The Building Forum for Devon & Cornwall has presented its annual Building of the Year Award to Heartlands in Camborne.
The project impressed all involved in the award through its regeneration of a former mining site to produce a mixed use scheme with community at its heart using a sensitive mix of refurbishment together with well-designed new buildings. In all the scheme now provides a new public park, a free to view exhibition within the existing Robinsons Shaft Mining buildings, a cafe within the Robinsons Shaft Carpenters Workshop, new build artist studios, new build apartments and a new Community building.
All Heartlands public buildings, community venues and outside areas are designed for flexible use, and are already hosting regular markets and conferences, with the café facilities being available for private hire. As such it was felt it had successfully created a thriving community hub while providing and a landmark destination for visitors, which sure ensure the project remains both financially and environmentally sustainable.
In order to deliver the projects and realise the benefits sought it was necessary to overcome a number of challenges. The land being a former mining site had a substantial amount of contamination requiring remediation. Furthermore, the status as within a UNESCO World Heritage Site meant that English Heritage required consultation throughout the scheme to ensure none of the historic value of the site is lost. This included maintaining machinery in-situ within the café, which have subsequently become features.
These resolutions did come at a cost with the project costing £35 million with funding from the Big Lottery Fund, Cornwall Council, HCA and the EU. These funding programmes also create management issues requiring careful attention.
The award was judged by Simon Bradbury, architectural lecturer on sustainable design at Plymouth University, who was impressed by the way the project overcame and embraced these constraints to create a project that has transformed the physical and built environment in Pool. It was felt that the development was a testament to the team involved would managed to create a scheme which involves an the innovative application of sustainable energy technologies, is accessible to all and which celebrates and enriches understanding of the local culture, heritage and natural environment
The entry was a joint submission by Stride Treglown who were the architects for the new and historic buildings within the site, and Midas Construction, who were the main contractors.
Michael O’Neill, Midas Group divisional director for Devon and Cornwall, said: “Heartlands is an inspirational project that has transformed one of Cornwall’s most derelict urban areas into a dynamic space for the people of Pool to live, work, learn and play. Midas is delighted to be associated with such a community-led project that is a beacon for creativity, innovation and sustainability. Heartlands thoroughly deserves the prestigious Building of the Year Award and we look forward to seeing how it continues to develop for the benefit of the local Community and for Cornwall.”
Entries for this year’s Building of the Year Award are now being invited from members of The Building Forum, with the award to be presented at their Autumn Dinner to be held on the 15th November.
