Belfast Telegraph l NOVEMBER 23 2017
4 | 2017 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards in association with
Best Interior Design of the Year Sponsored by Hayburn & Co WINNER Fresh Interior Architecture Design HIGHLY COMMENDED Atelier Interior Design
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REATING the wow factor in a small space was the challenge which Best Interior Design Award winners Fresh Interior Architecture Design rose to with its work on The Friend at Hand whiskey shop in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. The judges chose the firm for the award — sponsored by Hayburn & Co — for the fantastic standard of the design under challenging conditions. Chair of the judging panel Professor Adair said the project had “lots of wow factor” in the creation of “an original, innovative and very high quality solution to a small space challenge”. He added: “In total it represents an outstanding high quality interior design solution.” Fellow judge Paul Crowe said the project was clearly challenging and described the shop as “both nostalgic and recognisable yet innovatively crafted using traditional materials with every piece of horizontal and vertical space utilised”.
Commercial Development of the Year Sponsored by Carson McDowell WINNER Lacuna Developments HIGHLY COMMENDED Silverwood Business Park Limited FINALISTS Straidorn Properties Ltd
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AMILY run development and Investment Company Lacuna Developments picked up the award for Commercial Development of the Year, sponsored by Carson McDowell for the second year in a row. The company was singled out for its work on the Botanic Studios — an £8m development of new purpose-built student accommodation on Belfast’s Dublin Road. Managing director of the firm Anthony Best took to the stage to pick up the award from Emma Cooper, partner at Carson McDowell. He said: “We are delighted to win for the second year in a row. Real cred-
The Crossgar-based team is led by principal interior designer Michael McKervey who took to the stage in the Crowne Plaza Hotel to pick up the award from Lynda Hayburn, creative director of Hayburn & Co. Michael, who has over 18 years experience as an interior architect, said: “We are over the moon to get the award. The shop was created as a tribute to my clients Willie and Joanne Jack’s longterm friend and business partner, Bruce Kirk, who passed away last year. “Picking up the award was really in honour of Bruce.” The multi awardwinning Fresh Interior Architecture Design has established itself for its fresh approach to design. Commissions have included a diverse range of schemes from well-known bars, such as The Harp Bar, the Potted Hen and The Dark Horse, to office spaces for rural businesses. The stand-out scheme which saw the company pick up our award was the first shop of its kind in Ireland selling only whiskey. It also has a mini museum upstairs which pays homage to the history of distilling in Belfast. Set with the task of turning a small sandwich shop into a traditional Victorian style Irish Off Sales to showcase some of the finest Irish whiskeys, Michael was given a very tall order. Allowing his imagination to run free, he created a place of nostalgic beauty which is a feast for the eyes for anyone who appreciates a glass of whiskey. The wow factor is immediate from the main frontage, where the existing shop front has been stripped away and replaced with a traditional red Belfast brick facade with black metal grills over the windows to blend with the existing street scape in Belfast’s Hill Street. A very distinctive copper clad door with brass ironmongery sets the tone as you press the buzzer and walk into a magical world of whiskey where there is row upon row of glass cabinets carefully cosseting the many bottles of infamous Irish whiskey. Every bit of space within the shop has been
it must be given to colleagues and the professional teams around us.” The company bought the old Willis Insurance building on the Dublin Road in 2015. It was a secondary office building beyond its economic lifespan and had been vacant for two years. The existing building was demolished and in its place the company built a vibrant, modern eight storey student accommodation with 156 studios. Chair of the judges Professor Alastair Adair said of the scheme: “Construction and planning challenges, in particular effective engagement with neighbouring residential communities, were successfully addressed, producing an aesthetically pleasing building in 17 months, meeting investment and occupancy targets.” The first new build private student accommodation scheme in Belfast, Botanic Studios houses an active ground floor with common room, cinema room and games room as well as an outside courtyard and kitchen, giving students a safe and comfortable space to meet and socialise. One of the biggest challenges facing the company was the planning process. With the ongoing issues with students in the Holylands district many local residents around the site did not want to see student accommodation in the area. Through meetings with the residents and taking them to other similar schemes built by the company, as well as agreeing protocols with Belfast City Council, planning permission was granted. The company continued to meet and engage with local residents during the construction process, showing them around the development. At a recent meeting residents commended the company on how well the
Pamela Ballantine with Lynda Hayburn, creative director of Hayburn & Co, as she presents Michael McKervey of Fresh Interior Architecture Design with his award for Best Interior Design of the Year cleverly used with a feature display cabinet even built into the underside of a staircase. To further enhance the “traditional Irish offsales” look, Michael also used vintage pieces from owner, publican Willie Jack’s own personal antique collection. With a modest budget of around £160,000, Fresh Interiors Design was able to create a space which takes people back in time and provide a five star quality showpiece which will keep customers coming back for more, if only for the experience.
FINALISTS Atelier Interior Design in Belfast was Highly Commended for its sensitive renovation of a rundown Georgian townhouse which now serves as the base for its design studio and home store. The company was formed in 2014 by interior design and architect duo Victor Branco and James Fairley who have spent the last three years on a restoration project to bring the 1832 property back to life.
development looked and was managed to date. All students arrived and filled their rooms with no impact on the residents. Family-owned Lacuna Developments is one of Northern Ireland’s leading development and investment companies. Established in 1991 by David Best, it is now run by his son Anthony. Lacuna has grown steadily over the last two decades to become involved in property development and investment throughout the UK and has experience in a wide range of property markets including private housing, high street retail and offices. It has currently over 1,000 student beds either under construction or in for planning in Belfast. It also has several mixed use schemes in the pipeline which will start on site in the next two years. Anthony has been managing director of Lacuna since 2015 and is a chartered surveyor. He is the second generation to run the Lacuna business. His current focus is on moving the business forward within the development sector. The company currently has around £100m end value of development schemes, either under construction or in for planning.
FINALISTS Silverwood Business Park was Highly Commended for its work on delivering a new head office and distribution warehouse for Bunzl Ireland. The scheme was built on a six acre brownfield site which was the location of the former Drumsill House Hotel in Armagh. The new facility which includes 70,000 sq ft of warehousing and 15,000 sq ft of office accommodation will house the various Bunzl businesses that were previously spread across Northern Ireland
Pamela Ballantine, Emma Cooper, partner at Carson McDowell, and winner, Anthony Best, Lacuna Developments