OLD BEARHURST BY DUGGAN MORRIS ARCHITECTS

“Old Bearhurst has been shortlisted for the RIBA Manser Medal. The Manser Medal is awarded annually to be the best new house or major extension in the UK and is intended to encourage and promote innovation in house design. The winner will be announced at the RIBA Stirling Prize dinner on 13th October 2012.”

“Old Bearhurst has been shortlisted in the 2012 Wood Awards. The Wood Awards is Britain's premier award for wood in buildings and furniture. The aim of The Wood Awards is to recognise, encourage and promote outstanding design, craftsmanship and installation in wood, the world's most naturally sustainable material.

The shortlisted schemes are to be showcased at the Timber Expo 25-26th September with the winners announced at a ceremony on 27th November.” News of Duggan Morris Architects.

“Old Bearhurst involved the extensive remodelling of a two century old Oast House to provide space to accommodate the client's growing family.

The scheme included a complete overhaul of the existing barn and roundels as well as the construction of a new annex.

The building is set within agricultural land and defined by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which has drawn out a unique response to the topography, landscape, history and setting.

The project was aimed at creating a unified series of flowing, contemporary spaces, allowing a greater degree of flexibility, linking internal spaces to the impressive rolling fields to the south, and the higher meadow land of the north.

Equally, the brief called for a building with character and personality, respectful of the existing Oast house, and taking advantage of the views and surrounding environment.

A key objective of the brief was to 'rediscover' the integrity of the building through careful observation and research where new additions and alterations would work harmoniously to create a new envisioned whole.

However, the core ambition of the scheme was to create a dwelling which, over time, would come to reflect an exemplar approach to contemporary rural renovation work and to create a flexible living environment for the growing family within the exceptional surrounds.” Description of Duggan MorrisArchitects.