Hats off to WCEC as it scoops top interior design award
13 Jul 2005
It’s hats off to Chesterfield architects WCEC who have scooped gold in prestigious interior design awards.
The rapidly expanding practice received gold in the 2005 Association of Interior Specialists (AIS) Contractors Awards for its work on the Morrisons supermarket at Denton, Manchester.
Partner Ashley Turner explained: “Morrisons are very keen to allow Architects to demonstrate their design flair in the main circulation areas of the store particularly when that reflects strong local heritage issues such as millinery at Denton.
“After lengthy research and liaison with the local history centres we discovered just how prominent Denton had been in the hat making process and, indeed, the site we developed had been a millinery factory at the turn of the last century.
As a result of this it was a logical choice that the interior design followed a hat theme. Curved fibrous plaster mouldings were used to create the basic hat shapes and careful selection of light fittings enabled us to accentuate the themeThe town was once a major hat producer so architects at WCEC chose a hat theme for the store design incorporating lighting into hanging top hat shapes.
Partner Ashley Turner explained: “When we do work for Morrisons we are given licence to reflect the area in which the supermarkets are being built.
“We knew that Denton was historically a very big hat making town and, indeed, the site we developed had been a millinery factory at the turn of the last century.
“We have incorporated interior lighting designs in the check-out and entrance mall which look like the interior of a top hat.
“To stop light spill to neighbouring residential properties, we also used large prints of the six processes in the hat making process scanned onto adhesive material.”
The AIS Contractors Awards are presented annually to promote and encourage high levels of craftsmanship in interior design. WCEC in association with specialist contractors Johnson Bros scooped the gold award in the ceilings section for projects up to £100,000.
Judges commented that “The design, manufacture and accuracy of installation were excellent resulting in a unique checkout hall and entrance.”