Practical Completion has been achieved for the Head Office of Castles and Coasts Housing Association. Housed in a Grade II Listed Building, the project succesfully balanced the preservation of historic character and the sustainability aspirations of the client. PV panels, secondary glazing and retrofit insulation of external walls has considerably reduced the carbon footprint. The building is now a comfortable and contemporary office with spaces geared to flexible working and a range of bookable offices and co-working open plan office spaces.

Works are now complete at the Eden Valley Hospice’s adult in-patient unit to provide two new en-suite patient rooms.  The improvements were carefully designed to ensure patient dignity, by upgrading an existing, aging ward facility. Whilst the design meets the rigid standards for a clinical patient room, we were able to specify and design a truly bespoke room that included warm wooden tones within the furniture and physical assistance equipment such as grab rails and sanitary fittings that are often specified for high end hotel and leisure installations. https://www.edenvalleyhospice.org/news/1113-renovations-at-eden-valley-hospice-help-make-ward-fit-for-future

We are very pleased to announce the promotion of Victoria Wood to the position of Associate. Victoria is one of our senior architects who has an amazing passion for environmental design and is helping guide the practice and our clients with high quality, sustainable design solutions. We are also a step closer to having a fully qualified “Passivhaus Designer” within our ranks as Basia Dacko has undergone a gruelling two month course leading to an exam before attaining the industry leading sustainable design accreditation.

Our sustainable themed 2021 Christmas card, printed on recycled fibres, is winging its way to (or already with) those lucky people on our mailing list.  To continue the theme we have  just received delivery of our Architects Plus fleeces that are made from 100% post-consumer bottles.  Our team can now keep stylishly and sustainably warm in these cold winter months.  We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2022.

One of those days we love, a successful school engagement session making ‘Spaghettti Structures’.  Enjoyed by all (particularly Architects Plus).

‘THANK YOU so much for today.  The children really did enjoy the session and have been buzzing around school at lunchtime telling everyone what they did and learnt.  We really appreciate your time and spaghetti!’
Headteacher

The new Multi Use Games Area at a Cumbrian SEN school has now been completed.  This upgrade to an un-used tarmac area has provided a fun cycle track, safe tarmac area and a central fenced area with polymeric surfacing for ball games and other sports activities.  Although photographed on a bleak day, the vibrant colours and fun designs show how much of an improvement this has made.