Barracuda has been congratulated by conservationists in Derby for its sensitive conversion of a Grade II listed building into a Varsity outlet.
The £1m restoration project in Friar Gate was highly commended in the annual George Larkin Brighter City Awards given by Derby Civic Society in recognition of the building's contribution to a "significant improvement" in the environment.
The site was one of 50 purchased from Wolverhampton and Dudley in September 2001.
Toby Adam, an associate of NOEL Architects, said: "It was only late on in the process that a rear outbuilding was found to contain an oven and we realised it was formerly a bakehouse.
"The layout suggested the building might originally have been used by a family in the upper floors, baking bread in the rear and selling it at the front."
Draft plans were amended to retain as much of the original building as possible and take advantage of a £60,000 city council heritage fund grant.
The £1m restoration project in Friar Gate was highly commended in the annual George Larkin Brighter City Awards given by Derby Civic Society in recognition of the building's contribution to a "significant improvement" in the environment.
The site was one of 50 purchased from Wolverhampton and Dudley in September 2001.
Toby Adam, an associate of NOEL Architects, said: "It was only late on in the process that a rear outbuilding was found to contain an oven and we realised it was formerly a bakehouse.
"The layout suggested the building might originally have been used by a family in the upper floors, baking bread in the rear and selling it at the front."
Draft plans were amended to retain as much of the original building as possible and take advantage of a £60,000 city council heritage fund grant.
