Outstanding architecture to be rewarded at Guernsey Design Awards

The Guernsey architectural community are set to celebrate the best architectural and design projects in the island at the Guernsey Design Awards presentation ceremony next week.

This year’s awards have attracted nearly 30 entries that demonstrate a broad spectrum of building projects. A panel of judges including representatives from The Guernsey Society of Architects, The Arts Commission and the building trade then cut these down to a shortlist of 13.  

The shortlist is split over four categories, Non-Residential, Residential new Build, Residential Renovation / Extension and The George Crossan Award for Small Projects, and features everything from modern family homes to a school and a community centre.

The Guernsey community has also been able to pick their favourite from the shortlisted projects via a public vote which will be awarded the People’s Choice Award.

This year’s Guernsey Design Awards guest speaker is Commissioner of the Guernsey Arts Commission, Eric Snell. Mr Snell, who is also the Founding Director of the Art and Islands Foundation, established the first school of arts in the island in the early 90s and designed the Liberation Monument in 1994.

The Guernsey Design Awards were developed by the Environment Department, The Guernsey Society of Architects (GSA) and main sponsor Norman Piette.

Clive Fenner, managing director at Norman Piette, said: “The Guernsey Design Awards is the industry’s opportunity to showcase their achievements and be recognised for outstanding work by their peers and the public.

“The overriding aim of the Awards is to promote distinctive, original, inspirational and sustainable design of the built environment in Guernsey. Our guest speaker, Eric Snell, has extensive experience within the arts and design community locally as well as playing a vital role in the development of young design talent in the Bailiwick and I am looking forward to hearing about his experiences and his thoughts on the awards shortlist.”

The Guernsey Design Awards ceremony is being held on Thursday 3 April from 6.30pm at Les Beaucamps School.