Gowercroft wins first BWF ‘Heritage project of the year’ award

Multi award-winning timber window and door manufacturer Gowercroft Joinery has ended 2022 on a high as winner of the first ever British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Heritage Project of the Year Award.

This newly introduced award category, sponsored by Remmers UK, recognises outstanding design, craftsmanship and innovation in restoring and developing period properties.

Gowercroft Joinery scooped the top prize for the central part its range of Winston sliding sash windows played in the complex retrofit of Mews House, a low energy Victorian listed mews property in West London, which has already won a raft of architectural awards.

Set in a conservation area, Mews House demonstrates how deep sustainability can go hand in hand with building conservation.

Gowercroft worked closely with Prewett Bizley architects to provide replacement sash windows that would maintain the integrity of the historic facades whilst helping to drastically reduce the carbon footprint of this draughty nineteenth century property to better than that of a newly build home with an 82% measured reduction in the overall energy consumption.

Made from sustainable Accoya timber, the Winston sliding sash windows combined traditional joinery features with vacuum glazing to match the appearance of the single glazed windows, whilst delivering whole window U values of 1,5 W/m2K (since improved to 1.2 W/m2K).

Andrew Madge, Managing Director of Gowercroft Joinery said, “We are proud of our work on Mews House.  This landmark retrofit demonstrates how sustainability can be achievable within conservation projects, and the important role that vacuum glazed timber windows can play in bringing their energy efficiency levels up to modern standards.”

Helen Hewitt, Chief Executive of the BWF said: “Heritage projects require specialist skills and knowledge, and this award celebrates the achievements in this unique sector. With the launch of this award taking place this year, we had a significant number of entries, and it really was a close call – the quality of entries was outstanding. Gowercroft Joinery were selected as the first winners for the BWF Heritage Project of the Year Award for demonstrating how listed properties can clearly benefit from the latest technology and be more sustainable – a showcase of craftmanship and expertise.”

Mews House is 2022 RIBA Regional Award winner, 2022 A J Retrofit ‘Best House >£500k winner, and 2022 Retrofit Academy Awards – highly commended Small Project Category.  It was also shortlisted for 2022 ‘RIBA House of the Year’

Tel: 01773 300 510