Szerelmey - General - London, Hat-Trick at The Stone Awards

Date: 28 Nov 2006

Tony Walsh, TV's landscape gardener, highlights natural stone features in interior and landscape awards today at the 13th Natural Stone Awards' luncheon at the Millennium Hotel, Mayfair.

South London based specialist new build stonework and restoration contractor Szerelmey won two prestigious Stone Awards for its work on the historic Tower Environs, HM Tower of London and the National Gallery, London. The company was also commended for its work on the exclusive residential property at 199 The Knightsbridge, London.

Tower of London Environs gets top placing

In carrying out the £1.5 million hard landscaping package, Szerelmey's in-house design team were faced with a complex task of procuring, laying and installing the new and reclaimed Yorkstone paving and steps to the west of the Tower Environs. In addition some 4,600 square metres of French blue grey granite paving and cladding were detailed, procured and fixed to the Vaults and Pump house buildings.

The judges at the awards commented "This is an exceptional piece of landscaping, well articulated, the levels all working in well with the adjacent surfaces, giving a suitably high quality setting for such an important space. Successful, restrained and simple using good quality materials"

The project was technically challenging as the stone was cut and designed to align perfectly in all directions, much like a giant jigsaw. Forward planning was imperative as some of the stone weighed approximately 500kg each. Szerelmey insured that each stone was safely manoeuvred into place by using a telehoist with a specially adapted lifting rig and incorporated hydraulic suction cups.

The ancient Tower, built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and used as a public meeting place for over 900 years, has underwent a magnificent transformation with the west side of the site being redesigned to improve accessibility, safety and the appearance of Tower Hill.

The majority of the funding for Tower Environs Scheme was borne by donations received from bodies such as the Pool of London Partnership, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Environment Agency and Sir Paul Getty.

National Gallery project also bags prestigious stone award

The project, which required Szerelmey to source the specified stone from all over Europe, comprised internal flooring and cladding works on the Portico entrance and the East Wing of the Grade 1 listed National Gallery.

The judges said the project was "An appropriately sophisticated addition to one of our much loved friends, the National Gallery."

Szerelmey's work package incorporated wall cladding, staircases and the cleaning, repair and refixing of previously set aside historic marbles. Also included was the carving of over 7,500 incised letters for donor plaques to the Main Entrance and to an existing Portland stone tablet above the East entrance door.

The flooring to the East Entrance vestibule and the internal courtyard combined the use of both Azul Cascais and Chateaux Jaune materials with just Azul Cascais being laid to the floor areas of the East Café, East shop and the Main Entrance Portico foyer. Belgium black material has been used across wide door thresholds and as a border to the floors in some of the gallery rooms.

Exclusive 199 Knightsbridge highly commended

The Knightsbridge, at 199 Knightsbridge, one of the most exclusive and expensive residential properties in the world, was commended in the landscaping category.

Szerelmey were contracted to design, procure, deliver and fix approximately 2,500 square metres of handset Portland stone from ground to first floor level, on 18 different elevations of the building, completed with a Chinese granite plinth, as part of a total project package worth £3 million.

The judges commented "A courtyard ostensibly to cover the services has produced a tranquil area with a water feature enhanced by a variety of carefully considered stone".

Greg Verhoef of Szerelmey, said: "We are delighted to have won stone awards for the work carried out at Tower Environs and the National Gallery. It is a great honour to have worked on such historically important buildings"

He added, "Receiving these industry awards is a great endorsement of the hard work put in by the entire team."

Example of Szerelmey's work at the National Gallery, London.

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