More Accolades for the Straw Bale Cafe
The Straw Bale Café at our Holme Lacy Campus received yet more recognition at the prestigious West of England LABC Awards by winning the ‘Technical Innovation’ category. The LABC awards are all about excellence achieved through building standards, technical innovation and sustainable designs. The judge's said, “We were really impressed here by the sustainable credentials and the innovative use of natural and locally sourced materials. The use of some unusual materials and construction techniques made the close partnership between the Architect, Building Control and the College even more important than ever to help deliver this excellent project.”
Earlier this year the Café was shortlisted for the 2011 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards. These awards recognise buildings that have achieved high architectural standards and make a substantial contribution to the local environment. Despite not winning the award, everyone involved felt honoured to have received the nomination.
For the cafe’s architects and designers at Hewitt Studios, sustainability was always a key aspect of the project and from the outset it was decided that as many of the construction materials as possible would be supplied from the College’s Holme Lacy estate. Paul Younger, the project architect for Hewitt Studios LLP, commented: “We are delighted to receive this recognition for such a trail-blazing sustainable project. It is testament to the College's commitment to green-issues that they commissioned such an experimental building in these uncertain times (not to mention their contribution of labour, straw, cedar and plants from the College estate). We hope that it will provide an affordable model for future sustainable building.”
