design et al are delighted to announce the successful shortlist of Garnett + Partners for the Retail Space Award in The ID&A Awards 2015.
The prominent site is located in a Conservation area and links 5 of the busiest streets in the Borough. 1-5 Lower George Street detracted from the character and appearance of its surroundings. The building was unsalvageable and a new build was essential.
The design brief was to ensure the new building embrace its historic past and pay tribute to its contextual history. The new build was to be universally accessible to a large community. As the end users are restaurant, retail and business clients, the facilities and accessibility for disabled users was paramount. Sustainability was another key factor, bicycle bays as opposed to parking and the installation of renewable energy technologies. Garnett was also commissioned by The Whole Foods Market to do the interior fit out.
The Chairman of The Richmond Society planning committee Charles Pineles, commented ‘It is unusual for scheme of this size in such a sensitive location to receive so much local support and to go through the Borough Planning Committee without a single objection.’
The development of the derelict site in a central area of Richmond has been hailed as a success for numerous reasons. Garnett + Partners handled this highly sensitive project with a renowned professionalism, ensuring the planning applications lodged were successful and that due consideration was given to both the historical buildings surrounding the site and the needs of the local community. It was determined that the poorly maintained unsalvageable building contributed nothing to the townscape. Now, the site has been transformed into an award winning, sustainable and inclusive building. An architectural eyesore has become a celebrated talking point.