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architectnews · 2 years

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Derwent Valley Villa, Duffield, Derbyshire

Derwent Valley Villa Duffield, Derbyshire, East Midlands Building News, English Architecture Award

Derwent Valley Villa, Duffield Building

29 April 2022

Derwent Valley Villa, Duffield, Derbyshire, England, UK

Thursday 28th of April 2022 – five projects were selected by the expert jury, who visited all of the shortlisted projects.

Design: Blee Halligan

Photos © Henry Woide

Derwent Valley Villa, Duffield, Derbyshire, UK

Jury Report

The first quality that strikes you on arriving at Derwent Valley Villa is the relaxed modesty and straightforward approach to materials and entry. The surprises and delights are held back for your experience in walking through the house. The plan is orchestrated as a series of axial routes that always end in framed views of the landscape beyond.

The house has been deliberately pulled apart, pinning the entry court and guest wing in the southeast corner, while pushing the main living spaces to the northwest. This sets up a promenade from entry all the way to a spectacular willow seen beyond the main living room, passing through garden courts on either side of the glazed link that separates the wings.

On reaching the living room a new route crosses your path connecting kitchen dining on your left to a snug and playroom on the right, reached beyond a stair slotted between brick walls rising to access the bedrooms above. In moving around the house, you pass through a sequence of discrete garden courts that create their own sequence of outdoor rooms, to be enjoyed at different times of day – each with their own character and purpose. Windows are well placed to maintain a constant connection between inside and outside, so that the whole plot is brought into the service of the internal rooms, and vice versa. It is a house full of circuits, with options that clearly delight the young family.

The house is constructed with a directness and simplicity that allows the courtyards to be viewed externally as walled gardens, while from the inside immaculately set out lignacite block work and timber joists give the interiors a sense of calm composure.

The design of house and garden has risen to the opportunities of the immediate landscape in a relaxed and assured manner, offering a frame for living that is full of variety, and the jury panel were delighted to give the team an RIBA regional award.

Derwent Valley Villa, Duffield, Derbyshire – Building Information

Title: Derwent Valley Villa RIBA region: East Midlands Architect practice: Blee Halligan Date of completion: Jul 2020 Date of occupation: Jul 2020 Client: Confidential Project city/town: Belper Contract value: Confidential Gross internal area: 407.00 m² Net internal area: 391.00 m² Cost per m²: Confidential Contractor company name: Derwent Valley Construction Ltd

Consultants

Structural Engineers: Hayne Tillet Steel Landscape Architects: J+L Gibbons Environmental Economics: SAP Calculations Building Control: Approved Building Control Ltd Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant: Appleyard and Trew

Awards

• RIBA Regional Award • Regional Client of the Year

2022 RIBA East Midlands Award Winners

Derwent Valley Villa, Derbyshire designed by Blee Halligan

Derwent Valley Villa, Duffield, Derbyshire building images / information from the Royal Institute of British Architects

Location: Duffield, Derbyshire, England, UK

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Comments / photos for the Derwent Valley Villa, Duffield, Derbyshire property design by Blee Halligan architects page welcome

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cars4starters · 6 years

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My life-long love affair with cars and motor sport has left me with a treasure trove of memories about the cars I’ve owned and driven, the races I’ve watched, the tracks on which I’ve driven or been driven and the race drivers I’ve met.

Hot laps with Alan Jones around Calder, Craig Lowndes around Phillip Island, Le Mans winner Klaus Ludwig around the Le Mans Bugatti circuit come to mind — and then there’s the circuits I’ve been lucky enough to drive on myself.

These include Phillip Island (my favourite) on many occasions, Bathurst, Albert Park, Symmons Plains, Sydney Motorsport Park, Calder, Hidden Valley and Wakefield Park.

Overseas I’ve watched races at Le Mans, Brands Hatch and Silverstone, and in Australia at most of the tracks.

My fondest memories as a small boy involve watching races with my Dad and brother at two tracks – Albert Park at the 1956 Australian Grand Prix and the long-since defunct Longford circuit in Tasmania.

I remember vividly my excitement at Albert Park, where I watched my hero Stirling Moss and his French teammate Jean Behra hurtle past us just the other side of small hay bales in their Maserati 250F open wheelers and 300S sports cars.

Moss drove with a very straight-arm style – something I could see quite plainly in the 250F – and it was this style I adopted for years after I was old enough to get a licence.

Then there was Longford.

As well as being there for the enjoyment, Dad and his two small boys had another reason for being there.

Dad’s younger brother Dick was THE doyen of Tasmanian motor sport for much of last century.

He was a real character who was much loved and respected by all who knew him, and he raced cars until well into his seventies.

In fact, he was for many years Australia’s oldest licensed racing driver.

Uncle Dick also raced speed boats and was Tasmanian champion for many years.

So dedicated was he to going fast, both on water and land, in his early career, he’d race his boat the Touchalong on the Derwent River in the morning, before jumping in his car and driving to the Baskerville circuit to race in the afternoon.

