Old Market Square, Nottingham, England

26 Nov 2008 Old Market Square, Nottingham : Gustafson Porter Awards 16 Oct 2008 Gustafson Porter win inaugural RIBA/CABE award for Old Market Square, Nottingham Gustafson Porter has won its eighth award for their £7 million transformation of Old Market Square in Nottingham after winning the first ever RIBA CABE Public Space Award. Announced on 11 October during Channel Four's Stirling Prize ceremony in Liverpool, the award acknowledges the 11,500m² public square for its outstanding integration of functional design in a communal area. photos © Gustafson Porter Ltd Officially reopened on 03 April 2007, Old Market Square is not only one of the oldest public squares in the UK, but also the second largest after Trafalgar Square in London. The space has since hosted some of its largest events including free concerts, fireworks displays, a fine foods fair and a bulb and flower market. The events planned for the future include military displays, sporting events, a variety of markets and public health campaigns, culminating in a spectacular ice rink before Christmas. 2 Jun 2008 Gustafson Porter wins RIBA award for Old Market Square in Nottingham Gustafson Porter’s transformation of Old Market Square in Nottingham has won its sixth award in the past year, with yesterday’s announcement of a prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) award. The awards recognise design excellence and built projects which make a significant contribution to the local environment. photo © Gustafson Porter Ltd The 11,500m² public square is one of the oldest in the UK and the second largest after Trafalgar Square in London. It was officially opened by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal on 03 April 2007. The 2008 RIBA award in the East Midlands category is the latest in a string of awards for Gustafson Porter’s Old Market Square scheme which scooped three Civic Trust Awards in March this year, in addition to taking the top honour at Nottingham’s Lord Mayor’s Awards for Urban Design in last November and a Design Excellence Award at the 2007 East Midlands Property Awards in September. The project is now up for selection for the national RIBA Awards which culminates in the acclaimed Stirling Prize – the main event in the UK’s architectural awards calendar. Gustafson Porter Director, Neil Porter, said, “The team here is extremely proud to be honoured in this way by the RIBA. Our aim with the design was to provide a relaxing and flexible space for everyday activities as well as an exciting destination for events and local markets. Crucially, we chose to reconcile the layout of the design with the classic formality of the Council House, which the original square didn't do. The Old Market Square‘s wonderfully organic form now makes a people friendly space for users of all ages. Since it opened last year, the public’s positive response has been amazing and we are absolutely delighted.” Councillor Alan Clark, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Regeneration at Nottingham City Council, commented, “It is wonderful that Old Market Square has won its sixth award since it opened last year. Gustafson Porter’s transformation of the square has brought the centre of the city back to life and provided a fantastic space for the people of Nottingham to enjoy.” The RIBA East Midlands judges praised the, ‘fluid inviting public space. It allows the surrounding buildings both to complement each other and stand out for their architectural character.” Previously: Gustafson Porter triumph at Nottingham’s Awards for Urban Design photo: Dom Henry www.domhenry.com Leading landscape architect Gustafson Porter scooped the top honours at Nottingham’s Lord Mayors Awards for Urban Design. Gustafson Porter’s £7million renewal of Old Market Square was lauded for its architectural brilliance and came top in the ‘Best Public Realm and Open Space’ category before walking off with the ‘Overall Winner’ award at a ceremony last night. Gustafson Porter Director, Neil Porter said, "We are delighted by the reception which Old Market Square has received and immensely proud to be honoured in this way – the most rewarding aspect of creating new public space is to see people enjoying it, and to be given such an accolade is hugely gratifying. The volume of space is wonderfully organic and we had to reconcile that with the classic formality of the Council House, to create a relaxed space for informal daily activity. The original square didn't do that." Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Nottingham Councillor Mohammed Munir said: “These awards aim to celebrate the finest design in Nottingham and the wonderful transformation of our Market Square richly deserves the highest praise. It is not only worthy due to the significance of the Square and the symbolic raising of standards in the public realm, but also due to the high quality of the project itself which is something which Nottingham will be proud of for generations to come.” photo © Gustafson Porter Ltd Sir Neil Cossons OBE, a former chairman of English Heritage, presented the awards which have seen an enormous rise in popularity since the ceremony was revived in 2005. The awards recognise outstanding contributions to new architecture in the city of Nottingham. Gustafson Porter’s Nottingham scheme also won a Design Excellence Award at the 2007 East Midlands Property Awards in September.