a project basis. We create contemporary architectural designs exclusively for a single object. For flat facades, we replicate the high-quality appearance of natural stones while leveraging the unbeatable positive properties of stoneware ceramics. We produce surfaces designed to last for eternity.

After nearly 60 years of use, along with the associated structural, technical, and energy-related issues, a decision had to be made regarding the future of the building (affectionately known as the "tile stove" by locals). In the spirit of a conscious engagement with sustainability—considering ecological, economic, and sociocultural aspects—the building's lifecycle was not ended but extended, in line with the City of Göttingen's goal to become climate-neutral by 2030. The significant amount of gray energy (the energy already required for the production, transport, and installation of materials) from the existing structure is not consumed and therefore does not need to be newly generated through new construction; instead, it is preserved. This demonstrates an exemplary approach to dealing with post-war buildings and forms the basis for transferring the Göttingen Town Hall from the fossil 20th century into the post-fossil 21st century. This premise is the main idea behind the award-winning concept for the facade redesign, from which the guiding principle "Recognize-Preserve-Continue" was formulated. The unique facade cladding of the existing structure, made up of ceramic tiles measuring (WxHxD) 50 cm x 50 cm x 3 cm in five color tones—dark blue, purple, red, medium blue, and white—as well as triangular and circular relief geometries were carefully disassembled by hand, cleaned, and stored. A high proportion (>90%) of all existing tiles could thus be archived for reuse. (Source: soll sasse architekten BDA [https://www.sollsasse.de/stadthalle-goettingen.html])

• Commercial Building - Interior (£ 50.00)

With a 360-degree panorama of Liverpool’s beautiful, iconic and eclectic architecture, and overlooking the magnificent Liver Building, MUFG’s new workspace provides a highly responsive & agile working environment for their team in the North. The fitout was completed in May 2024 and staff & stakeholders are now reinvigorated and fully occupying the office after an extended hiatus.
MUFG's Northern office at 20 Chapel Street, Liverpool, plays a key role in supporting its global teams with a vital presence in the North. This new, vibrant workspace creates skilled job opportunities and unites staff from various acquired businesses, who previously worked in business park locations, into the heart of Central Liverpool. This provides a strong, fresh local talent pool and investment in the thriving FinTech Sector of the North.
Our brief was to retain as much of the existing Cat A shell with minimal intervention to ceilings to ensure strict construction budgets were met, whilst selecting a materials palette reflecting the company’s culture and brand identity. Our goal was to create a warm, inviting environment for this dynamic team. We have thoughtfully applied selected finishes and colour schemes to encourage interaction in breakout areas while providing privacy and calm in workspaces. Each zone has a unique yet cohesive aesthetic, contributing to a dynamic, inspiring palette.
Upon entering, upholstered banquette seats offer a peaceful location (with views over the cityscape) for less formal client meetings. Leading from the arrivals space, softly curved, FSC-certified veneered walls stretch floor-to-ceiling, guiding visitors to meeting rooms, in contrast to navy locker & storagewalls (in Egger & Abet Laminati) leading to the open workspace. Patterned EGE carpets provide zoning without physical dividers, and a semi-transparent curtain by Creation Baumann offers additional adjustable, separation around team collaboration space. In the Breakout spaces, vibrant Bolon flooring encourages social interaction, while Fuji Ku acoustic ceiling rafts by Woven Image (and The Collective) in the Training Area & Boardroom create calm, focused environments. Deep-green lounge seating was placed along the facade, offering refreshing views across the Mersey to soothe screen-weary eyes. A gradient carpet in the Boardroom adds a touch of playfulness to the corporate atmosphere.
The fitout offers wide flexibility and adaptability to all spaces - Boardroom & Training areas can easily be converted to alternative work typologies and collaborative settings such as ‘Town Hall’ space with minimum fuss and re-engineering. Biophilia housed in recycled,3D-printed Aectual planters were strategically integrated to enhance & divide space without interrupting exceptional views. Agility and the ability to be refreshed regularly, without significant cost or wasted resources and materials was essential. We have followed the rule: Long Life-Loose Fit-Low Energy.
Fixed amenities and cellular requirements are designed not to impede future business changes. Services have been designed to ensure future flexibility with IT-enabled features, integrated charging points & ‘plug & play’ options throughout, allowing staff choice in work settings.
It was also imperative that all staff benefit from access to great light, views and shared amenities. Located on the 11th floor of a fully occupied building, the new office environment encompasses CAT A to CAT B fitout. It has been described as “so much better than home,” offering the tools and settings for a wide variety of needs—from flexible, movable collaborative experiences to quieter, concentrated options.
The designers at Hermantes Studio are very conscious that everything that the industry creates and specifies has an environmental and social impact. As a business, we have a lasting design ethos where our specifications are selected to ensure quality and flexibility in their buildability & construction whilst ensuring they will be aesthetically desirable and relevant for as long as possible and can be repurposed in their lifespan.
When designing MUFG Liverpool, our key choices for finishes, materiality and FF&E were to be agile, highly sustainable and of great quality, with the Systems furniture & Task chair package to be specified from a manufacturer close to the source. Senator products from nearby Altham were selected for their sustainability credentials and future-forward approach. Adding to an eclectic, yet cohesive blend of manufacturers, were much loved, timeless classics such as Knoll Studio – Bertoia & Womb Chairs, beautiful &Tradition tables and Lintex mobile whiteboards, which were repurposed from our previous office delivery for our client in Leeds.
Through the drive and agility of the Design & Project Team, this project was delivered on time and within budget, undertaken in the midst of a business acquisition, which added some complication not only to brand identity but to budgets and decision-making processes.

