Exactaform Striking new HQ and Production facility
Exactaform Cutting Tools Ltd are a family owned engineering business, specialising in diamond tipped cutting tools, used internationally, for a wide range of applications including the aerospace and automotive industries. Operating from a series of small industrial units nearby, the Company’s scope for business development had become limited by the size, arrangement and quality of their premises. They concluded that a new building was needed to better accommodate the existing office, production and storage facilities, while also optimising the flow of production and providing scope for future expansion. The growing business also needed an environment and facility capable of attracting top engineering talent and demonstrating their commitment and confidence to a new and existing customer base. Rather than purchasing a generic developer specified building, Exactaform opted to purchase land at Prologis Business Park and procure the building directly. Designscape developed the design of the building from concept, through technical detail, tender and construction to completion in September 2017.
The striking building interior was designed by Wylde IA.
Chilliswood A contemporary and innovative home
This new four-bedroom house is located on the footprint of the existing 1980s dwelling it replaces. Located in the Greenbelt and offering panoramic views across the Limpley Stoke valley, the house is designed as two simple interconnecting volumes that make use of the site topography. The split-level accommodation places the open plan living space at its heart with a connection to the garden, and the more private master and guest bedrooms above and children’s rooms at the top. Featuring an internal heat recovery system, it will be constructed using a masonry plinth and heavily insulated timber frame (clad with horizontal and vertical cedar boarding) to achieve an sympathetic, economic and sustainable solution.
Springfield FarmA modern home in the Greenbelt
Springfield Farm replaces a 1950s bungalow with a contemporary and innovative two-storey house. Designscape was in charge of the detailed design and construction following the brief given by the clients “we wanted our home to be a contemporary and individual piece of architecture, a home in which to display our art collection, and for the house to sit very comfortably within the rural environment. We asked for spaces, not rooms; divisions, not walls; and vertical and horizontal surfaces to display art, sculpture and ceramics.” The building incorporates living accommodation on the ground floor with two en-suite bedrooms on the first floor. The open plan kitchen and dining area features large full height glazing overlooking the terrace to the views beyond. Multiple floor levels break up the living space and create a sense of different zones within the plan. Care has been taken to select natural and sustainable materials that complement the colours of buildings in the area and the rural surroundings. An extensive green roof on the studio links to the wild flower meadow by a raised bank, planted to blend with the adjacent meadow.
In association with Andrew Wood Associates
RICS SW Awards – Winner 2016
RICS National Awards – Shortlisted 2016
Science Museum, Wroughton A sustainable Museum Archive
We were invited by the Science Museum to submit proposals for a new archive store on a former airfield at Wroughton, near Swindon to accommodate a large and varied collection of museum artefacts currently stored in London. These museum objects vary from small objects such as books to large vehicles and even planes. Many are being kept for historic purposes, but are rarely if ever displayed, only a few are stored temporarily, visitors are by special appointment only. A low maintenance, low energy, long life building solution is required. Stable temperature conditions and low humidity are required. A design which minimises risk of water ingress is essential as is a low cost solution. Our proposal was for a super-efficient, wide span timber arch structure capable of supporting heavy loads and creating flexible internal space. The absence of walls avoids junctions for potential leaks and reduces building wind loading. Heavy mass helps create a stable internal climate, with little energy load.
Science Studios Art gallery, production and storage building.
Designscape has developed a 9,000sqm art production studio and gallery for Damien Hirst. The project reuses an existing steel portal frame structure originally built for the manufacture of plastics. The brief involved a high level of design, detail and finish, including exceptionally high structural loading requirements and innovative cladding and glazing. The building is split into three bays: reception and gallery, art production and storage facilities, with each area defined externally through cladding panels of contrasting colours. The artist’s production of large-scale art work requires highly specialised accommodation, including freezer storage and a fire protected art store. The western riverside boundary has become a sculpture garden.
In addition to the principal Science gallery and production space, a smaller independent formaldehyde studio has been built. The formaldehyde studio requires unique accommodation and dedicated services, including specialist ventilation equipment to filter out the formaldehyde fumes. As well as large-scale freezer storage, specialist cranage equipment has been incorporated for handling large and delicate art works. The steel frame structure is clad with white glazed bricks and small mortar joints to create a sculptural monolithic appearance.
In association with MRJ Rundell + Associates
Twinneys A new sustainable home in the Greenbelt
This award winning new house is built on the site of a former piggery and lies within the Bath & Bristol Green Belt in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The design is conceived as a low-lying timber and glass structure supported on a terraced landscape, to blur the boundary between building and terrain. Sleeping accommodation is situated on the lower ground floor of the house with the entrance and open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge spaces above. Three terraces open out from the living areas affording panoramic views across the valley. The thermal mass and high performance of the building envelope is complemented by solar hot water panels to provide a low energy solution. A partially autonomous artist’s studio and gallery is built into the hillside to the rear.
Avenue Housing A back land development of 5 low cost homes
This development proposal responds to the need for small, low cost houses and flats in Minehead, whose economy is heavily dependent on seasonal work and retired people. Situated in the main street connecting the town centre to the beach, the scheme comprises the conversion of a Victorian former hotel and nursing home into seven private flats, some with private gardens, suitable for young or elderly couples. The former car park at the rear is to be developed as five small mews houses around a small parking yard, providing accommodation fitting for young families. The arrangement of shared facilities and common external circulation routes has been designed to encourage neighbours to meet and to get to know each other.
Neros Foundation Indonesian Health Clinic
We are proud to support the Neros Foundation through our links to one of the trustees, Cara Sykes. The Neros Foundation is a charity working to relieve poverty affecting the inhabitants of the island of Flores, Indonesia, by providing basic yet vital infrastructure. It was set up after the trustees realised how much impact relatively small amounts of money could have in Flores. The practice has given financial assistance enabling the charity to build toilet facilities for schools but more recently we offered an internship to architectural student, Sophie Greene to develop a sustainable design solution for a new medical outreach centre to serve the local population. Both Sophie and architectural assistant Kelia Espinosa travelled to Indonesia in the summer of 2012 to view and assist progress on site.
We produced a report on sustainable construction.
Hillcrest A new community of six houses
A new community in a woodland setting.
This project for six new houses is located upon a hill north of Bristol within the village of Winterbourne Down. The wooded site previously formed the garden of a large derelict house and contained a disused quarry. The houses are arranged around a central ‘clearing’. Constructed with rubble stone and timber clad walls the houses are designed to reflect the character of the site and nearby listed church. The houses are positioned around protected trees and to maximise views from the elevated site. Four of the houses are substantial homes with 5 or more bedrooms and double garages. One has an outdoor swimming pool. The two remaining are designated affordable homes.
Hawker’s Meadow Sustainable community for active retired living
Located on the edge of the village of Batheaston, this project for 20 houses, 10 apartments and clubhouse facilities is for a new model community for the active and retired. Arranged around a common pedestrian ‘yard’ the residents enjoy common facilities including gym, bar, library, function space and a wildlife water meadow with the wider community. Parking is provided in a basement car park. The buildings are designed to respond to the local agricultural tradition, maintain a modern appearance and provide connected digital facilities for residents within the highly insulated and energy efficient homes.