Architectural Values
Our Architecture is driven by values rather than by a particular style. We believe the architectural impulse is simply the wish to influence our environments in order that they have a positive influence on us. The Architect’s role is to apply critical thinking and facilitate a process, understanding specific relationships between people and place and innovating to make improvements. This endeavour should bring delight, both in the process and the result.
People & Places
The relationship between people and place is central to projects of all scales. Whether changing a window into a door or undertaking large scale master planning, we apply critical thinking to understand the project, and carefully consider the options to find the right solutions. Therefore, whilst every project is unique and every design is bespoke, we have found that there are some common themes in our work.
Architects often talk about Architecture as a language and that buildings can be read. We subscribe to this, in the sense that design is a process of storytelling; in the way buildings are used, how they look, and how they contribute to the built environment.
One of the most important factors in how spaces are experienced is the use of light. Careful consideration of a building’s orientation and how spaces are to be used at different times of day enable us to design in light before we design with walls and roofs. Using 3D modelling software to geo-locate buildings, we position windows and other building elements for optimal light penetration, influencing and defining the spaces within.
Elemental Expression
Another key factor in the experience of a building is how spaces connect with each other. When planning a layout, we often find ourselves telling a story about moving through the building, discovering each space in turn.
We believe that buildings should be an expression of their internal configuration and a celebration of the materials used to construct them. Traditional and more modern materials all have their own characteristics, which can be brought out in how they interact with one-another. Playful detailing of this can have honesty and clarity, whilst creating visual interest.
We often achieve this by conceptualising building as a series of elements, such as a shell, surface, solid or frame. We then decide what material each should be and on how they should interact with each-other. Stories we tell include the idea of a shell being cut into to expose a soft underbelly.
Heritage & Sustainability
Telling the story of a building is particularly important when dealing with older properties, including listed buildings and those in conservation areas. We believe that adding to or changing such properties should add a chapter to that story, retaining meaning from the past whilst having confidence about the future. We would extend this principle to wider urban regeneration, where we believe a careful balance must be struck between celebrating the heritage of a place and making interventions that clearly speak of the present and the future.
As the story of humanity’s relationship with the built environment continues, its long-term viability requires sustainable solutions. We believe in incorporating energy efficiency into our designs, including designing for passive solar gain, micro-renewable energy, and the responsible sourcing of materials.