Design Delivers LongevityTo commemorate its Diamond Jubilee, the Housing Design Awards revisited award winning developments of the past 60 years, looking for those that, in particular, excelled as sustainable buildings. The Housing Design Awards in Whitehall on the 3rd July 2008 showcased the latest designs in contemporary living. But how will these schemes shape up over the next 20 years? A new section of the awards seek to find exemplar projects from past decades, starting in the 1950's, to counter the common perception that post war buildings are being demolished due to poor design and performance.

One such project is Spinney Gardens in Crystal Palace by's firm PCKO Architects, of which Andrew Ogorzalek Living Steel's 2nd International Architecture Competition Jury Chair is a partner. Spinney Gardens, which was originally awarded a Housing Design Award in 1987 and Energy Award in 1985 has won again to show its continued success over the last 20 years as an exemplar housing scheme.

The project was the result of an open RIBA competition to provide low cost, affordable starter homes with energy efficiency in mind. Environmental features incorporated in the scheme were far ahead of its time and together with the inspiration from the site history and character, shaped the architectural and landscape design, creating a lasting sense of place highly valued by the residents.

Today, Spinney Gardens gives us an early example of what sustainability can mean in the future.

Click to read PCKO's official press release and related information.