June Sampson: Kingston Townscape awards show the best buildings and the ones that failed to make the cut

Compare Kingston as it was in the 1970s with what it is now, and the changes are mind-boggling.

Familiar old landmarks and thoroughfares have vanished, to be replaced over the years by ones that have changed parts of the Royal borough beyond recognition.

Some of the new structures have been admirable, others anything but.

So, to sort good from bad, and give credit where due, the Kingston upon Thames Society instigated its biennial Townscape Awards in 1989.

Every other year since then, with one exception, it has invited nominations for the best buildings or landmarks completed during the previous two years.

A judging panel then selects those that have most enhanced their surroundings; a sifting process that can take many hours and much argument.

The one exception was 2012, when there were so few developments of merit that the qualifying period was extended to this year.

It was a happy decision.

The past 12 months have seen such an upsurge in good design that the society received 11 nominations, and awarded its coveted certificate of townscape merit to six of them, at a ceremony held at Tiffin School’s Ald Judge Hall on Wednesday.

Brian Godding, the society’s planning secretary, says it was “very heartening” that standards had improved so much.

“Happily, there is this year a crop of excellent projects by talented architects, but as we limit the number to six, we have unfortunately had to pass over some candidates,” he said.

These are the six award winners, together with the society’s comments on why they were chosen.

Do you agree with the judges’ choice?

This is the criteria for consideration of projects for the Tony Leitch Townscape Awards, so named in memory of the society’s late chairman (who initiated the scheme in 1989) following his death in 2008: new buildings of any size; or old buildings of distinction, that have been refurbished and/or sensitively extended; or any feature that has made a positive contribution to the environment.

In each case, the work must have been completed during the previous two years.

(Pictures: George Rome Innes)

Canbury Studio
Canbury Park Road
Clients: Nick and Helen Maroudias
Architect: Peter Whicheloe

Photographers Nick and Helen Maroudious had always wanted a studio nearer home.

Now they have one in their back garden.

Says the society’s citation: “It is partially hidden from the street, and they could so easily have simply built a shed-like structure; but instead they had the perception to commission a building of architectural quality, and to appoint an architect capable of designing it.

"The design is interesting. The restricted view from the street induces curiousity, and must help to draw clients in.

"The clean timber cladding gives it a softness when viewed from neighbours' houses.

"It is indeed a little gem."



The Keep
Kings Road 
Developer: Annington Property
Architects: PRC Architects

Annington Property has been acquiring redundant military estates from the Ministry of Defence since 1996, for conversion to domestic housing.

The Keep was the old guard house, the public face to the barracks, most of which has been replaced by a mundane housing estate of little townscape quality.

The Keep remained intact, but sadly neglected.

However, as it is a listed buildings, any alterations had to be carried out sensitively, and this has certainly been achieved.

The stonework has been restored and replaced where necessary.

The windows, once a hotchpotch of different styles, have been replaced with consistent sashes.

The central arch, originally the formal entrance to the barracks, has been kept open.

Though now converted to apartments, one would hardly know any alteration had occurred, and it looks better than it has for many years.
 

St Raphael's Roman Catholic Church
Portsmouth Road
Designers: Synergy

St Raphael’s is a very fine bath stone building from 1846.

The composition of the Italianate church, with its prominent central tower, and recessed side wings, is one of the most delightful features when approaching Kingston along the Portsmouth Road.

It has been beautifully restored, within and without.

Behind the southern pavilion, a new church hall has been added which is perfectly in character with the main building.

Queenswood Court
Kingston Hill
Developer: Occra Developments
Architects: Colwyn Foulkes

So often architects design  masterpieces of their own, without taking account of the quality of the existing building they have been appointed to extend.

Here we have a shining example of how to do it.

A modest, but decently designed shop and building on the corner of Kingston Hill and Queens Road has been extended in a respectful manner.

Reference is also made to the adjoining houses in Queens Road.

By using a mixture of render and brickwork, and incorporating simplified Victorian details, a building has been produced that fits in perfectly without resorting to pastiche.
 

Latchmere Sports Hall
Latchmere Road
Designers: Trevlyn Tanner Architects

This new building serves as a sports hall, school canteen and kitchens, and also has five classrooms.

The original 1930s single storey school in red brick has been delightfully extended at the west end in a similar style.

However, this project is separated from the main complex and, as it is completely different in scale and function, it seems acceptable to design it in a constrasting style which makes its own mark.

River Island
Clarence Street
Clients: Lothbury Investment Management
Architects: Marachini Curran

The design is well thought out, and uses well-detailed timber and glass to advantage in a truly contemporary manner.

Clarence Street has a great mixture of architectural styles, from the Christopher Wren inspired Bentalls, at one end to the brick prow of Wilkinsons at the other.

The architects for this new store have brilliantly designed a thoroughly modern building, with clean rectangular lines, and exquisite detailing.

It is not easy to be different in a modern way without being brash; but this shining example shows how it can be done with style, and even dignity.

These nominations narrowly failed to make the cut

Star and Garter Home, Surbiton

A large and rather undistinguished development, the building
replaced individual houses.

The society did not feel it worthy of an award.

Ballet Boyz, Canbury Park Road

An interesting and prestigious addition to the borough.

But it cannot be said to contribute to the townscape because the interior, though interesting,  is not acccesible to the public.

Kingston University Business School

A fine modern building of great distinction that would, in other circumstances, have received  an award. However, it is not readily accessible to the public.

5 and 5a Grove Lane

A pair of houses whose 1960s’ front elevation has been replaced by a superior facade more in keeping with adjoining properties.
 
However, it did not succeed in competition with other entries.