(Announcement made 11th October 2008)
St Pancras International by Alastair Lansley (for Union Railways) has won the Crown Estate Conservation Award 2008.
The design strategy for St Pancreas involved radical intervention – the removal of part of the floor to link the pedestrian circulation in the undercroft (formerly a barrel store) to the train shed above – as well as restoration of the majestic interior of the Barlow and Ordish train shed. It was a brilliant strategy that intentionally establishes the magnificence of the architecture.
Speaking about the building, Roger Bright said:
“Enormous care has been taken in restoring the original structure with scholarly reference to historic documentation and skilful consultation and collaboration with the local planning authority, English Heritage and other bodies. The establishment and maintenance of such relationships were critical to progressing the project. The result is that the Barlow roof now lives up to its billing as the architectural and engineering focus of the building – some would say the best example of its kind in UK railway architecture.”
The other shortlisted buildings for the award were:
1. Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds by Levitt Bernstein Associates
2. The Listed Wind Tunnels, Farnborough by Julian Harrap Architects
3. De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill-on-Sea by John McAslan & Partners
4. Royal Festival Hall, London by Allies and Morrison
http://www.architecture.com/NewsAndPress/News/AwardsNews
/Press/2008/StPancrasWinsCrownEstateAward.aspx
