A Dwr Cymru/ Welsh Water visitor and watersports centre on the banks at Llandegfedd Reservoir, Pontypool, has won its architects the prestigious Gold Medal for Architecture at the National Eisteddfod of Wales

The winning design, by Chepstow based Hall + Bednarczyk, was revealed at the National Eisteddfod last Saturday and comes hot on the heels of the project winning also a 2016 RIBA Wales award for Building of the Year.

Hall + Bednarczyk has attracted attention in previous years at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, having twice been awarded the Plaque of Merit – an award given to smaller projects of a value of up to £750,000 – in 2015 and in 2012.

All seven shortlisted projects for the Gold Medal are included in the Architecture in Wales exhibition in the Y Lle Celf/Arts and Crafts pavilion at the Monmouthshire and District National Eisteddfod of Wales in Abergavenny until the end of Saturday 6 August. All projects have been photographed by nationally renowned James Morris.

Llandegfedd Visitor and Watersports centre near Pontypool was among a strong short list of seven building projects across Wales to be awarded the Gold Medal, which is supported by the Design Commission for Wales and awarded in association with the Royal Society of Architects in Wales.

The 550m2 visitor centre and the 320m2 watersports centre have transformed public access to and enjoyment of this Dwr Cymru Welsh Water reservoir site – its largest body of water in close proximity to the population centres of south Wales.

The visitor centre, which houses a café and display area, has an asymmetrically curved zinc clad roof that appears to float over the first floor café, mirroring the hills that enclose the reservoir. The café itself opens on to a cantilevered balcony that provides panoramic views across the water.

The watersports centre is clad in cedar, intended to weather to a silver finish complementing the setting. However, detailing in the gables and eaves means that the timber building is crisp rather than rustic in its appearance.

Hall+ Bednarczyk also had a second shortlisted project nominated; a private house called the “Chickenshed”; this follows on from a long list nominated or awarded private house designs most of them located in Monmouthshire

The watersports venue was constructed by local company Anthony A Davies Ltd who also fast tracked their project on Cross Street to ensure, after promising the mayor amongst other people, that they would have the scaffolding down before the commencement of the Eisteddfod.