The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has this evening (Thursday 16 October) announced the winner of the 2014 RIBA Manser Medal, the UK’s most prestigious housing design award. Stormy Castle by Loyn & Co, a brave contemporary private house in an area of outstanding natural beauty atop a hillside on the Gower peninsula in Wales has been named Britain’s best new home. Despite its remote and unforgiving local environment, the architects created a three-storey home that pulls a remarkable amount of natural light deep into its interior. Complimenting this are polished concrete floors flowing throughout and crystalline white ceilings which help create a contemporary feel in such a rural setting. Rusted steel on the external doors, cladding and on the roof of the retained barn evoke a raw, honest aesthetic and sit well with materials used locally in agriculture buildings. Full-height glazing maximise the views on to designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and although the house is 725 square metres in area, much of it is cleverly hidden  underground, emerging to make the most of the stunning views of the manicured perimeter and the wild meadow and heathland stretching beyond. RIBA Manser Medal Chair Michael Manser CBE said: ‘The aim of the Manser Medal has always been to influence the public to demand, and the mass house builders to supply, better designed homes. I believe by highlighting brave architecture like this year’s winner Stormy Castle we can showcase what can be achieved. This is a bold design in an area of Wales where arguably more conservative design solutions usually hold sway. I was impressed by the sustainability credentials, with a comprehensive range of energy, recycling and heating strategies incorporated into the design, which will be invaluable in dealing with such a large footprint.’ The judges for the award are Michael Manser CBE (chair), Robert Hiscox, Honorary President of Hiscox, Lady Patty Hopkins, Carl Turner (winner of the 2013 Manser Medal) and Tony Chapman, RIBA Head of Awards. The RIBA Manser Medal is sponsored by specialist insurer Hiscox. The Architects’ Journal is media partner for the RIBA awards and professional media partner for the RIBA Stirling Prize. ENDS Notes to editors RIBA press contact: Howard Crosskey, howard.crosskey@riba.org or 020 7307 3761 Press images for the winning home can be viewed and downloaded here: https://app.box.com/s/tyy4q504w5urdm3d1lkm The RIBA Manser Medal is awarded every year to the best new house. It was created in 2001 to celebrate excellence in housing design and was named after Michael Manser CBE, a designer of celebrated homes and former RIBA President. Previous winners include Carl Turner Architects for Slip House (2013), Acme for Hunsett Mill (2010) and Alison Brooks Architects for the Salt House (2007) For more information on the award visit: www.architecture.com/mansermedal2014 Hiscox, the international specialist insurer, is headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:HSX). There are three main underwriting divisions in the Group – Hiscox London Market, Hiscox Re and Hiscox Retail (which includes Hiscox UK and Europe, Hiscox Guernsey, Hiscox USA and subsidiary brand, DirectAsia). Hiscox underwrites internationally traded, bigger ticket business and reinsurance through Hiscox Re and Hiscox London Market. Through its retail businesses in the UK, Europe and the US Hiscox offers a range of specialist insurance for professionals and business customers, as well as homeowners.  For further information visit www.hiscoxgroup.com Hiscox UK’s affinity partnerships team creates long term commercial relationships with leading brands.  Hiscox are able to offer RIBA members a 10% discount on their home insurance or office insurance which can also include cover for architectural models (subject to terms and conditions)  – call 0844 248 1644 or visit www.hiscox.co.uk/riba The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. Visit www.architecture.com and follow us on Twitter. The Architects’ Journal is media partner for the RIBA Awards and special awards and professional media partner for the RIBA Stirling Prize. The judges citations and image links follow: Stormy Castle, Loyn & Co. Architects Stormy Castle is a contemporary private house in an area of outstanding natural beauty on a hillside on the Gower peninsula.  The client, a local couple who know the area well, had always wanted to build something which reflected the quality of the surroundings and, conversely, made the most of the site in terms of views, landscape design and topography. The resulting design is a tour de force in terms of space, natural light, level changes and connection to the landscape. The palette of materials is kept to a minimum – polished concrete floors flowing throughout, shuttered concrete walls, crystalline white ceilings, full height glazing to maximise the views and Corten steel accents to external doors, cladding and the roof of the retained barn. Although the overall building is 725 square metres in area, much of it is cleverly hidden in the ground, emerging on three levels to make the most of the orientation and external landscape. The jury was impressed by the sustainability credentials, with a comprehensive range of energy, recycling and heating strategies incorporated into the design, which will be invaluable in dealing with such a large footprint. By far the most striking element in the design is the quality of light which reaches deep into the interior. In many ways this is as much an art gallery as a home, with the areas in between the living ‘rooms’ inviting interventions – indeed the client is keen to explore this over time. The multi levels and interplay between inside and out create a range of private, intimate courtyards and more exposed external spaces which allow the building to connect, whatever the climate. This is a brave design in an area of Wales where the more conservative, vernacular indigenous design solution usually holds sway. The jury was therefore delighted to see a contemporary design of quality win through and reward an ambitious client and architect. Images: https://app.box.com/s/tyy4q504w5urdm3d1lkm   Posted on Thursday 16th