Hermantes Studio aim to reduce our impact on the environment by an informed selection of materials, finishes and products.
Danish EGE Carpets aims to create the most sustainable carpets in the industry, powered by 100% renewable energy, using a high % of recycled materials as well as a take-back recycling programme.
Recycled drink cartons 3D printed into planters by Dutch enterprise Aectuel (brought to us by British material enthusiasts Material Hangout) are a great example of a 100% circular product that brings the latest sustainability efforts into the workspace.
UK-based design and manufacturing studio The Collective is not a rookie in the market. Certified ISO 14001, their acoustic products are our favourite to-go solutions that enhance any wall or ceiling with their great designs.
The Good Plastic Company’s innovative surface material Polygood®, awarded Cradle to Cradle Certified®Bronze and EPD certified was selected for our Breakout surfaces. It demonstrates that sustainable choices work well alongside standardized time-proven design detailing.
UK-based ISO 14001-awarded tiles supplier Solus has direct access to European manufacturers and aims to keep the highest sustainability standards. Selected glazed ceramic wall tiles Montedoria Snow and Fluting Brillo were the right choice for balancing design, quality and sustainability.
Kvadrat is an inspirational brand that has sustainability deep in its core values. The selected Remix 3 range is a wool & nylon blend, with a long lifespan and timeless aesthetics & longevity. A wool, polyester & nylon blend - Razzle Dazzle was added to bring an eye-catching pattern into the palette.

We believe in a sustainability approach even if it cannot be quantified or certified. Working with a trusted client on multiple projects through the years gave us the opportunity to reuse existing furniture stock from previous, released office fitouts. We worked hard with the client to find a use for each element that was to become redundant. Proving that high-quality specifications are a long-lasting solution, gave the client trust in our determined timeless selections.
Although the project did not apply for an official sustainability certification, it is a great example of a sustainability high-design fitout.

Most of the new finishes and items were thoughtfully sourced from a market often saturated with flashy, cheap, single-use designs that harm the environment. We engaged trusted suppliers, considering their advice on materials and furnishings to ensure genuine sustainability and avoid greenwashing. This allowed us to carefully choose durable materials that aligned with the client's cultural and aesthetic goals.
We aspire to help bring new sustainable materials into practice. One example is The Good Plastic Company’s innovative surface material, Polygood®, which is Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze and EPD certified. Due to its unique qualities and recycled content, working with Polygood® required a learning curve for the designer, installation team, and operations team to understand its limitations and follow the manufacturer's guidelines precisely.
Human error can sometimes be inevitable, especially with products that have long lead times. A confident designer and well-organized manager on the contractor’s side are essential to managing any delays, adjusting the construction plan to account for the missing components and ensuring extra care during its final installation, without making any compromises.

In a world increasingly dominated by cheap, fast design, it’s the designer’s responsibility to guide clients in making informed choices. The latest technologies aren’t always the best solutions, and it’s crucial to value traditional craftsmanship and low-tech systems as well. The Surface Design Show offers a valuable opportunity to educate designers, empowering them to create better interiors for everyone.

• Housing - Interior (£ 50.00)

The Peterson & Darley House residential refurbishment project in Mayfair showcases a remarkable commitment to sustainable, high-quality refurbishment, breathing new life into adjoined Grade II listed historical buildings, while honouring its former heritage. The development worth £5m was completed on the 9th November 2024.

Once a ‘cut & carved’ office conversion, the 22no apartments were previously furnished with functional, low-grade materials and a completely lacklustre interior environment for their prime location and beautiful building facades. The interiors and period detailing had been overwhelmed by poor & functional services interventions and defunct of any design character. The apartment interiors were bland & homogenous and lacking any special features or ‘sparkle’.

Hermantes Studio took on the ambitious project of transforming the feature common areas and the 22no. apartments (for a rental market), carefully restoring original architectural detailing with a new, more punchy aesthetic to align with our client’s aspiration and to create a contemporary, boutique design befitting this Mayfair postcode.

In this refurbishment, sustainability and high-quality materials were the key focus. Hermantes Studio prioritised eco-friendly choices when sourcing materials. Every design element aimed to combine aesthetics with ecological responsibility, making the building as environmentally conscious as it is visually compelling.

This attention to sustainability and style has not only elevated the building befitting of Mayfair's luxury standards but also enhanced the experience for future residents by creating a robust and boutique environment to a strict budget and programme. By creating spaces that honour both the history of the area and the principles of sustainable design, Hermantes Studio has crafted an inviting environment that resonates with the values of a modern, eco-conscious clientele.

Reviving the original craftsmanship whilst instilling a fresh, inviting and timeless new boutique experience through quality design was part of our brief.

Original features were carefully restored and preserved, ensuring the building's character remained intact. Each window was re-glazed in situ with double-glazed units and hand-painted by expert craftsmen to enhance the building’s energy efficiency. Exposed brick and stone facades were hand-cleaned, balcony floors refinished with original asphalt, and all cast iron railings and gates were sanded by hand and newly coated for long-term protection.

Inside, the original checkered marble flooring was uncovered, refinished, and preserved, while Peterson House’s central timber staircase was French-polished and given a luxurious overhaul with a hand-woven linen & wool runner and bronze stair rods.

Apartment layouts were thoughtfully reworked to improve their functionality, but otherwise retained to reduce unnecessary waste and the impact to a fast-rolling programme. All reusable furniture was donated to charity, reducing landfill waste. Tired, outdated and out-of-warranty kitchen/bathroom fittings & equipment were removed, and were either repurposed &/or recycled, underscoring the project’s commitment to sustainability without compromising on design quality.

All apartments received new doors & ironmongery and internal entrance halls, living areas, and kitchens received oiled, engineered, FSC oak parquet flooring, chosen for its durability and timeless appeal. The bedrooms were fitted with 100% wool broadloom carpets, manufactured in Britain to ensure premium quality and minimal environmental impact.

