Gowercroft Wins First BWF ‘Heritage Project of the Year’ Award

Gowercroft Joinery Wins BWF Heritage Project of the Year 2022

Multi award-winning timber window and door manufacturer Gowercroft Joinery concluded 2022 on a high note by winning the inaugural British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Heritage Project of the Year Award.​

This newly introduced award category, sponsored by Remmers UK, recognises outstanding design, craftsmanship, and innovation in restoring and developing period properties.​

Mews House: A Model for Sustainable Heritage Retrofit

Gowercroft Joinery secured the top prize for its pivotal role in the deep retrofit of Mews House, a low-energy Victorian listed property in West London. The project, located in a conservation area, exemplifies how deep sustainability can harmoniously coexist with building conservation.​

Collaborating closely with Prewett Bizley Architects, Gowercroft provided replacement sash windows that preserved the historic façade’s integrity while significantly reducing the building’s carbon footprint. The retrofit achieved an impressive 82% measured reduction in overall energy consumption, surpassing the performance of many newly built homes.​

Winston Sliding Sash Windows: Combining Tradition with Innovation

Central to the project’s success were Gowercroft’s Winston sliding sash windows, crafted from sustainable Accoya timber. These windows combined traditional joinery features with advanced vacuum glazing technology, replicating the appearance of single-glazed windows while delivering whole window U-values of 1.5 W/m²K, later improved to 1.2 W/m²K.​

Andrew Madge, Managing Director of Gowercroft Joinery, commented:​

“We are proud of our work on Mews House. This landmark retrofit demonstrates how sustainability can be achievable within conservation projects, and the important role that vacuum-glazed timber windows can play in bringing their energy efficiency levels up to modern standards.”​

The Gowercroft team receive their BWF Heritage Windows Award
The Gowercroft Team accepting their award

Industry Recognition and Accolades

Helen Hewitt, Chief Executive of the BWF, praised the project’s excellence:​

“Heritage projects require specialist skills and knowledge, and this award celebrates the achievements in this unique sector. Gowercroft Joinery was selected as the first winner of the BWF Heritage Project of the Year Award for demonstrating how listed properties can clearly benefit from the latest technology and be more sustainable—a showcase of craftsmanship and expertise.”​

Mews House has garnered multiple prestigious awards, including:​

These accolades underscore the project’s exemplary integration of sustainable practices within a heritage context. >£500k winner, and 2022 Retrofit Academy Awards – highly commended Small Project Category.  It was also shortlisted for 2022 ‘RIBA House of the Year’