Solent University Collaboration

We are really excited to have teamed up with Solent University and Mettricks, collaborating on a project for the second year graphics students at the University which looks at ways to help reposition the city.

Background:
Southampton is a city rich in culture from both the past and present. There is so much to love from the architecture to the music, to the food – there’s nowhere quite like it. Although not everyone thinks this way, and we want to show them Southampton is a place to be proud of!

Challenge:
Looking at ways to help reposition Southampton away from its current perceived image; to make it relevant to its current residents and visitors. The project is to create a poster campaign that showcases the cities creativity and culture, to make it somewhere we can all be proud to belong to.

The work will focuse on key areas of the city, including: Arrival/Departure (the docks, train station, airport), Nature, Heritage, Literature, Sport, Music, Theatre, Art.

We cannot wait to see the results from this inspiring work later this year.

Planning success

We are pleased to have secured planning for a new Girl Guides Hall for the Portswood area of Southampton, Hampshire. Our sensitive design will create a new hub for the local Guides Association, to enable them to promote outdoor based actives for young people in the city, on the site of a previously demolished hall.

We now look forward to working with the client to secure funding and deliver this wonderful building in the heart of the City, you can read full details about the project here.

RIBA MacEwen Award longlisted

We are so proud to have our St Lukes project included in this years longlist for the RIBA MacEwen Award, the annual awards that recognise architecture for the common good.

The project has redevelopment the tired church hall to create The Host Café, a community cafe and multi-functional space which has become a vibrant local focal point, hosting events throughout the day and evening.

In total 30 projects have been longlisted in the MacEwen Awards, you can see the full list here, the shortlist will be annouced in early 2025.

 

Listed building planning success

We are delighted to announce we have secured planning permission to sympathetically refurbish and extend a Grade II listed Regency villa in central Southampton.

The design will extensively renovate the existing building, to deliver a scheme that enhances the rich, historic personality of the original dwelling and upgrade the energy efficiency of the property. A contemporary extension, replacing the current, poorly constructed extension, will create a largely glazed structure to transform the rear of the property with a spacious kitchen running across the whole elevation of the home. The work will breathe new life into the property, to create a functional, joyful home for the owners and their young family.

You can read more details about the project here; we have also written an article about working on listed and heritage building which you might find interesting which you can find here.

Build It Awards shortlist

Good news to end the week with, our Holly Cottage project has been selected for the shortlist in this year’s Build It Awards, within the ‘Best Architect or Designer for an Extension Project’ category. We are really quite humbled to be amongst such a talented group of architects recognised in this category, but also delighted to have our work recognised in this way.

The annual Build It Awards celebrate all aspects of self-build and renovation projects; we are looking forward to the awards winners being announced on the 8th November – please keep your fingers crossed for us!

Southampton Guides Hall submitted for planning

We have submitted our designs for a new Girl Guide Meeting Hall in the Portswood area of central Southampton, in for planning approval. The scheme will create a new hub for the local Guides Association to promote outdoor based actives for the young people in the city, on the site of a previously demolished hall.

The hall will be built primarily in timber with glazed sliding doors, the simple structure is divided into two key elements – roof and deck. The main hall is placed under an asymmetric butterfly style roof, designed to maximise the feeling of space within whilst sensitively tucking under the existing tree canopy. A floating roof will extend out over a decked area, offering an outdoor space with protection from the elements, you can find more details on the project page here. 

We look forward to a positive outcome from the planning department.