The kitchens were fitted with UK-made joinery in a timeless palette, complemented by CO2-neutral Dekton solid surface countertops for durability & longevity. Central to each apartment, the bathrooms were equipped with high-end fittings like Gessi brassware, Bette baths, Merlyn shower screens, Catalano sinks, and Tece systems.

Selected wall finishes reflect a contemporary boutique aesthetic with sustainable sourcing, incorporating green-glazed ceramic metro tiles by local Claybrook, ceramics by Solus, and recycled glass mosaics by Fired Earth and natural, handwoven wallpapers by Arte. Silver Portoro marble vanity tops added a refined touch to the bathroom design. The apartments were completed with statement brass and glass feature wall lights by TomDixon and Cattelan Italia, harmonizing high-quality design with enduring materiality.

Energy efficiency upgrades at Peterson House and Darley House were executed with precision, seamlessly merging modern performance with heritage conservation. Double glazing was retrofitted into the original timber frames of all sash windows. This approach preserved the architectural integrity of the historic windows while significantly enhancing thermal insulation, reducing heat loss, and improving overall energy performance in line with the latest efficiency standards.

To support these upgrades, AV, security, entry & heating systems to all apartments underwent a comprehensive overhaul and modernization. High-efficiency boilers and heating controls were introduced where necessary to optimize energy use and maintain thermal comfort.

Every detail of these improvements reflects a commitment to sustainable building practices without compromising the historical features that define the buildings' character. The new interiors inject new life and longevity with now beautiful interior spaces.

For this heritage refurbishment, Hermantes Studio selected materials & finishes true to the aesthetics of the building’s era, whilst adding a contemporary boutique ‘shine’. We aimed to specify local, with UK-based &/or European-manufacturers, reducing the CO2 created with international transport.

We worked alongside UK-based flooring supplier Havwoods, carefully selecting quality, certified oak parquet flooring for all living areas and corridors, ensuring sustainable sourcing to meet the highest industry standards-FCS, PEFC, Cradle to Cradle, Indoor Air Comfort and other accreditations.

Selecting Linen N Wool WL779 as natural fibre carpets was a must, as it is well known that one of the biggest pollutants and sources of CO2 in interiors are man-made fibre carpets. Crucial Trading, founded in 1986 is a long-standing business with a commitment to innovative design, quality craftsmanship and superior service.

Broadloom Carpets_ AVEBCLAK by Cormar Carpet Co, a family business founded in 1924 in Rossendale Valley, Lancashire and holder of ISO 14001, reflects our commitment to local craftsmanship and material sourcing.
A carbon-neutral ultracompact porcelain surface Dekton Vigil Onirika was used in 22no. kitchens for its durability & longevity for a rental market and natural appearance.
UK-based ISO 14001-awarded tiles supplier Solus has direct access to European manufacturers and aims to keep the highest sustainability standards. Selected glazed ceramic wall tile Subtle Exquisite and Attenuate were the right choice balancing design, quality and sustainability.

Paint finishes were low to no VOC by Farrow & Ball and Wallpapers were natural, hand woven and biodegradable sisal by Arte.

The Peterson & Darley House refurbishment is a model of sustainable, high-quality restoration that seamlessly integrates heritage preservation with eco-friendly design. Key sustainability measures include the careful restoration of original features, such as hand-sanded cast iron railings, reclaimed marble flooring, and in-situ double glazing in original timber sash windows, enhancing both aesthetics and energy efficiency. Durable materials were chosen throughout, including CO2-neutral Dekton countertops, British-made broadloom wool carpets, and engineered oak herringbone flooring, all selected for their longevity, sustainability credentials and low environmental impact.

Energy efficiency was prioritized with upgraded heating systems, high-efficiency boilers, and targeted insulation to reduce energy demand. Recyclable, locally sourced materials were used wherever possible, and all waste was either recycled or repurposed, including the donation of existing furniture to charities. Sustainable, European-made materials and fittings, such as Gessi brassware, wool carpets, and low-energy feature lighting, further underscore the project’s dedication to minimizing its environmental footprint while creating luxurious, timeless and enduring spaces that honour the building's historical character.
Although the project did not apply for an official sustainability certification, it is a great example of sustainable, high-design retrofit in a listed building.

Our sustainable design process began with a thorough understanding of materials and suppliers, ensuring we avoided greenwashing by directly consulting trusted experts. This approach enabled us to carefully select durable materials that harmonized with the building's original character and promised longevity.

For the Peterson and Darley House project, we prioritized low-tech, historically sympathetic materials, such as glazed ceramic tiles and natural fibre carpets, closely matching those originally used. Alongside these, we integrated advanced sustainable materials like recycled glass mosaics, ultra-compact porcelain surfaces, and Italian brushed brass bathroom fixtures, achieving an aesthetic that was both timeless and environmentally conscious.

To execute the intricate herringbone pattern with the glazed ceramic tiles, we employed a highly skilled tiler, whose precision and experience were complemented by a meticulous design manager. This ensured an exceptional finish that balanced beauty with sustainable integrity. This carefully curated process reinforced our commitment to eco-friendly design without compromising quality or craftsmanship.

We conducted extensive research and went to great lengths to locate a facility capable of repurposing approximately 220 sqm of dated granite worktops. While we found that the market is not yet fully adapted to a circular system, we ensured that these materials were responsibly recycled. London offers an abundant source of surplus materials, presenting an incredible opportunity to foster genuine circularity in design. Platforms like the Surface Design Show hold the potential to establish a collaborative network where industry professionals can advise, innovate, and share sustainable practices, creating a collective, positive impact on our built environment.

