Architect tells of design award nomination

by Jenny Minard
BBC Berkshire Reporter

Timothy's houses have earned him a design award nomination

An architect from Berkshire has been shortlisted for a major design award.

Tim Bennett has been shortlisted for the 2010 Architect of the Year Award in the One-off House category.

Tim, who has been on Channel 4's Grand Designs, has been working in Berkshire and Hampshire for 30 years.

He has been talking about his success ahead of the awards ceremony.

"I'm delighted. Especially as I'm a one man practice.

Design pleasure

"Everyone else taking part seems to be a big established firm.

"I made a decision to stay small a long time ago because I could live where I wanted and work from home.

The interior of the farmhouse designed by Timonthy

"I like small projects. You can't do big projects if you're a small organisation.

"It's quite flattering. It's unusual as it's for a body of work so they asked for three houses - two builds and one that hasn't been built.

"I am very excited after spending many years thinking about how to put together houses that give people pleasure.

"We live in an incredibly hectic time and I feel it's very important to make a stimulating but calm environment as a background for our busy lives."

Tim has worked for Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Peter Michael - founder of Classic FM.

He has won awards for three of his houses and was shortlisted for the Grand Designs Best Eco House Award.

Tim designed the Farmhouse at Rabley Barn in Wiltshire which was featured in Grand Designs.

He also built The Boathouse in Newbury. It is built on Lock Island and it was designed to rest above ground level so the island can flood if it needs to.

Understanding aesthetics

Tim said it was designed to be lived in all year round.

"It has a lot of glass but overhanging verandas shelter it from the heat. The owners find having the Aga on is enough to heat the house."

Timonthy designed The Boathouse in Newbury

When it comes to design Tim says you have to consider many factors, including aesthetics.

"It has to look nice when you get down to the visuals. It comes down to trying to make buildings you can understand immediately when you see them.

"You hopefully give a sense of calm but at the same time make the building exciting and you try to give people a buzz to enjoy.

"My criticism of a lot of modern buildings is that they are over obsessed with novelty and I don't think it's a justification for building design - buildings need to be a relatively calm background to our lives."

Grand designs presenter Kevin McCloud said: "The whole building feels robust and straightforward.

"Although the way the balcony forms the double height space, bringing the landscape indoors to all levels and the way the space is divided by the architecture, is quite subtle yet complex providing shelter and openness, shade and light.

"This place has got its own particular kind of Zen."

Tim has been nominated alongside five other architects and the winner will be announced on 4 November.