RIDBA (the Rural and Industrial Design and Building Association) has shortlisted for the first-ever FAB (Farm and Agricultural Buildings) awards.
The shortlist for the first-ever Farm and Agricultural Buildings (FAB) awards run by the Rural and Industrial Design and Building Association (RIDBA) has been announced.
The competition attracted dozens of entries but a shortlist of nine for a total of seven awards has now been drawn up. The winners will be presented with their prizes by TV presenter Kate Humble at a ceremony in Bath on April 19th.
Shortlisted entrants are Simpson & Allinson and The Roundhouse Ltd, both of Barnard Castle, Co Durham; Minshall Construction, of Market Drayton, Shropshire; WH Ricketts & Sons of Hereford; Roger Stewart Associates of Stroud, Gloucestershire; Farmplus Construction of Longridge, Lancashire; AC Bacon Engineering of Hingham, Norfolk; Shufflebottom of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, and Stephen Taylor Associates of London.
The buildings entered into the competition include a roundhouse, dairy, micro brewery, farm shop, grain store, garden centre and equestrian centre.
The awards were launched in RIDBA's 56th anniversary of its formation as the Farm Buildings Association to recognise excellence in farm buildings and to reward contractors and clients.
The scheme recognises buildings that are sympathetic to, and even complementary to, the local landscape, and that are fit for purpose and sustainable - factors that are reflected in the award categories of aesthetics, functionality and sustainability.
The judges were sponsors Marley Eternit, Wedge Galvanising, Kingspan Insulated Panels, Brett Martin Daylight Systems and Steadmans, as well as the Institute of Agricultural Engineers' president Andy Newbold.
The awards dinner on Friday 19th April will be proceeded by a conference on the future of farm building design organised by RIDBA's Wessex branch, at Bath Guildhall from 10am, when a group of notable speakers will debate issues including animal welfare, environmental standards, planning matters and protecting the landscape.
