NEWS
October 2010
Chris York of Mulberry Flooring is extremely proud to have been part of the team in the fitting and finishing of this stunning Ash sunburst floor take a look!
How was it that a resident of High Wycombe, Chris York, ends up working with an astrophysicist, Rob Gunton, and a film and documentary maker, Matthew Gunton as one of a team honoured at the Wood Awards for their supreme craftsmanship? In wood? Well, because Chris was part of a tradition, a valuable part of a team effort that began a very long time ago. Beware wives and husbands what you encourage your partner to do in the house. Nearly 40 years ago, Matthew Gunton's dad David Gunton, at that time a warehouse manager, quite by accident, started a little business in a tiny terraced house in New Barton Street, Salford when his new and delectable wife, Irene, persuaded him to sand and lacquer the existing softwood boards in their first home.
Though never having done anything like it before he made a very good job of it. Others asked him to do the same for them. Operating to begin with from the phone box at the end of the street and out of the back of his car he began to get busy carrying out similar work for others - very often in London's fashionable West End. Gradually, he taught himself his trade. 20 years ago he moved to a little cottage in the country at Winsford in Cheshire. Today he is one of the most highly respected parquetiers in the country and abroad, making unique floorings for discerning clients. His philosophy is that his hardwood floors must be designed to last for longer than it took for the tree to grow from which it came. He has restored floors first made in the 1500's that are still going strong and good for another 500 years, so he expects some of his newly made floors to last for more than 1000 years. David Gunton trained Chris York and is extremely proud of the result.
Yesterday evening , Thursday 21st October, the specialist hardwood parquetier, David Gunton was part of a team led by architect Simon Knox of Knox Bhavan Architects, Camberwell, London that has won another coveted Special Award in the Wood Awards at the Carpenters Guild Hall in London to add to the list of awards the building has already won.
Grand Designs Best New-Build House 2010
Shortlisted, The Brick Awards 2010
Winner for Outstanding Craftsmanship, The Wood Awards 2010
RIBA Award 2010
extract from the Wood Awards web site category page.Wood Awards; Special Awards Wood Awards; Special Awards The judges may also, at their sole discretion, give special recognition for exceptional work with awards for Outstanding Design, Outstanding Craftsmanship and Innovation. These awards have been included in order to recognise and acknowledge the importance of design, craftsmanship and innovation in promoting the use of wood in architecture and design. Special awards are irrespective of category entered.
http://www.woodawards.com/college-road/
http://www.knoxbhaan.co.uk/project.php