• Commercial Building - Interior (£ 50.00)

In the age of hybrid working, it’s encouraging to see how a multitude of insights and influences have revitalised attitudes and ways for how we work. Many evident in the accelerated evolution of designed interiors seeking to create more conscious and sustainable workplace environments. Inspired by lifestyle, ‘home from home’ aesthetics, and the more informal backdrop of remote working experiences, it is liberating to see today’s workplaces evolving into more spirited future facing working experiences in response to a dwindling reluctance for being in traditional offices and outdated corporate notions of productivity.

Despite shifts away from physical to knowledge-based working, many companies still prioritise quantity over quality not investing in workplace environments compromising levels of wellbeing for many employees. Performance and well-being lie not in how much work we do, but in the quality of How, Where and When we work. Interior Architecture has a fundamental responsibility to create relevant, and engaging environments where users will feel ‘at home’ to optimise a mix of skills; learning, complex thinking, communication, creativity, concentration, decision-making, presenting - all with enriching and fruitful outcomes.

Building upon our client Vastint's ‘Business Garden’ brand concept, turnerbates have designed and further developed the expanding their network of ‘work campuses’ in multiple countries across Europe. Created with the International Real Estate Developer, no two Business Gardens are the same. Each offers a unique and innovative concept solution to the outdated workplace. There is no singular repeat blueprint for designs in different cities or countries - all have similar component parts but the interior architectural space is all treated differently.

Spatial arrangements and surface treatments are distinct and customised to express each cities’ individual character, whether through the use of custom graphics or local materials or material processes. The Lounge is uniquely tailored to every location, allowing the culture of the country to inform the designs, each a response to their location to express a local narrative through the design, materials used, skills and finishing processes available.

Informed through participation with users and community, they are a garden or landscape: each can evolve to flourish in time. The ‘digital of business’ and the ‘nature of a garden’ in balance. Technology fused with the organic expressed through the surface pattern and of materials and their inherent form and textures. Place-making that embraces the imagination colliding cues from residential and hospitality design that facilitate Users in exploring new working practice and behaviours characterised around familiar local narratives.

Our submission spotlights the Business Garden in Vilnius, Lithuania, which sets the curve for a vibrant work experience. This Business Garden utilises a large area of 42,000 m² with innovative results – the ground floor area includes the Forum: a coffee shop, canteen, events space, bar and restaurant, and social areas for tenants and visitors. The Lounge sits within these vibrant amenities as a welcome alternative to the traditional work environment. Membership enables access to local facilities and beyond to other countries.

Multi-functional spaces create a mix of relaxed areas that encourage tenants and users to adopt use of differing spaces to enhance and compliment different tasks. These spaces allow for people to be together, enabling users to collaborate, socialise, or work more privately. Every Lounge has flexible zones suited to different ways of working. Tenants can book meetings in the cosy snug, brainstorm in the project room, take calls in the private phone booths, attend conferences or simply relax in the social space.

Drawing on our experience and expertise designing successful social and commercial projects, we have honed our skills to effect creating The Lounge and Forum spaces for complimentary agile working for both focus or pause, ‘switch off’ and relax. This revitalisation of these multi-connected working facilities fuses lifestyle luxuries with collaborative and social features inspired from the hospitality design of hotels and venues. The influence of lobbies, check-ins, bars, lounges and auditoriums all contribute to blurring the boundaries between varying hybrid spaces within the Lounge and Forum.

Effectively designed interiors, surfaces and materials specified, placement of furniture, lighting and objects all contribute to creating visual and meaningful prompts that elevate wellbeing and mindset. We value and consider in much detail what contributes and creates meaningful spaces to empower users, knowledge and growth. To encourage dynamics and various mind flow states to dial up or down around working hours. A place where you want to be, where it doesn’t necessarily feel like you’re at work!

Cost: 3000 Euros per sq. metre / Lounge: 444 sqm / Forum: 1,111 sqm
Completed: full activated Tenant occupancy late 2022

In The Lounge & The Forum, the integrated use of classic, natural materials like timber, glass, stone, metal bring durability and an open, honest space. Many materials used were sourced locally, creating a familiar authenticity that expresses the architectural envelope. They create a reassuring foundation that will patina well with use in the way our homes feel lived in. Their inherent qualities elevate and achieve the desired ambience by utilising various surface processes and profiles, finishes and textures. Profiled Timber claddings; natural and painted. Reeded and diffused glass refracting natural & artificial lighting atmospheres.

Contrastingly, the use of innovative Sustainable materials like the Richlite, Foresso and LVT Flooring all have high recycled content and circularity in their material process. Acknowledging issues in construction and beyond of the growing waste economy, each of these raw material waste components - such as recycled paper, timber offcuts & sawdust, and recycled rubbers from old sports trainers - bring an alternative non precious, re-use dynamic that juxtapose the precision of other materials used in the space.

Throughout the scheme, we make references to the analogue and digital processes. An example of this would be the recycled paper reused for surfaces around The Library and other counter tops. The recognisable random pattern of raw timber chips to surfaces and claddings are seen between the rigidity of formed frameworks. Recycled rubber floor from old trainers expresses agile hybrid working as a sport! Basketball is a particular favourite of Vilnius natives, with it being their much-loved national sport.

We believe the impact of the spaces to users lies in the creative use and application of relevant materials in unity together. This is the inspiration behind our submission.

The design vision and strategy, operational and building performance requirements for Business Garden, Vilnius are all considered and defined with sustainability at the forefront. Business Garden Vilnius has been internationally appraised for sustainability solutions using smart systems. It is one of only 10 buildings in Europe that have received the remarkable achievement of attaining 95 points within the framework of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, securing the highest level of ‘Platinum’ status. Only 30 building structures across the world have been accredited with Platinum status, and this is the first newly constructed office building within the Baltic region to achieve this milestone. Business Garden Vilnius sets a leading example for the broader landscape of European construction and real estate development.

