Natural Stone Awards 2006

CWO Ltd recognised at Natural Stone Awards 2006

Chichester based stonemasonry company CWO were a big success at the prestigious Natural Stone Awards this year as four of their projects gained recognition. CWO, which was recently purchased by its management team from previous owners Geoffrey Osborne Ltd, received two Awards and a further three Commendations across four of the eight categories.

The Awards Luncheon, which is held every two years, recognises projects demonstrating exemplary design and execution of stonework, completed during the two year period. Organised by the Stone Federation Great Britain the awards were held at the Millennium Hotel in London Mayfair on the 24 November 2006. This year the Awards were attended by over 300 delegates, representing clients, architects, main contractors, specialist stone contractors and stone suppliers.

Entrants are categorised into New Build (load bearing and non-load bearing), Repair and Restoration, Interiors, Landscaping, Slate and Craftsmanship. Comprised of distinguished architects familiar in the use of stone, the judging panel then chooses one winner per category, as well as a number of Commended and Highly Commended projects.

In the category of Repair and Restoration, the Relocation of Temple Bar to the City of London after more than 100 years on a private estate in Hertfordshire scooped the top Award. In a contract valued at £2.15 million, the Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade I Listed building was taken down stone by stone before being reassembled in the new Paternoster Square development adjacent to St Paul’s Cathedral. The judges said: "A glorious return to the city after a very long absence has been enhanced by the work being beautifully executed. The art of restoration has been exemplified with the project at a point where there is a boundary between new and old". Temple Bar was also Highly Commended in the Craftsmanship category.

Further praise was received for two new very large private mansions in Hampshire under the New Build (load bearing) category, as one was Commended and the other Highly Commended. With reference to one of the projects, the judges commented: "The elegant and well balanced facades of this stone built residence respect and enhance the site. This house demonstrates how building with natural stone melds with the landscape".

In addition a special award for Design & Technology Innovation in Stone was given for the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, London. As well as being Principal Stone Contractor on the project, CWO also acted as Project Manager, carrying out the onsite fixing of the DeLank Cornish Granite worked in Northern Ireland by S McConnel & Sons using ground breaking computer technology and stone saws.