THE JUDGES' REPORT

Cheverells, Markyate, Herts – Gold Award for Best Renovation

Restoration is both art and science, involving design and patience. The best are deserving of the highest award and that is why the judges have decided on two gold award winners. City & Country Residential, formerly Sarbir Developments Limited, are no strangers to this category. This year they have submitted their work at Cheverells, just north of Hemel Hempstead. The site comprised an accumulation of buildings erected over a period of 26 years, which had experienced a range of uses before becoming vacant in 1994. The initial stage of the work was to save the historic fabric of the buildings, but it is the detail that the work of this company deserves so much recognition. The retention of former openings and room proportions, so essential in preserving the character of a property when subdivided, are just two examples of what contributes to a delightful scheme redolent in the quality of its finishes.

Extract from the judges' report, What House? Award