2024 East Suffolk Quality of Place Awards
Recognising the best in design and conservation in East Suffolk
East Suffolk Council’s Quality of Place Awards recognise efforts to conserve historic buildings and enhance the built and natural environment through high-quality design.
The winners of the 14th annual Quality of Place Awards were announced on Wednesday 20th November 2024 at East Suffolk House, Melton.
The panel of judges spoke of the dedication of the organisations and craftspeople involved with each project, and Chairman of the Council, Cllr Anthony Speca, presented the winners and highly commended projects with their awards.
Chairman judge Councillor Kay Yule
Design expert judge Howard Nash Local Architect and member of RIBA East
Conservation expert judge Paul Bradley Conservation Architect and Chair of the East Suffolk Building Preservation Trust
Landscape expert judge Maria Rapti Chair of the East of England Branch of the Landscape Institute
Guest judge Paul Gurbutt Chairman of the Beccles Society
Community award
For any built or natural environment project designed to benefit the community in which it was built. Judges look at community engagement with the project and the public benefits of the scheme.
Community award Winner
Klondyke Skate Park, Southwold
This project, led by a local community group, has transformed an underused site next to the Southwold Pier into a well-considered and well-designed skate park.
The intention was to create a play space inclusive for all age groups and capabilities, accessible at all times and year-round, and available to both locals and daily visitors.
The park is designed to specialist standards for skateboarding, while also creating a pleasant and dynamic gathering place.
The skate park was a labour of love and will be enjoyed by its many users for a long time.
Community award Highly commended
The Chapel, Barnby
The Chapel was a disused church hall for the Methodist Hall that used to stand next to it, which has been transformed into a bright and spacious meeting place for the local community.
Efforts were made to reveal some of the historic character of the building, while the building was converted to a high standard.
The building now serves as a multi-use space for local community groups, and as a café and art gallery.
Community award Highly commended
Kirkley Pocket Park Kirkley Pocket Park Group
The Kirkley Pocket Park Group came together to transform an unloved corner next to an electric substation into a colourful representation of Kirkley and its residents.
A dedicated group of volunteers created the mural and garden, and continue to take care of it.
The project has had a positive impact on the surrounding area, improving its appearance and showing the pride that the community takes in its neighbourhood.
Building conservation award
For projects that aim to conserve and enhance the historic environment. The judges considered the conservation approaches and techniques as well as the resulting impact on heritage significance.
Building conservation award Winner
Friston Hall Summerhouse, Friston
This 17th century structure was discovered in a very perilous state in the grounds of the Grade II listed Friston Hall. The works to restore the summerhouse took a staged approach, to reclaim items from the building, involving many skilled craftspeople, and ensuring that the introduction of new materials was kept to a minimum.
The work to the summerhouse at Friston has saved a 17th century building from advanced decay and ultimately from loss, with the implemented scheme not only consolidating and conserving the structure but enhancing the immediate and wider landscape at Friston Hall.
Building conservation award Highly commended
Tuttles, Lowestoft
The works completed at The Tuttles Building included the conservation and repair of the first and second floor storeys, including repairs and reinstatement of windows and brickwork and the restoration of the brick piers between the window openings.
The project is a significant and positive intervention to a highly prominent building, and the work was executed with great care and attention to detail.
Building conservation award Highly commended
198-206 London Rd South, Lowestoft
At 198-206 London Road, five shop fronts were reinstated, with the work including highly carved decorative mouldings, consoles, lime render to the strallrisers and the repair of tiled surfaces.
A single storey element of the street façade was rebuilt to its original two storey form. The work significantly enhanced the streetscape and conservation area.
Design award
For new buildings or extensions. Judges consider originality of design, overall architectural effect, and the building’s relationship to its context.
Design award Winner
Creek Cabin near Reydon MAP Architecture
Creek Cabin is a replacement dwelling on a difficult site, which addresses its challenges admirably. The new house has a split-level design that takes full advantage of the available river views and incorporates flood resilience and noise protection.
The built result is a striking complex of curved green roofs planted with tall grasses whose habitable spaces are well connected to the immediate outdoors. The house as a whole sits well into both its surroundings and the wider landscape.
Design award Highly commended
The Barn at Manor Farm, Stratford St Andrew Mole Architects
‘The Barn’, which is aptly-named, is a new and architecturally-distinguished two-storey house located on the northern side of the historic Manor Farm. The new building is distinctively contemporary whilst remaining essentially barn-like in terms of its scale, built form and its use of brick and pantile as external materials.
Altogether the scheme is a successful marriage of contemporary and contextual design. The new building is clearly of its time whilst successfully complementing both the historic outbuildings it adjoins and the farmhouse itself.
The winners of previous Quality of Place Awards can be viewed on our website. Nomination forms for the 2025 awards will be made available later in 2025.
