The Gardeners’ House in Penzance won Best Recently Completed or Renovated Building at this year’s Cornish Buildings Group (CBG) Awards, held last week at the Buttermarket, Redruth.
The CBG Awards, held annually since 1981, recognise outstanding building and landscape projects across Cornwall, judged on design quality, sustainability, Cornish distinctiveness, and – in the case of restoration work – sensitivity to a building’s original design and fabric.
This year’s ceremony recognised three winning projects and eight commended entries from across the county with the other two awards in the category going to The Creation Works and the co-working space and studios, Pixel Penzance.
The Gardeners’ House, a charity based in Penzance, transformed the former gardeners’ house in Morrab Gardens, reopening in June 2025 following restoration funded by £2.2 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and an £896,000 grant from the Penzance Town Deal fund.
The building now houses a community archive of documents, books, illustrations and objects reflecting the landscape and history of West Cornwall, alongside spaces for community use.
Since opening, the Gardeners’ House has become an important space for the community, offering workshops, support groups and volunteering opportunities. It provides a place for people to gather, learn new skills, meet others and build connections within their community.
Doreen Pinfold, chair of the Board of Trustees at the Gardeners’ House said: “We’re delighted that the Gardeners’ House has been recognised in this way. This award reflects the care and thought that went into bringing the building back to life, and what it now means to the people who use it.”
Miki Ashton, director of the Gardeners’ House, said: “This recognition belongs to everyone who worked on the project and to the community who have made the Gardeners’ House part of Penzance again. To bring this building back to life was a labour of love that took a really committed group of people over nine years, and we are so pleased to see this level of recognition for our space.”
Neil Wall, the architect responsible for the building’s design through his firm Studio West, said: “It’s been a privilege to work on a building with such history and significance to Penzance. This award is a reflection of the collaborative effort between the whole design and construction team. I have been a part of this journey since the beginning, and I am proud to see the building project receive this prestigious award.”
The project was delivered with architect Neil Wall of Studio West, builders Martin and Steve Jewell of Jewell Construction and structural engineers Richard Gowan and Matt Taylor. Stephen Hird was the building services engineer and Trevor Humphreys was the project manager. They were accompanied on the night by Miki Ashton, Kate Picknett and Doreen Pinfold from the Gardeners’ House team.
The Gardeners’ House works in partnership with local community groups and organisations, including Sustainable Penzance, Hypatia Trust and Pengarth Day Centre, as well as local schools and colleges. Adjoining the building is the Sensory Garden, funded by the Tanner Phoenix Trust, which provides a tranquil space for older people, particularly those living with dementia, to reconnect with nature.
