Specialist insurer Hiscox has announced that it is to continue its sponsorship of the annual Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) House of the Year award.
The RIBA House of the Year award is presented every year to the best new house or house extension designed by an architect in the UK. It was created in 2001 and for many years presented by the RIBA as the Manser Medal. Previous winners include Skene Catling de la Peña for Flint House (2015), Loyn & Co for Stormy Castle (2014), Carl Turner Architects for Slip House (2013) and Acme for Hunsett Mill (2010).
The renewal of this partnership reflects Hiscox’s expertise in home insurance, and complements its existing commitments to art and design in the communities in which it operates. This includes involvement in initiatives such as Sculpture in the City. Hiscox is also proud to support innovative building projects, providing comprehensive cover for renovations and extensions.
As part of its involvement in the RIBA House of the Year 2016 Philip Thorn, Head of Direct Home Insurance will join the jury. Other jury members are Meredith Bowles, Mole Architects (jury chair); Charlotte Skene Catling, Skene Catling de la Peña (winner in 2015); Jonathan Dallas, Dallas Pierce Quintero; and Jenny Éclair, novelist, actress & client of the 2005 award-winning house.
Philip Thorn, Head of Direct Home Insurance at Hiscox UK said: “We have worked with RIBA for many years and share their passion and commitment for design. We have been insuring unique homes for decades and recently moved into our own award winning new office in York. We have also just launched a new ‘renovation and extension’ insurance product to ensure anyone that wants to make their home even more special can do so with complete confidence. I look forward to seeing the short-listed homes, being inspired by them all and celebrating with the winner.’
The RIBA House of the Year award will be broadcast as part of a special Channel 4 Grand Designs series, presented by Kevin McCloud. Now in its second year, Grand Designs: House of the Year, produced by Boundless, is to be broadcast weekly for four weeks later in the year. Featuring a selection of properties from the longlist for the UK’s most prestigious new house award, it will reveal the shortlisted and winning homes.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Hiscox Ltd Lucy Hensher +44 (0) 20 7448 6619 Lucy.hensher@HISCOX.com
RIBA Howard Crosskey +44 (0)20 7307 3761 howard.crosskey@riba.org
Notes to editors
1. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. For further information, visitwww.architecture.com or @RIBA on Twitter.
2. Hiscox is a global specialist insurer with a 100 year heritage of insuring unusual or complex risks, such as high value homes, fine art and other collections. RIBA House of the Year is sponsored by Hiscox Home Insurance, visit www.hiscox.co.uk/home for more information about our Home Insurance.
Posted on Friday 1st July 2016
