EVA are recruiting!

We are looking for a Project Architect to join our team.

We are looking for a fully qualified Architect to initially work on a prestigious University Campus building.

Must have experience in running projects at all work stages, be motivated and enthusiastic with design and technical skills.

Knowledge of the following beneficial (but not compulsory):
Bentley Microstation
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Indesign
Sketchup
NBS Building

If you are interested, please email a copy of your current CV and examples of work to Robert Evans -
r.evans@evansvettori.co.uk

Closing date for applications: 06th December 2013.

New Plans and Completed Projects

Planning applications have been submitted in the last few weeks for two prestigious projects.

Firstly the CW Sellors Jewellery Design Centre of Excellence, that was launched to the public last month has been developed up to a full planning application. The building includes the workshops for CW Sellors, alongside retail and educational facilities with 'caves' for exploring the stones and metals that are used in the manufacture of their fine jewellery. The proposals will allow visitors to walk down through a 'canyon' of limestone walls from the carpark to Carsington Water which can be viewed from the main entrance space.

North elevation of proposed Jewellery Design Centre for CW Sellors

We have also submitted an application for the redevelopment of the Clifton Campus for Nottingham Trent University in Nottingham. This campus refurbishment will provide a new heart of campus Pavilion building including open plan Forum space alongside teaching space.

External view of proposed Pavilion

The Forum space in the Pavilion

We hope that both applications will be determined at the end of the year and look forward to developing them soon! 

Photographer Tristan Poyser has visited several of our finished projects this month. Managing to dodge the rain showers, Tristan has delivered us some fantastic photos of four recently completed schemes. Below is a taster of the final images.

St Joseph's Church Hall, Derby. Completed July 2013

Curved brick facade to Littleover Community School
teaching block. Completed September 2013.

Howghyll House, Fritchley. Completed summer 2013.

High Edge, Matlock. Robert Evans new self-built home.

First Glances

The new classroom block at Littleover Community School in Derby was successfully handed over to the client prior to the start of the new school term. The building was officially opened on the first day back by the head teacher and the new head of sixth-form, who will be based in the building. Four of the current sixth form were chosen to be the first people to enter the new building after the opening.

Littleover classroom block opening - September 2013

Our work has also been in the press recently for the CW Sellors Jewellery Design Centre of Excellence. The scheme has been launched to the public through a series of public consultation events in Ashbourne and local parishes, as well as at an International Jewellery exhibition at Earls Court in London. The scheme is for a new workshop and visitors centre for CW Sellors near to Carsington Water, and following the consultation events we hope to be submitting the planning application soon.  Further details of the scheme can be seen on www.cwsellorscarsington.co.uk .

CW Sellors Jewellery Design Centre of Excellence - indicative view of entrance

Detailed design on The Cornerstone at Square Chapel Centre of the Arts is developing well. The interior of the main foyer space includes a concrete and timber bar, with stainless steel bar units fitted behind. The bar worktop design was inspired by the foyer roof and the birchtrees design by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, featuring triangles and stripes of differing timber species to give a 3 tone pattern to the worktop.

Bar design for The Cornerstone

Timber worktop design (right), inspired by work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh (left)

Magical mystery tour

On a very hot Saturday this month we went on site at Ashgate Croft School to construct the garden arbour, designed by students at Nottingham University last year. We built a timber framework that fixed back to the existing fence and enclosed the entrance path. The timber frames were connected with galvanised metal plates fabricated by Twiggs of Matlock, and tied together with metal wire for plants to climb up and artwork to be hung from. With the leftover funding we bought some herbs to add colour and scent along the path and edible fruits - a grape vine, apple tree and strawberry plants, all to be enjoyed by students using the building.

Ashgate Croft ILU garden arbour construction.

Several students from Nottingham University also came along and were a big help on the day, doing lots of digging, sourcing materials and plants, and helping to build, so many thanks to them. We completed the arbour in time for the official opening of the building by Vanessa May, a former pupil of the school, just before the end of the school term.

Ashgate Croft ILU grand opening

The office also took a trip this month to visit some of our recent projects in Derby. We started at the new classroom block at Littleover Community School that is due to complete before the end of the school holidays. The new block of 8 classrooms and a common room has a brick external leaf that curves along the front elevation overlooking the school field. Internally the concrete and steel structure is left exposed, with careful positioning of services, lighting and acoustic panels to the ceilings to give a light and airy feel.

Littleover Community School classroom block, in construction

Our next stop was the new hall extension to St Joseph's Church. This project began in the office almost exactly 10 years ago so it is fantastic to see it built, and the Church seem very pleased with the final outcome.

St Josephs Church hall, Derby

Tristan Poyser also visited the Church recently, and took some great photos of the building, particularly at dusk with the picture window illuminated.

Church hall at dusk by Tristan Poyser 

Our final stop on our away afternoon was Arboretum Square, which was recommended to us as Derby's 'hidden gem'. The square didn't disappoint, and gave us all some inspiration in masonry detailing.

Aboretum Square, Derby

Evans Vettori enjoying the sunshine on site in Derby, July 2013

Arrays and Arbours

Our tour of the architecture school exhibitions from our local area have continued this month. Sheffield Hallam's show opened during the University's 'Creative Sparks' exhibition. Their compact exhibition space displayed a range of work from across their architecture degrees, and the show was opened with great enthusiasm and passion from both staff and pupils. It was good to see our former Part 1 student's project in its final form after and office review a couple of months ago, and to congratulate her on completing the course. On show were some excellent hand drawings and it was good to see students having fun with detailing!

Drawings from Sheffield Hallam University architecture show

The University of Nottingham put on an excellent show this year. It was great to see the finished exhibition boards from Studio 5 that we helped tutor. The amount of work and effort was impressive and the quality of work well worth it.

Jordie Bokor, Studio 5, The University of Nottingham

Despite the bias, the rest of the work was really good as well ranging from sweet factories, to multi storey narrow boat workstations to museums of speed. The live project of a classroom built by students in South Africa was impressive and has given the students fantastic hands on experience.

The University of Nottingham architecture exhibition

Although we couldn't make it to the University of Sheffield opening evening this year, we will be coming to visit before it closes!

On site, St Joseph's Church Hall has been successfully handed over to the client. We are really pleased with the internal exposed brickwork and the level of finish the contractor has achieved throughout, and hope the Church enjoy using the space.

St Joseph's Church Hall Extension, Derby

At Littleover the scaffolding has been removed, revealing the curved brickwork and precast concrete surrounds to the openings. Work is continuing internally with mechanical and electrical fixing, including the installation of an array of photovoltaic cells on the roof.

Littleover Community School classroom block, Derby

This weekend we will be on site at Ashgate Croft Independent Living Unit with our wellies and hard hats doing some building work ourselves. The arbour that we helped to design and funded through a sponsored walk is finally ready for construction! We will be on site with a few helpers from Nottingham University who designed the landscaping, to construct the arbour and add some planting to the borders. It should (hopefully!) look something like this when finished...

Ashgate Croft ILU garden arbour design