News / Architecture
Tiny two-bed house built around courtyard wins big at architecture awards
A one-and-a-half storey two-bedroom house has won three awards at the South West’s most prestigious architecture competition.
The building designed by Paintworks-based Barefoot Architects has been described as “the best 80sq metre home in Bristol”.
Its steel cladding was even chosen to relate to a listed urinal located just a few feet from its front door.
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Corten Courtyard House was named as one of the nine award winners at the RIBA South West Awards 2021, as well as the best small project of the year and the architect of the year for Martina Goluchova.
The home is located on Mina Road in St Werburgh’s next to Mina Road Park and opposite Sandbed Road.
“Wow, wow, wow!!!” tweeted Barefoot founding director, Sam Goss.
“So thrilled to have won one award, but three has blown my mind. Fantastic client, site, contractor all led by an outstanding project architect.”
On their website, Barefoot Architects say that the design “seeks to make the best use of the unusual triangular shaped corner site through inserting a new corten clad, highly insulated timber frame structure within the existing brick boundary wall”.
“The rooms are arranged around a small courtyard and all the openings are orientated into this space, to create a surprisingly intimate and homely atmosphere in this otherwise exposed and prominent location.
“Additional natural light to the house is provided by roof lights, whilst a roof terrace to the corner provides external amenity space overlooking the adjacent park.
“The materials respond carefully to the site location and the original courtyard, and the corten steel cladding is a robust material that relates to the listed circular metal public WC structure opposite.”
RIBA said: “The success of this project is testament to a client and architect working in harmony. Some unusual decisions have been made, chief among them being to keep the existing wall and to celebrate it.
“Built to a limited budget, the house is exemplary in doing a lot with a little, and in turning constraints into opportunities.
“It provides a home perfectly suited to its client’s needs, and has transformed an unloved urban corner into a talking point and landmark for the local neighbourhood.”
All photos by Anthony Coleman
Read more: ‘Where are the brilliant new buildings in Bristol?’
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