29 November 2011

Early Christmas presents!

This week we were delighted to hear that two more of our projects have received awards!

The Clay Cross Regeneration Framework that we mentioned in our post on the 7th October has been awarded a Commendation at the Landscape Institute Awards in the category of Local Landscape Planning. We are really pleased for MAXIM Urban Design, who we worked with on the project and hope that the project plays a positive role in the future development of the town.

Also, the Rosehill Special School that was completed in the summer has been awarded a Commendation by the Nottingham Civic Society for the reconstruction of the school. It's great that the design has had a positive impact on the city as well as the pupils and staff at the school and we're looking forward to the official opening next week!

In the office this week we have been working on some new images of the Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, to support a funding bid for the project. We hope some more images like this will do the trick - fingers crossed!

Square Chapel Centre for the Arts - Entrance Foyer view
In a design workshop session we developed this scheme for a master bedroom extension to an existing stone house. The extension is proposed as a bold concrete box that cantilevers over a garage to the rear and provides a master bedroom suite with private terrace overlooking the main garden and courtyard.


House extension sketch model

21 November 2011

And here’s one we prepared earlier...

The development model for the Olde English hotel block has now been completed. The copper detailing has been added, and copper box penthouse apartments complete the rooftop. We're now working this back into construction drawings for the project.


Olde English residential/retail block, Matlock
On site in Nottingham, the Nethergate School extension is coming out of the ground with brickwork commencing around the steel structure that forms the School Assembly Hall.


Inside the existing building that is being refurbished, the old changing rooms have been knocked through and opened up to the corridor to form a new library. The space is looking great, and new larger windows that will open to the entrance courtyard will flood the space with light.

New Library space being constructed at Nethergate School
Finally we were really pleased to hear last week that a project we have been working on for the last 8 years has finally received approval to proceed to construction! This project is for the extension of St. Joseph's Church in Derby to provide a community hall and ancillary accommodation that works alongside the existing church facilities. After receiving planning approval to some amendments 2 years ago, we are now looking forward to starting working drawings and helping to get the project built. The concept for the project is the creation of a large window taking in the view over Derby, and then to put a building behind it.


St Josephs Church as existing and with proposed extension

14 November 2011

Youngest Architect of the Year!

After achieving planning permission for the conversion and extension of The Cow Shed in July we have now started developing the construction drawings. The project converts an existing Grade II listed barn into a 3 bedroomed house, with a new kitchen and dining space buried in the adjacent landscape.


The Cow Shed as existing and model as proposed
The clients have also been developing their ideas for the house, and the family have produced this fantastic briefing drawing for the interior of the barn. Definitely an architect in the making!

Clients Brief for The Cow Shed barn conversion
Rob's tutor group from Nottingham University's Department of Architecture came to visit the office last Tuesday evening to get a sense of a working architects practice - hope they enjoyed the visit and weren't put off pursuing a career in architecture!

7 November 2011

Out with the new and in with the Olde

The Funeral Directors Premises at Wirksworth was officially opened on Friday night by the Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire. The client, Roger Jepson, also welcomed the President of the National Association of Funeral Directors and a number of local clergy to the building along with members of the team who worked on the project including the local builder, Terry Jenkins, who we hope to work with again. It was a great evening despite the rain, and lovely to see the building furnished and ready for use.

Middleton House, Wirksworth Funeral Directors - Entrance canopy
Glazed link to the Chapel of Rest
Working drawings for the Olde English hotel block continue in the office as well. A 3D model of the scheme is helping to develop the scale of the elevations and balance of solid to void.
Olde English development, Matlock
Andy was invited in to the School of Architecture at Sheffield University last week as a visiting tutor to help review a three week second year project looking at urban schemes in Liverpool. There were some fantastic schemes and he really enjoyed the day.