The Lookout Tower has been awarded Winner for the LABC Building Excellence Awards 2023
We’re excited to announce the Lookout Tower has been awarded Winner: Best Residential Conversion, Alteration to an Existing Home in the 2023 LABC awards.
Project Team: hmad architects, Project Management & Building Etc Ltd, The Lookout Tower, Structurehaus, Lighthouse Development Consulting, Christopher Gosney GQS Services
Local Authority: Devon Building Control Partnership
Our project to restore a former coastguard tower into accommodation for guests, took around 2 years. To preserve the sense of history the original structure was almost entirely kept; with a considered extension added to allow a little more room and comfort.
An environmental approach was an important consideration for us at the outset of renovation. Heating is from an air source heat pump with the electricity partly offset by solar. Water supplied from our borehole, so pure that it needs no treatment other than UV filtration. Bee bricks and swallow cups have been installed and in the building process wherever possible, materials and skills have been utilised locally.
We were also keen to improve the Tower with disability access in mind, so there is parking right outside the front door, all doorways are wide enough for a wheelchair, the shower room is a wet room and each floor is connected by a pneumatic vacuum operated lift. The lift is not large enough for a wheelchair but a seat is provided so that with help each floor is accessible.
If you would like to stay at The Lookout Tower, 3,4 or 7 night stays can be booked. For more information, visit www.the-lookout-tower.com
For more information about the awards and a list of winners across the South West, visit www.labc.co.uk/news/labc-south-west-winners-highly-commended-2023
Special thanks to:
HMAD, the architects
Building, ETC the builders
Vacuum lift: Access lifts
Electrics: Bard Electrical
Fine joinery: James Riggall
Patio and Devon stonewall:
#coastalhardscapes and #total_hardscapes
Photography: Simon Emmett
Special thanks to Duncan, Andy, Huggie, Nick and Nick