Architects Plus wins Ullswater Yacht Club Design Competition
07th April 2011
The design by Carlisle based Architects Plus (UK) Limited has been selected as the “Preferred Scheme” in the national competition organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Competitions Office for a new Clubhouse Building for Ullswater Yacht Club in Cumbria.
The winning design was chosen from over 180 entries as the judges’ preferred scheme. With its curved form designed to give panoramic 360° views of the lake and the surrounding fells, Architects Plus design stood as an iconic response to the brief that satisfied the club’s functional requirements, as well as flood, size and cost criteria.
The competition was open to all architects registered in the United Kingdom and entries had to be submitted anonymously and so it was not until the judges had drawn up a shortlist that they became aware that their preferred scheme was by a Cumbrian practice.
The judges commented that the “scheme stood out as a potential contender from the outset”. They admired the strong form, the internal arrangement, the maximisation of views, and felt this was an appropriate response to the site and context.
The competition was launched in December last year, setting architects the challenge of designing a new Clubhouse capable of withstanding flooding, and providing increased and improved accommodation. Ullswater Yacht Club is located in the heart of the Lake District National Park, and is unrivalled in its facilities both on and off the water. Their Clubhouse suffered extensive damage in the floods of November 2009 and although structural repairs have enabled the club to continue to function they decided to proceed with Conceptual and Feasibility studies for a new building.
The Club’s Management Committee have already endorsed the “Preferred Scheme” and over the Easter weekend this will be shown to the Members. Once this process is complete Architects Plus will be confirmed as winners.
The winning design was chosen from over 180 entries as the judges’ preferred scheme. With its curved form designed to give panoramic 360° views of the lake and the surrounding fells, Architects Plus design stood as an iconic response to the brief that satisfied the club’s functional requirements, as well as flood, size and cost criteria.
The competition was open to all architects registered in the United Kingdom and entries had to be submitted anonymously and so it was not until the judges had drawn up a shortlist that they became aware that their preferred scheme was by a Cumbrian practice.
The judges commented that the “scheme stood out as a potential contender from the outset”. They admired the strong form, the internal arrangement, the maximisation of views, and felt this was an appropriate response to the site and context.
The competition was launched in December last year, setting architects the challenge of designing a new Clubhouse capable of withstanding flooding, and providing increased and improved accommodation. Ullswater Yacht Club is located in the heart of the Lake District National Park, and is unrivalled in its facilities both on and off the water. Their Clubhouse suffered extensive damage in the floods of November 2009 and although structural repairs have enabled the club to continue to function they decided to proceed with Conceptual and Feasibility studies for a new building.
The Club’s Management Committee have already endorsed the “Preferred Scheme” and over the Easter weekend this will be shown to the Members. Once this process is complete Architects Plus will be confirmed as winners.