©Bloomberg Police have raided the offices of Gerdau, Brazil’s largest steelmaker, and issued an arrest warrant for its chief executive as part of an inquiry into a nationwide kickback and bribery scheme at the country’s tax agency. The federal police said on Thursday that they suspected the company of evading R$1.5bn ($379m) in back taxes through the scheme, which has emerged alongside a separate corruption scandal at state oil company Petrobras. In the sixth phase of the tax investigation — termed “Operation Zealots” — police said they had issued 22 arrest warrants and 18 search and seizure warrants at Gerdau’s offices across five Brazilian states. Police said one of the executives to be summoned to testify was André Gerdau Johannpeter, head of the Gerdau family empire whose father is one of President Dilma Rousseff’s closest advisers. Local media said he would appear voluntarily later on Thursday. Gerdau, Brazil’s largest steelmaker by volumes, said in a statement that police had been at its offices on Thursday morning, adding that it would co-operate fully with the federal police’s investigations and denying any illegal behaviour. Its shares fell 4.8 per cent on Thursday. Mr Gerdau Johannpeter could not be reached for comment. Just as Brazil’s authorities were investigating a vast kickback and bribery scheme at Petrobras last year, police reported another corruption scheme involving the country’s board of tax appeals. Police say they suspect companies bribed members of the Carf, the part of Brazil’s finance ministry responsible for ruling on tax appeals, to get favourable decisions that reduced or waived the sums owed. When the scheme was first uncovered in March last year, police said they would investigate at least 70 industrial, engineering, agricultural and financial groups over possible bribes to tax officials. Over the past few years, Brazil’s crusading public prosecutors have grown increasingly active, taking advantage of the independence afforded to them by Brazil’s 1988 constitution to investigate the country’s most powerful figures. Among those who have been arrested so far in connection with the Petrobras scandal include André Esteves, one of the country’s top bankers, and Marcelo Odebrecht, head of Brazil’s largest engineering conglomerate. Mr Esteves, who was later released on house arrest, and Mr Odebrecht, who remains in jail, have both denied wrongdoing. On Tuesday, João Santana, the manager of Ms Rousseff’s 2010 and 2014 presidential campaigns, was also arrested by police over allegations he took bribes as part of the Petrobras scheme. Mr Santana has labelled the accusations as “baseless”. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2016. You may share using our article tools. Please don’t cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web. Source link

BEM Services have aligned themselves with the New Forest District Council through an M & E contract which amounts to a grand total of 6 thousand pounds. The development, a strand of an even greater 1.3 million pound initiative organized by the Heritage Lottery, has been put in place in order that the Eling Tide Mill of Hampshire will see some vast improvements that will make it the pride of the county and of its nearby residents. BEM Services intend to put their work into preserving, aiding and abetting the mill, an authentic historical artefact dating as far back as 1785, for the future. What such an initiative will ensure is that people of the younger generation spectrum visiting the area, such as on school trips or just for fun, will be able to benefit from witnessing a real, well preserved piece of historical evidence from the past. The proposed scheme will also allow for the development of a café area that will be able to provide seating space for up to 28 visitors and tourists to the area. At 215 square meters, it will undoubtedly prove to be a success and BEM Services are pleased to be able to contribute to the effort, having earned themselves a good reputation with clients from all over the country for their punctuality and efficacy in delivering planned projects on time and at low costs. Mister Mark Boardman the MD of BEM Services has declared his happiness in the company’s commitment to this more unusual project. The structure will involve BEM Services committing to cable wire and piping installations to ensure that the mill is as beneficial to visitors and tourists as possible and that it will be able to provide the Hampshire area with greater interest and enthusiasm in the tourist sector. Through this the New Forest’s initiative to improve the mill will prove, with the reliable services of BEM, to be a successful and well-intentioned one.