The Business Garden Vilnius complex is grounded within one of the greenest landscaped areas of the city. The space promotes a holistic healthy working environment surrounded by nature. Uniquely, the area is bordered by a 10-hectare urban forest. Trees were preserved on the original grounds, and more planted into the forest. The work campus includes a variety of amenities for sports. In addition to a basketball court and ping-pong tables, the grounds also offer its tenants an outdoor volleyball court to help everyone stay energised. You can work outdoors at Business Garden and enjoy some fresh air on a bench in the park, move inside for a round of negotiations, or a work meeting in a Brunch Garden restaurant. Each amenity is appealingly different, and smart. These days, agile working and hybrid work environments often revolve around just combining work in the office with working from home. The Business Garden has expanded this definition conveying that hybrid work environments can be offered and evolved further.

Today, employees are searching for new ways to work and exploring their efficiency and creativity - the turnerbates-designed spaces within the Business Garden provide solutions to these problems. Comfortable working here is not solely for employees of the tenant companies but also for the benefit of those local tenant communities who might not have representational spaces and additional facilities for a seminar, lecture, small conference, or an informal party in their rented office.

Together with Vastint, turnerbates hopes to have demonstrated a distinct commitment to the environment, evident down to the last detail of the design.

We have not encountered any particular issues in the specification or application of materials used for this Vilinus project. However, one thing we have encountered across Business Garden projects is some inconsistency in achieving required classifications & certifications between different countries in Europe with some newer Materials specified. Innovative and sustainable materials from one country can be difficult to achieve approval for due to inconsistencies in standards within classifications and certification process.

For example, products like Foresso are certified under their local UK Building Regulations associated and relevant to the origin and manufacture of the product , which might not necessarily meet the same classification for say Food Hygiene or Certification with Fire Regulations of other countries in Europe. What is compliant for Lithuania, might be more prohibitive to certify in Wrocław, for example.

Naturally this can be an evolving challenge for us with wanting to specify ethical and conscious materials for projects across Europe. One we try to overcome by building relationships with suppliers and manufactures from early-stage concept developments to enable samples to share and open up communication with contractors. If we can research similar alternatives at the source of the project, we will aim to work towards this – as since Brexit, exporting materials known to us here in the UK is not always a cost-efficient option either.

At the heart of it regular feedback between all partners in the industry will assist to enable more material innovations and ethical investments for the construction Industry.

In addition to the 4 completed Lounges in Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland, the turnerbates studio is proud to currently be involved developing other Lounge concepts across Europe in Marseille, Amsterdam, London and Milan.

It's rewarding to be see how this transformative approach developing Business Garden Vilinus has influenced and made a difference to everyday work and life. turnerbates is proud to see the value that a sensitive design brief and strategy, integration of sustainable materials and ethical building practice can affect better agile working practice, ethics, can have lasting positive change on health and wellbeing in these community focussed hybrid environments.

• Surface of the Year - Interior (£ 50.00)

As the nature of work continues to evolve, prioritising hybrid and more fluid workspaces, the need is also growing for environments that support focus and collaboration. In addition to style, comfort, and support, users demand the flexibility to make their workspace work for them, which is where the Float Mini contributes.

Research shows even three minutes of standing for every hour spent sitting reaps enormous benefits. Float Mini allows you to move from sitting to standing and back again, effortlessly. It makes it easy to stay active and comfortable, encouraging frequent changes in posture, improving circulation, reducing muscle strain, and preventing the health risks that come from prolonged sitting. Incorporating the use of a non-powered pneumatic cylinder, Float Mini encourages natural movement in a wide range of uses by providing a worksurface that glides to a variety of heights and does not have to be used within reach of a power source.

The Float Mini table combines classic residential aesthetics with Humanscale’s world-class ergonomic design system to create a simple and compact solution for all workspaces. Ideal for residential, commercial, and “third places,” Float Mini is a compact sit/stand desk that adapts to any space and is easily stowed when not in use.

Float Mini’s compact worksurface fits into just about any workspace, while offering ample room for your essentials. It’s ideal for both focused work and multitasking in tight environments, offering a streamlined Sit/Stand experience. Float Mini’s offset leg maximizes stability while providing more usable space beneath the desk. Unlike a centred base, the offset base allows the desk column to be positioned closer to the edge, which not only improves legroom but also makes it easier to place the desk against walls or underneath side tables.

Like all Humanscale products, Float Mini is engineered with premium materials and precision craftsmanship, ensuring it delivers reliable performance across a decade or more of daily use. Its’ robust design guarantees long-lasting durability backed up by an industry-leading warranty.

Project Cost – RRP £1078

Float Mini is offered with a natural linoleum surface material, that is wear-resistant, anti-static and anti-fingerprinting with matte finish. It is produced from a very finely ground linoleum granulate created from pure oxidised vegetable linseed oil and natural pine rosin to which wood flour and colour pigments have been added. It is finished with a water-based, cross-linked acrylic finish that protects the surface while maintaining the flexibility special touch of linoleum.

Float Mini is also offered with a bamboo work surface. We chose to use bamboo for the work surface as opposed to traditional wood because Bamboo takes less than 10 years to replenish, making it the more planet-friendly option. By comparison, the wood used in standard tops comes from old-growth forests, which can take up to 100 years to regrow.

Both materials emulate our goal of creating net positive products that leave the world better off, and in addition Float Mini provides a warm aesthetic perfect for any work from-home setup without compromising durability.

Like all Humanscale products, Float Mini tables are designed with a positive environmental impact in mind at every stage of development. For Humanscale, the best designs in the world achieve more with less, and sustainability is the natural result of this focus.

