2019 in review

A successful year in architecture

Despite the challenging economic climate, 2019 was a positive year for Designscape both in realising some exciting new building projects in the Bath area and working with some exciting new clients in both regeneration & sustainability. 

As flag bearers for the #Architects Declare campaign (the industry ‘call to arms’ for the climate emergency & biodiversity crisis) not only did we attend some interesting talks but have also introduced our own CPD programme to address the issue of designing and building sustainably.

 

Realised buildings

The Schoolhouse

Sensitive alteration & extension of a Listed Victorian home harnessing natural daylight into an otherwise dark interior improving inhabitants’ wellbeing and reducing energy bills. More images of The Schoolhouse can be seen here.

The Schoolhouse, Wiltshire

Middle Stoke 

An innovative cantilevered house with green roof embedding the building into the landscape. Read more here.

Middle Stoke, Bath

Withycombe House

An alteration & extension complete with green roof and bat boxes to support biodiversity. More project details can be found here.

 Withycombe House, Bath

Park Cottage

Including a Zollinger Roof (believed to be the first in the country) resulting in 40% less timber in the construction resulting in improved sustainability. Take a closer look at this project here.

Park Grounds

A resource recovery plant whose design presenting a positive step in significant reduction in landfill and increase in recyclables, simultaneously producing waste energy that will feed back into the National Grid. Click here to read more.

Audley Park & Widcombe Crescent one new build and one extension both nearing completion.

Planning consents

Madam’s Paddock

Planning Consent (following Design Review Panel) for a new build home situated in the Green Belt between Bath & Bristol.  More details can be found here.

Madams Paddock, by Designscape Architects

Crowe Lane

Planning Consent for Crowe Lane, a sustainable new build on the edge of Bath which will be constructed of local materials and machined timber.

Crowe Lane, sustainable new build home in Bath

The Beacon

A contemporary new build on a wooded site over looking Bath, designed to make the most of the site with minimum impact.

The Beacon, designed by Designscape Architects, Bath

Business development

The tail end of 2019 also saw us invited to pitch for a master planning project in the ‘Education’ sector following sight of our designs for improved outdoor space & energy efficiency at Freshford School . We were appointed to 2 new local authority frameworks, SWPA & WPA. And most notably we have recently submitted and landmark proposal for a client that, if approved, will see construction of a prototype commercial building that will bring enormous benefits to the local community through both its design & purpose.

Our Team

Our continued commitment to encouraging young architects into the industry, by supporting their professional development saw us welcome 3 new architectural assistants to the practice in 2019 along with a marketing & business development lead.

Technology

Investing in new technology in order to improve the service we offer to our clients both in terms of visualising their project ahead of build & in designing buildings that use materials responsibly & economically has elevated our service in 2019.


We have also redesigned our website during 2019 in order that we can better tell our story while showcasing our body of work and are committed to bringing new content to our clients and collaborators to continue our journey of designing sustainable buildings that are a joy for users to inhabit.

Big sheds

In collaboration with Bath based engineering practice, Format Engineers, we have developed our own ‘Big Sheds’ initiative & produced a manifesto to help commercial clients design more efficiently and sustainably as we move into a new era. We hope that this stimulates a wider conversation around commercial buildings, especially as see an increase in storage and distribution requirements as online shopping habits continue to rise. Exactaform in Coventry below, is one such Big Shed that we designed in response to our client’s brief for a work environment that helps improve employee wellbeing. 

Community & sustainability

Over the past 12 months we collaborated with Bath & NES Independent Group in the run up to the local elections, specifically around transport in Bath. We shared insights on our Free Buses in Bath campaign, first aired as part of the Imagine Bath competition. This is an initiative we spearheaded with RIBA SW in 2015, off the back of a hunch that many of those inhabiting Bath have a little dream of how they would like to improve it.

Keen to see Bath better serve its inhabitants, we were also participants at the inaugural ‘Therapeutic City’ Festival in August, an initiative we are keen to support and have more involvement with in 2020.

presentation

Off the back of our commitment to #Architects Declare, and conscious of reducing our practice’s carbon footprint, we arranged a ‘low impact’ annual study trip this year, heading north to enjoy the architectural delights the Midlands to inspire and focus our design thinking. 

All round, a positive year for Designscape Architects and we look forward to embracing what 2020 brings in building design.

A number of buildings realised, landmark planning consents and a low impact study trip. Our year in review