Warwickshire News Mine

Each year CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) gives a Festive Five Award to five individuals, five public sector organisations and five private companies whose forward thinking and high aspirations have resulted in great architecture and design.

This year the awards focused on school design and inclusive design. Richard Simmons, chief executive of CABE, said: "School design and inclusive design are often misunderstood and poorly executed. These are two areas where standards have to rise dramatically in 2007. The people and projects recognised here set a benchmark for what everyone should be achieving everywhere.’

Sjölander da Cruz Architects were given the award for children’s centres in Newbold Riverside Children’s Centre in Rugby, Hatter’s Space Children’s Centre in Nuneaton, and Bedworth Heath Children’s Centre, which has also been shortlisted for the 2007 Architect’s Journal Small Projects Award.  The centres were built in partnership with Warwickshire County Council.

The CABE citation said: “All are simply designed but well planned and detailed, with flexible spaces and good use of colour. The architects have demonstrated both that difficult briefs, such as refurbishment and extensions to existing buildings, can be overcome with considered architectural thought and also that well-designed and functional buildings which fully meet the needs of children, parents and staff can be achieved within modest budgets. This is all the more impressive given the mediocre buildings that many local authorities still produce.”

Architect Marco da Cruz said: “We are very pleased that CABE and Warwickshire County Council are supporting good design and that our buildings are helping make a difference for children and parents. We have made them light, welcoming and open, so that they stimulate children’s imaginations and provide an environment which they can really enjoy”.

There are more than 30 children’s centre projects being devleoped around Warwickshire. The first phase, which includes these buildings has completed. The project reaches more than 21,000 children aged under five and their families. The centres host community activities, especially for parents and children – such as stay and play, music and movement and coffee mornings, depending on what other provision there currently is in the area.

Every children’s centre will offer advice about benefits, tax credits and employment opportunities and host adult learning courses. In addition, parents will be able to get antenatal and parenting support, and advice about their child’s well being.

Elizabeth Featherstone, Head of Family and Community at Warwickshire County Council, said: “These new children’s centres are offering high quality services in high quality buildings and we were thrilled to hear that these new buildings in the first phase have been commended in this way. More children’s centres are currently being developed and we look forward to more parents and children being able to access services in their community.”

Link to WCC