Each of Humanscale’s occasional tables are made for durability and longevity and is rigorously tested to ensure it looks and performs like new after many years, keeping it in use and out of landfills. Although standard in most other sit/stand desks, Float Mini does not utilise any harmful Red List chemicals, such as Formaldehyde, which is considered a carcinogen by the FDA and EPA, is present in most worksurfaces. We have gone to great lengths to produce safer and healthier worksurfaces, removing formaldehyde from the core, glue, and edge banding.

In addition, Humanscale chose to use bamboo for a work surface option as opposed to traditional wood. Bamboo takes less than 10 years to replenish, making it the more planet-friendly option.

Recognising the company’s commitment to planet positive manufacturing, Humanscale is a certified B Corporation™ (B Corp™). Humanscale pursues independent, third-party validated certifications to break through misleading claims about sustainability and create transparency, which is essential to achieve real progress. B Corp Certification means that a company has met B Lab’s rigorous standards for social and environmental impact, made a legal commitment to stakeholder governance, and is demonstrating accountability and transparency by disclosing this record of performance in a public B Corp profile. Humanscale’s additional notable third-party certifications include the Living Product Challenge (LPC), Declare, Health Product Declarations (HPDs), LEVEL®, and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). All Humanscale factories are TRUE® Zero Waste certified and are third-party audited to ensure each one diverts at least 90% of waste away from landfill, the environment, and incineration.

Humanscale Design Studio is a powerhouse of designers, engineers and proto-typists from around the world. Abiding by the philosophy that good design achieves more with less, the team specialises in solving functional problems with simple, efficient designs. A holistic approach is taken to ergonomics, with the user experience and interaction with the product front of mind.

• Surface of the Year - Interior (£ 50.00)

Championing acoustic innovation, Woven Image sees the evolution of acoustic innovation through the theme “Macro Rhythms”. Reflecting on the rapidly evolving workplace this theme embraces sensory perception engaging in a visual tactile aural experience on a macro scale, with floor to ceiling 3D formed panel solutions; ‘Curtain’ & ‘Column’.

Column as the name suggests is inspired by the undulating symmetrical rhythms of the awe-inspiring Classical Architectural innovation. Progressing from the manufacturing techniques of the Woven Image Embossed Panel Series combined with expertise in 3D Tile forming, Column is the first introduction of a floor to ceiling 3D formed panel with superior acoustic ability. Due to the design of wave-like peaks and troughs coupled with a depth of approximately 70mm & a combination of non-woven raw materials, significant airgaps are captured in a direct fix wall application providing an acoustically superior solution for open plan commercial interior spaces. Column is available in 8 colourways, marle effect mushroom, warm nutmeg reminiscent of a classic wood tone, dusk a beautifully subtle pinky hue, fresh sorbet mint, indigo navy, enticing vineyard green, classic cream and the subtle cool neutral frost, completes the palette.

Curtain, the asymmetrical cousin to Column, takes on a more freeform fluid appearance. A slight reduction in depth enables a beautiful contemporary acoustic macro curtain effect where the nonwoven materials appear to ebb and flow across a three-dimensional form. Innovating in modifying manufacturing equipment & adjusting forming techniques the shapes and macro texture of Curtain create a unique visual delight. Curtain is available stocked in 8 colours, the same signature Woven Image colour palette as Column and subsequently driven from the hero colour palette of EchoPanel® 12mm & Mura. As the workplace evolves, blurring the boundaries between home and office, Curtain is a beautiful solution which embraces this concept.

EchoPanel® is the original PET acoustic solution which comes in 7mm, 12mm and 24mm thickness and precision cut designs. It is suitable for a range of commercial interior design applications where both good design and acoustic performance are required - these include workstation screens, space dividers and Array ceiling baffles.

EchoPanel® is made from 100% PET, a minimum of which is 80% post-consumer plastics, recycled to create beautiful and functional design-led sustainable acoustic solutions for architects, interior designers and end-users.

Leading acoustic design and manufacturing brand Woven Image have been supplying the built environment sector with sustainable, design-led acoustic finishes and textiles since 1987. Their acoustic portfolio utilises post-consumer PET plastic, that’s otherwise destined for landfill or our waterways.

Since 2023 EchoPanel®, its hero brand, has been certified as a Carbon Neutral Product by Climate Active. With 275 million tonnes of plastic waste generated globally each year, Woven Image is proving that PET waste can be successfully upcycled into a value-added resource that meets growing market demand for acoustic finishes.

Woven Image embraces global performance requirements & remaining on-trend with new colour blends and innovative product iterations, Woven Image continues to set the benchmark for innovation in sustainable design led acoustic interior product solutions.

As workplace design rapidly evolves, particularly with the rise of hybrid working as well as office workspaces and ‘third’ spaces, Woven Images’ new collection Macro Rhythms blurs the boundaries between home and office, allowing it to work in both commercial and residential settings.

• Housing - Interior (£ 50.00)

A South-London based family fell in love with the traditional style of a beautiful Victorian detached house near Wandsworth Common but updated the home by adding a stunning modern extension along with a complete remodel within the house, they appointed Stanza ID and dRAW Architects to realise the project. The new extension added to the rear of the building creates a dramatic contrast from the traditional Victorian brick work. With the extension covering half of the top two floors and all of the ground level. The design of the double height first and second floor extension along with a huge kitchen extension and basement renovation is a fusion of classical architecture with contemporary design elements.

Stanza ID worked closely with the client and began the design process by visiting the client's previous home to investigate the way the couple lived and determine which pieces of furniture the couple would be taking with them to their new home. The brief was to create a sophisticated aesthetic with modern interiors yet still be sympathetic to the history of the building.

Project Cost – £5,000,000
Project Completion Date – December 2022

Stanza ID used natural materials to add texture and sophistication to the house. In the main house, when opening the front door, you are immediately drawn to the beautiful parquet floor created by Trunk which leads you into an elegant lounge area complete with fireplace. Gorgeous bespoke upholstered twin sofas and a beautiful modern chandelier are a focal point of the room, all in a neutral colour palette of grey with pops of burnt ochre brought into the room through soft furnishings.

