Barn conversion at Hinterland House, Northpetherwin, Launceston, Cornwall wins at 2017 LABC Building Excellence Awards Grand Final

The barn conversion at Hinterland House was awarded the title of Best Change of Use of an Existing Building or Conversion at the Grand Finals of the LABC Building Excellence Awards – one of the most recognised events on the building industry’s calendar.

A panel of industry experts judged a list of the highest quality projects from around England and Wales to reward the best in technical innovation, sustainability and design. This project comprised the conversion and transformation of a dilapidated agricultural building into a family home including an unobtrusive addition on the one of the barn with a wild meadow flower roof and glass walls all supported by an oak frame and joined to the main barn by a glass roof link.

The standard in this category was very high and demonstrated a depth and wealth of experience in the sector and excellent working relationships between construction teams and local authority building control officers. The winning project showed how a derelict building could be turned into to a wonderful new home without breaking the bank. A tour de force of technical knowhow, imagination and craftsmanship.

Stuart Bowman Harris, MD of contractors Good Life Joinery Ltd said “This was an awesome project to take on, challenging but hugely rewarding. The barn is truly a one-off. It was designed to be a home for Harry and Sarah and their young family. The brief was to make a comfortable, warm, cheap to run dwelling using the original, characterful building as a basis and inspiration. This has been achieved and so much more besides”

LABC Chief Executive Paul Everall said: “Our Building Excellence awards are an opportunity for the industry to celebrate good practice. Our winners demonstrate how positive working relationships with local council building control teams achieve high quality, sustainable buildings. Our awards are unique because they recognise how this cooperation improves building standards and professionalism across the industry.”

The Grand Finals of the LABC Building Excellence Awards took place on Friday 10 November 2017 at the Westminster Park Plaza in London and was hosted by Gyles Brandreth, writer, broadcaster, actor, and former Conservative Member of Parliament. Over 800 building industry professionals including contractors, architects and engineers attended the celebration to find out which projects won across the 15 hotly contested categories.

Find out everything you need to know about the LABC awards

About the LABC Building Excellence Awards

The LABC Building Excellence Awards showcase buildings and design teams that have had to tussle with complex technical or construction issues and building site constraints. They highlight innovative and creative solutions and building control professionalism that leads to safe, sustainable and high quality construction projects.

For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview, please contact: Louise Williams louise.williams@labc.co.uk or Philip Hammond phil.hammond@labc.co.uk. LABC tel 020 8616 8120.