Upper Farm

An artist’s studio in South Gloucestershire

The new studio for its artist owner is a replacement for a timber stable building on the edge of a Cotswold village with a typical context of stone buildings with stone tiled roofs. The Client is an artist and printmaker requiring a series of daylit spaces to carry out a variety of wet and dry processes ranging from design to sewing and etching / printing.

The building typology adopted is clearly legible as a simple barn form, appropriate for the setting at the interface between the domestic gardens of the village and the open agricultural landscape. The form also works well for the studio use, with an abundance of controlled daylight from the roof, and inspirational views out over the meadow to the North-west. A single window in the South East facing gable picks out a more focussed view.

The structure is a simple series of expressed portal frames made from LVL timber. The external materials palette continues with the aspiration of simplicity. A fibre cement roof on top of larch boarded walls speak of simple vernacular barns, but with the careful detailing of a less agricultural finish. The glazing is a repetitive module, but with an enlarged section of glazing in the central bay – referencing the barn tradition of a large central opening. An inset entrance door is the only element with a non native material accent colour clearly indicating the entrance.

Internally the Client’s brief called for white surfaces, which is given some relief and a suggestion of materiality by the expressed portal frames. The main volume is semi divided by a series of smaller servant spaces hosting the WC, plant and kitchenette as well as a small fume cupboard room.

The building is heated by an airsource heat pump and underfloor heating within the power floated concrete floor.

Airspace Pod

This “workpod” is a response to the new working at home phenomenon, brought about by Covid 19. It does not require planning consent or foundations.

Airspace Pod

A comfortable individual workspace pod

This “workpod” is a response to the new working at home phenomenon, brought about by Covid 19. It does not require planning consent, has no foundations, (and minimal wind resistance) and can be carried by hand through a terraced house ( in pieces) and assembled by two people in an hour. The idea is that it can be installed in a very small space and will provide a quiet, ergonomic, comfortable concentrating individual workspace for someone who simply does not have a spare room at home but needs to work at home. An employer can provide these pods for staff, and they can be returned to the employer or move house with the user.
The technology adopted is inspired by the bicycle helmet – made from 12 panels of injection moulded polystyrene (uses steam to fuse the polystyrene beads together), with a vacuum wrapped acrylic shell. The floor and furniture are made from a highly sustainable board material made from recycled waste products, and the whole unit can be fully recycled at the end of life. The unit sits on adjustable stainless steel feet – ( no groundworks required, and can be moved around on the site) and is ballasted with kiln-dried sand.

Our Approach

From residential homes and commercial housing schemes, to art galleries, offices, agricultural and high-tech manufacturing buildings, we have extensive experience of designing architectural solutions for all environments.

Workplace Architecture

Some of our principal workplace projects and our architectural approach within commercial workplace sector.

Rotork

A new factory

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This project is for a new 12,000 sq.m. factory building for Bath based engineering manufacturers Rotork. With business expanding beyond the capacity of their existing site, the company needed to consider alternative locations nearby. The building includes office, manufacturing, storage and distribution spaces employing 400 people. Our proposal sought to use the natural slope of the site to accommodate the different volumes required for each activity in an attractive setting and create a high-quality working environment for staff and visitors.

Clarks Head Quarters

Working within a historic factory complex

We have been appointed to undertake a number of projects for Clarks Shoes at their Head Quarters in Street, Somerset. These are located within historic former factory buildings, from which Clarks once manufactured their famous shoes. Optimising this space for current and changing workplace activities has been an ongoing project for Clarks. We have produced a masterplan considering the phased redevelopment of underused sections of the estate for new uses and buildings, including conference suite, meeting rooms and office space.

We have been appointed to undertake a number of projects for Clarks Shoes at their Head Quarters in Street, Somerset. These are located within historic former factory buildings, from which Clarks once manufactured their famous shoes. Optimising this space for current and changing workplace activities has been an ongoing project for Clarks. We have produced a masterplan considering the phased redevelopment of underused sections of the estate for new uses and buildings, including conference suite, meeting rooms and office space.