As a small boy, Dick pulled his mother’s Singer sewing machine apart to find out how it worked (he did reassemble it too) and in 1933 when he was 17 he built his first race car from bits and pieces scrounged from wreckers’ yards. It could do 140km/h.

Over his racing career, Dick competed in more than 30 different cars.

He was an outstanding mechanic who, despite being busy with a successful business in Hobart, was never too busy to help other race drivers with a mechanical problem they had.

But back to Longford . . . a track that in its day was undoubtedly one of the world’s finest (if most dangerous) road circuits.

The track was 23km south-west of Launceston and its 7km layout included a 300km/h straight, a railway viaduct, two wooden bridges, and part of down-town Longford itself.

The first race was held there in 1953 but what really put the track on the motor-racing map was the 1958 Gold Star meeting which was won by Stan Jones in his 250F Maserati, from Len Lukey in his Cooper Climax.

A young Alan Jones was there to watch his father race.

The first time my Dad and his small boys went to the Longford races was in the early 1950s and I have two outstanding and indelible memories — watching my uncle in his hotted-up Austin A40 tourer and a bright red Cadillac-powered Allard J2 driven by the late Tom Hawkes.

It was quite the most magnificent-looking and sounding car I’d ever seen — not to mention the fastest.

Fast forward to 1964 and the track hosted a round of the wonderful Tasman series (as it did for five years) that saw some of the world’s greatest F1 drivers come to Australia and New Zealand for their off-season grand prix break.

No fewer than seven world champions – Jack Brabham, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Phil Hill, Denny Hulme, John Surtees and Jackie Stewart — all graced the Longford bitumen.

Not to mention the likes of Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon, Piers Courage, Richard Attwood, Pedro Rodriques, Tony Maggs, Roy Salvadori and Timmy Mayer who tragically was killed there.

During the three Longford Tasman series races I covered as a young motoring editor of the Launceston Examiner, I had the run of the place and could go anywhere at any time in the pits and around the track.

I even had my own Kombi van to take me from corner to corner whenever I wished during the weekend program.

The more I write this piece the more memories come flooding back.

Each year, on Friday night before the races, there was a big dinner at one of Launceston’s best hotels and most of the visiting international drivers would be there and mingle happily with the locals.

Imagine Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel doing that today.

I remember well one night when Graham Hill and Jim Clark had a bread-roll fight — much to the delight of us mere local mortals.

Speaking of Graham Hill, a late mate of mine, Peter Mawdesley, used to race the ex-Leo Geoghegan/Alan Ling Lotus Super 7.

As well as the car, Peter used to take a little plywood caravan and park it in the pits.

One Saturday morning, it started to rain and suddenly there was a knock on the door.

To my mate’s amazement and delight, it was Graham Hill who asked it he could come in and have a cuppa.

Again . . . imagine Hamilton or Vettel doing that today?

Years later my mate Peter told me that his most vivid Longford memory was being flat out (about 210km/h) on the so-called “flying mile” in his Super 7 and having Bill Brown in the magnificent Ferrari P4 sports car flash past at 300km/h.

It was in fact this car – in the hands of Chris Amon – that holds the Longford lap record of 2:12.6 at an average speed of 196.66km/h.

Naturally, with so little of the track remaining today, this record will stand forever.

So far as the Australian drivers are concerned, probably the most legendary Longford story concerns Lex Davison.

Barrelling down the short straight between the railway viaduct and the right-hander at the local pub, his Cooper lost traction over a slight jump, was caught by the wind, spun into a grassy ditch and careered across the road before slamming into the pub wall.

Davison, who was uninjured, calmly got out of the largely demolished car and walked into the pub. The story goes that he ordered a brandy but I reckon it was probably a beer.

A brake disc from the Cooper is now part of a fascinating collection of memorabilia at the pub.

So that’s Longford, or at least my memories of it.

A wonderful but extremely dangerous (by today’s cotton-wool standards) road circuit that had everything.

Most of the international drivers I spoke with at the time said it was one of the world’s finest.

I’m just glad I got to see them master it.

CHECKOUT: Book chronicles Australia’s two-wheel talent

CHECKOUT: Australia’s first pro race driver was a woman

Auto Draft #cars4start My life-long love affair with cars and motor sport has left me with a treasure trove of memories about the cars I’ve owned and driven, the races I’ve watched, the tracks on which I’ve driven or been driven and the race drivers I’ve met.

#cars4start #Longford #race circuit

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atravellersfootsteps · 7 years

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Just outside of Hobart you will find one of Tasmania’s most spectacular National Park – Mount Field. Mount Field National Park is a nature hub, filled with waterfalls, tall growth trees, running streams, lakes and wild animals. Most people make their way to Mount Field to enjoy bushwalking, waterfall adventures, picnicking and bird watching. For me, the stand out was the waterfalls within the park. In this post I will give you some information on the walking trails and the best waterfalls in Mount Field National Park.

Arriving to Mount Field National Park

Mount Field National Park is divided into two sections. The main area begins at the visitor center and is where you will find the trail to Russell Falls. The second area is centered at Lake Dobson and is a base for the ski hill and longer hiking trails.

