West Country Blacksmiths are proud to share that we have had two projects shortlised for the prestigious 2022 GAGA Construction Awards.
The awards celebrate the innovate use of galvanised steel by architects, engineers, constructors and artists from all over the UK and has been running for over 20 years, with previous winning project including the Eden Project and the London Palladium.
From thousands of entries, 36 projects were shortlisted within six separate categories with two projects from West Country Blacksmiths being shortlisted for the awards alongside projects including Pwlheli Lifeboat Station, The Battersea Roundabout Sculpture and Camden Town Beer Hall.
One of the projects shortlisted was a decorative Oak Leaf and Acorn Balustrade project completed on an oak frame extension for a farm in Leighton Buzzard. The client wanted a decorative balustrade which meet building regulation and complemented the Oak Frame.
Within the eight balustrade panels, our blacksmiths handcrafted beautifully tapered and textured metal stems organically shaped metalwork including in excess of 500 leaves and 75 acorns.
Mr Darley of Leighton Buzzard kindly shared – “We spent a long time searching for a balustrade that would be of a quality and design that would bring out the best in our balcony area. West Country Blacksmiths created a fantastic design that is beautiful, reflects the landscape we live in, and carefully balances being robust but still feeling very open and not restricting the view. The execution of the project was first class – the workmanship is excellent with the design featuring hundreds of oak leaves, many tapered stems all intertwined and produced and installed to such a high standard. Nearly a year on and we still love the balustrade plus it has stood the test of time very well with no evidence of weathering. All told, we’re 100% happy and couldn’t recommend Westcountry Blacksmiths enough.”
The second shorlisted project as a range of bespoke metalwork made for the largescale development of Bittescombe Lodge and Deer Park near Wiveliscombe in Somerset to. The metalwork produced included a pair of automated gates, two pairs of gates, two personnel gates, four metal and glass balconies, large sections of railings and the main sign for the lodge.
On behalf of Bitterscombe Lodge, Samantha Campbell-Breeden of Bitterscombe Lodge shared ‘West Country Blacksmiths are true modern-day artisans: they turned our designs into reality therefore offering a really bespoke service. Their attention to detail, perfectionism and professionalism are without equal in this sector. Although they are local to our most recent project, West Country Blacksmiths are world-class in terms of their quality of workmanship, delivery and after sales service. They epitomise metalwork at its absolute best.”
On behalf of West Country Blacksmiths we thank the GAGA Construction awards for the shortlisting as we are incredibly grateful of the recognition for the quality of the work we produce. We are privileged to have a dedicated and incredibly talented team who together work extremely hard to produce metalwork to the very best standard regardless of the size and type of project. As a small rural based company, this type of recognition is vital to helps us share the range of our team are capable of. ”
The awards ceremony will take place on Friday 1st July at The Royal Aeronautical Society in London.