Towards the rear of the building, is a spiral steel staircase with balustrade clad in microcrete, with stair treads clad in matching timber to the basement floor. The wall behind the staircase has a beautiful metallic lighting installation created by French design house Art et Floritude.

The more traditional first floor bathroom creates a real statement, dominating the room is the stunning marble, which was retained from the previous design. The marble restoration in the bathroom, expertly implemented by MGS restoration sets the tone for the room with a solitary central bath along with statement lighting from Bert Frank above the bath.

Through the reuse of existing furniture, Stanza ID focused on the sustainability aspect of the project from the very beginning. By visiting the client's previous home, Stanza ID gained insight into what furniture pieces the client wanted to reuse in their new home. By opting to reuse furniture instead of purchasing new items, the project minimises waste and reduces the environmental impact, diverting usable items from landfills. Stanza ID also re-used Gaggenau appliances.

The more traditional first-floor bathroom creates a real statement, with its marble that has been retained from the previous design. Not only is it beautiful, but it still in use after 25 years, showcasing its durability and timeless appeal. By choosing to restore rather than replace the existing marble, the project significantly reduces waste and the environmental impact associated with the removal, transportation, and processing of new materials. The marble restoration in the bathroom, expertly implemented by MGS restoration sets the tone for the rooms’ design as well creating a thoughtful living environment.

Stanza ID worked with Wasted Intelligence to re-sell all the materials from the house including the kitchen furniture. This sustainable company is making use from materials that are sold on for other restoration projects and not wasted.

The new house already had an impressive footprint spanning 4834 sq feet but the interior was significantly dated and needed a complete transformation for it to work for the couple and their two children. Stanza ID worked on reducing the previous owners Art studio whos’ footprint dominated the garden, by cutting back the concrete columns which still allowed the addition of a swimming pool, sauna and golf simulator.

• Commercial Building - Interior (£ 50.00)
• Commercial Building - Exterior (£ 50.00)

The new bedroom extension at Cowley Manor reinstates a refined but striking timber and masonry pavilion on the site of a long since lost former Grand Ballroom. Having once been the idyllic rural retreat of the Horlick family, of malted drink fame and fortune, the Art Deco era, saw the estate purchased by the young Heber-Percy and his American wife who set about ‘modernising’ the house. While glass-walled bathrooms in the ‘modern’ style were added, most of the decorated ceilings, timber panelling, carvings and statutory were removed in an act that might nowadays be considered unthinkable vandalism. The demolition of the Ballroom gave way to a new outdoor swimming pool terrace, which the new pavilion now elegantly occupies.

The onset of the Great War irrevocably changed the course of English society and like many other extraordinary country houses, Cowley Manor fell into institutional use. It was given a new lease of life as a leading country hotel in 1999, in what was the practice's first significant commission. The bedroom pavilion is a unique opportunity for the practice to continue its sensitive design-led development of the estate, described by Historic England as ‘one of England’s best heritage-led development schemes. It shows that with imagination and skill, old buildings can be given a new and positive future’.

Typical of De Matos Ryan’s work, the new pavilion playfully borrows from the past to create something meaningful for the future. Its arched openings and scalloped stone bays present a contemporary but respectful reinterpretation of the original Italianate arched and pilastered frontage designed by RA Briggs. The new pavilion has a clear modern identity distinct from the body of the main house, yet suitably subservient, re-establishing a bookend to the main house and terrace.

Sales particulars from the 1920s described lavish reception rooms lined in carved timber panelling, much of which had also sadly long since been lost. Whilst dressed, carved stone was a relatively straight forward contextual decision externally, the opportunity to reimagine those timber linings internally presented the conceptual conditions to explore an exceptionally low-carbon typology of both materials brought together.

The Cotswold stone was quarried locally from only 3 miles away. Aside from its cutting, it is in effect a ready-made, low energy material, that is self-finished and self-supporting when forming an external skin. It's ability to nowadays be primarily shaped by machine direct from 3d files to reality, almost certainly the envy of the original stonemasons.
The internal timber frame structure is sustainably sourced, UK grown, Douglas fir. It offers the opportunity to engage an elemental constructional methodology that 'looks like the way it is built', using standard sizes and traditional carpentry techniques in a modern manner. Double member columns clamp and bolt together about purlins, which then support joist decks. Ends are cut and notched simply to resolve junctions elegantly.

Within the inner Douglas fir wall and roof build ups, Magply is employed to create a fire barrier, which is lined internally with an expressed sarking layer of Garnica reinforced maple ply. Subtle distinctions between these timber species are blurred by a tinted Envirograf intumescent treatment, which renders the whole in a calm off-white finish.
Other sustainability measures include the use of air-source heat pumps providing heating and hot water, high levels of insulation and airtightness above building regulations, a natural ventilation strategy by means of clerestory windows. In addition, the building supports local biodiversity with a planted sedum flat roof.

Housing five generous new guest rooms, the pavilion adds significantly to the financial resilience of the hotel, widening their offer with a variety of interconnected family suite options.

Direct access and connection to the unique Grade 2* Listed gardens is provided via the arched doorways of the front elevation. A first-floor terrace provides an elevated platform from which to enjoy that landscape in the same way as the primary first floor bedrooms of the original main house.

The physical connection between old and new continues and builds from DMR's previous interventions at Cowley Manor, where juxtaposition is carefully handled by means of a minimally glazed ‘slot’ to act as an appropriate separation. The pavilion is therefore read as a secondary detached building volume that is respectful of it host and context.

The practice collaborated with the hotel group's renowned French interior designer to reimagine Cowley Manor, to ensure it continues to embody a timeless contemporary style, as it embarks on an exciting new chapter in its history.