We started our adventure at the visitor centre, making our way straight into the rainforest and up to Russell Falls, Horseshoe Falls and Lady Barron Falls.

Waterfalls in Mount Field National Park

There are three major waterfalls in Mount Field National Park: Russell Falls, Horseshoe Falls and Lady Barron Falls. All of these waterfalls are spectacular and if you have time, I would visit them all. There is a circuit trail that leaves from the visitor centre and connect all three waterfalls, taking approximately 2 hours.

Russell Falls

Russell Falls is the most accessible waterfall in Mount Field National Park and by far the most majestic. I have seen A LOT of waterfalls in my life but never one like Russell Falls.

Russell Falls is a 15 minute walk from the visitor centre. Most people visit Russell Falls then leave, so the further you hike in, the more privacy you will find.

Horseshoe Falls

Horseshoe falls is located at the top of Russell Falls, which you can access via a short set of stairs. This waterfall is smaller but equally as intriguing.

Photo @metedme

From Horseshoe Falls you can return to the visitor centre the way you came or you can continue on the loop past Lady Barron Falls and back to the visit centre.

Lady Barron

The walk to Lady Barron Falls is the longest, taking an extra 40 minutes from Horse Shoes falls. This section of the walk leads you through the tall trees all the way to Lady Barron which is the quietest waterfall.

Photo @metedme

The final section of the loop takes approximately 30 minutes and will take you back to where you started.

Hiking Trails in Mount Field National Park

There are many hiking trails in Mount Field National Park.

Photo @metedme

Short Hikes include Russell Falls, the Tall Tree Walk and Pandani Grove Nature Walk.

Long hikes include Lake Nicholls, Mount Field East Circuit, Seagers Lookout, Lake Belcher, Snow Gum Track to Lake Seal Lookout, Start of Tarn Shelf, Tarn Shelf Circuit via Lake Newdegate, Twighlight Tarn and Lake Webster, Rodway Range-Tarn Shelf Cicuit via Col and Newdegate Pass and Mount Field West.

Here is a map of the trails within Mount Field National Park and a short summary is below.

Short Hikes

Russell Falls – Is a short, 30 minute return walk to suitable for everyone.

Russell Falls / Horse Shoe Falls / Tall Tree Circuit / Lady Barron Falls – 2 hour circuit past all three falls, moderate fitness required. This was the trail I did and can highly recommend.

Tall Tree Walk – 30 minute return walk leaving from Lake Dobson Road, leading you through the forest.

Pandani Grove Nature – a 40 minute circuit surrounding Lake Dobson, giving you a taste for the sub alpine region of the park.

Long Hikes

Lake Nicholls – This trail is a 2 hour return climb through the woodlands all the way up to Lake Nicholls. The trail starts from a sign point up Lake Dobson Road.

Mount Field East Circuit – Is a 4 – 5 hour return gradual uphill climb to the summit of Mount Field East, offering stunning views on a nice day. This hike leaves from Lake Dobson Road.

Seagers Lookout – This 2 hour return hike is short, but steep. From Seagers lookout you will get amazing views of Derwent River Valley.

Lake Belcher – This 5 – 6 return trail from Wombat Moor crosses the open Moorland and leads you into the Humboldt Valley.

Snow Gum Track to Lake Seal Lookout – A 1.5 hour return trail offering stunning views of Seal Lake and the Broad River Valley.

Start of Tarn Shelf – This 3 hour return trail passing a series of small glacial lakes (tarns). Access to this trail is via the Snow Gum Track and Rodway Hut.

Tarn Shelf Circuit via Lake Newdegate, Twighlight Tarn and Lake Webster – 5 hour circuit across Tarn Chelf returning via the lower lakes.

Rodway Range-Tarn Shelf Cicuit via Col and Newdegate Pass – This 6 hour return trail is known to have some of the parks best views. The ascend starts from Rodway Hut, through the Rocky Lions Den to K Col, along the Rodway Range, via Newdegate Pass to Lake Newdegate and returning via tarn shelf. This hike will give you a taste of everything the park has to offer.

Mount Field West – The longest trail in the park taking 8 hours return, leading you over the Rodway Range to the edge of Mount Field National Park. Mount Field West is the highest point in the park and offers unmatched views of the region.

These are all the hiking trails you can choose from within Mount Field National Park. I suggest making your first stop the Visitor centre where you can collect a map and talk to the ranger about the trail that will best suit your fitness and interests.

No matter what hike you choose, make sure you leave enough time to go to Russell Falls as it truly is remarkable.

What to Pack for Mount Field National Park

Drinking Water

Hat, Sunscreen, Sunglasses

Hiking Shoes

Warm Jacket – it can get cool up in the rainforest

Waterproof Coat – the weather changes quickly

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Mount Field National Park – Tasmania Just outside of Hobart you will find one of Tasmania’s most spectacular National Park - Mount Field.

#Australia #tasmania #Travel

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