Hackney Design Awards: Mayor hails borough’s ‘visionaries’ as this year’s winners announced

Yorkton Workshops is a former stables block close to Haggerston Park. Photograph: Hackney Council

A former stables and a council estate were among the winners in the biennial Hackney Design Awards last week.

The celebration of of the best new buildings and architecture in the borough saw 31 nominees whittled down to a shortlist of 11, with judges visiting each before picking favourites.

Yorkton Workshops took home the Climate Change and Sustainability Award for its stripped-back and improved former stables block close to Haggerston Park.

Modernisation at Frampton Park Estate. Photograph: Hackney Council

Frampton Park Estate was also recognised for its “exquisitely detailed housing blocks exemplifying a sensitive and nuanced approach to estate densification”.

The People’s Choice Award, voted for by more than 500 members of the public, went to 208 Cassland Road, a family home on the edge of Victoria Park Conservation Area that is designed to “mediate between the adjacent Victorian terrace and the large villas behind it”.

Other winners include a former furniture warehouse at 16 Chart Street.

People’s Choice winner 208 Cassland Road. Photograph: Hackney Council

Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville said: “As always, the schemes nominated for this year’s awards showcase the rich variety of design and architecture in the borough, which contributes to and improves the fabric of Hackney, helps to tackle the climate emergency, and makes a real difference to people’s lives.

“The awards are a testament to what can be achieved when we work together with visionary architects, developers and residents. They have helped innovate and drive up standards and our collective commitment to design.

“I am particularly proud of Hackney’s past achievement at the Design Awards, including Aikin Villas in 2018 and Kings Crescent Estate in 2018. We also had the fantastic restoration of Hackney Town Hall, also an award winner in 2018.

“I would like to thank all those who nominated this year and say a big congratulations to all our shortlisted nominations and winners.”

Commendations this year were handed out to Graphic House, an unassuming Edwardian terrace that uses natural light to “awaken the spaces and the senses”, Britannia Leisure Centre, and the Springfield Park Restoration Project, a “sensitive restoration of a charming villa and its park setting”.