The New Pavilion should be considered for a Surface Design Award due to the marrying of two very sustainable, local construction materials: Cotswold stone, quarried and worked, only 3 miles from the site in Farmington and UK-grown Douglas fir. Its arched openings and scalloped stone bays present a contemporary but respectful reinterpretation of the original Italianate arched and pilastered frontage designed by RA Briggs.

Sales particulars from the 1920s described lavish reception rooms lined in carved timber panelling, much of which had sadly long since been lost. Whilst dressed, carved stone was a relatively straight forward contextual decision externally, the opportunity to reimagine those timber linings internally presented the conceptual conditions to explore an exceptionally low-carbon typology of both materials brought together.

Aside from its cutting, the Cotswold Stone is in effect a ready-made, low energy material, self-finished and self-supporting when forming an external skin. It's ability to nowadays be primarily shaped by machine direct from 3d files to reality, almost certainly the envy of the original stonemasons.

The internal timber frame structure is sustainably sourced, UK grown, Douglas fir. It engages an elemental constructional methodology that 'looks like the way it is built', using standard sizes and traditional carpentry techniques in a modern manner. Double member columns clamp and bolt together about purlins, which then support joist decks. Ends are cut and notched simply to resolve junctions elegantly.

Within the wall and roof assemblies, ‘Magply’, which is an innovative non-combustible board, is used as a fire barrier when required by boundary conditions.

The design is driven by a low-tech simple-is-best philosophy and early-stage material selections were based on embodied energy, carbon footprint and, where possible, locally-sourced materials to dramatically reduce the use of high-carbon content materials. The project strives to use the minimum amount of material possible to meet the design brief. A key aspect of this approach is defining appropriate design loads for main elements of structure, using materials where they are most effective, and designing building elements to a high degree of utilisation and multiple usages. The project carefully refurbishes and re-purposes existing building materials and assets to reduce the amount of construction waste, achieve lower embodied carbon costs, reduce disposal of building waste in greenfield land usage and maximises the potential of existing infrastructure. In addition to these aspects, the cultural and societal outcomes from retaining built heritage are important to consider. All materials, finishes and construction methods were chosen to be durable, maintainable and cleanable and recyclable when reaching the end of their usable life.

Whilst dressed, carved stone was a relatively straight forward contextual decision externally, the opportunity to reimagine those timber linings internally presented the conceptual conditions to explore an exceptionally low-carbon typology of both materials brought together.

The Cotswold stone was quarried locally from only 3 miles away in Farmington. Aside from its cutting, it is in effect a ready-made, low energy material, that is self-finished and self-supporting when forming an external skin. Farmington natural Cotswold stone is an Oolitic limestone which has been quarried since Roman times. It is highly valued due to its durability and versatility. The historic stonework forming the perimeter of the terrace enclosure in which the new pavilion is located was carefully repaired and restored with best practice conservation techniques.

The internal timber frame structure is sustainably sourced, UK grown, Douglas fir. The Douglas fir frames were prefabricated as components and then assembled as two-dimensional ‘layups' in the workshop before being delivered and re-assembled on site. In the workshop, traditional carpentry techniques were used alongside more modern routers and jigs to aid the repeated nature of the structure. This sense of readiness allowed for the building structure to only take approximately two week to erect on site and then once cloaked in sarking allowed for both internal and external teams to make progress simultaneously thereby cutting typical site times.

Within the wall and roof assemblies, ‘Magply’, which is an innovative non-combustible board, is used as a fire barrier when required by boundary conditions. Internal walls are lined with a sarking layer of Garnica reinforced maple ply panels. Subtle distinctions between timber species are blurred by a tinted ‘Envirograf’ Class O intumescent coating to address surface spread of flame. In being made of elemental pieces of natural timber (i.e. not too heavy) and a relatively low sectional height (i.e. not too tall from the ground), the building was erected on site simply without too many health & safety concerns using a hoist and perimeter scaffold.

Other sustainability measures include the use of air-source heat pumps providing heating and hot water, high levels of insulation and airtightness above building regulations, a natural ventilation strategy by means of clerestory windows. In addition, the building supports local biodiversity with a planted sedum flat roof.

The energy supply to this building is distinct and isolated from that of the other hotel buildings and is entirely supported by air-source heat pumps.

The predicted annual CO2 emission per m2 per year for the project is 69.2 KgCO2eq/m2.

A 16% improvement on Part L is predicted in annual CO2 emissions per m2 per year existing building. The building overall area-weighted u-value is 0.35 w/m2k.

The predicted operational energy per m2 per year for the project is 135 kWh/m2 with the Heating and hot water load being 120 kwh/m2/yr with an assumed annual mains water consumption of 40m3 /occupant.

Alongside the drive to deliver the most sustainable new building possible for Cowley Manor, the hotel has also implemented a Green Transport Strategy.

Cowley Manor has ensured at all times that it will be open to, and for, all, and this includes both guests and staff with varying impairments and additional access requirements. The new Pavilion is a new addition to the estate which includes a number of different building types, from the main manor house building, to the stable block and modern spa.

The new Pavilion is set within a very particular constrained historic listed setting elevated from the surrounding garden levels and is unable to deliver level access or wheelchair access. The size and design character of the new 5 rooms is consistent with the large variety of different types of fully accessible rooms within the main house and stable block and though it was not possible to ensure accessibility for all in the new Pavilion building, the hotel remains committed to best practice universal design across the estate.

Cowley Manor has been at the heart of the village of Cowley since its inception.

Today the hotel continues to support the community and has established very close ties over the past 25 years.

The local community was fully involved at every stage of the development, from design, planning, through to construction of the new pavilion. The new pavilion was fully supported by the village community.