In August we were  incredibly lucky to visit  the wonderful development of houses that is Turn End in Haddingham, Buckinghamshire. The houses were designed by the architect Peter Aldington between 1963 and 1968 and have long been a source of inspiration. Peter Aldington was born in 1933 in Preston, in Lancashire. His early ambition was to become a professional gardener…

THE BUILDING PROCESS Thinking of starting a building project? If you are, we think you should allow 18 months to 2 years for a project such as a new house. As the process can understandably feel very daunting, we’ve put together a simple guide to help you understand the various stages and hurdles that lie along the way. FEASIBILITY The…

Listed Buildings always present a challenge to any architect – one must take on board all the usual elements of context and design, and add in the historic importance of the existing building which must not be compromised in any way by the proposals. Over the years we have been involved with many such buildings, but perhaps one of the…

Unless you have been involved in any larger scale or commercial building works, it is unlikely that you will have heard of the Construction (Design and Management) regulations or CDM Regs. However, there has recently been a step change in the health and safety on construction sites, and it is now important to have some understanding of these regulations and…

The chapel of Notre Dame du Haut was designed  by the great modern architect Le Corbusier, a giant on twentieth century modernism.  The original church that stood on top of the hill above the village of Ronchamp was destroyed by artillery fire during the Second World War. The site is visible from miles around. To the west lies  a plateau…

The De Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea       In 1935 an architectural competition was run by the 9th Earl de Warr (the mayor of Bexhill and committed socialist) to design a “Peoples’ Palace” that would provide a space for public entertainment, education and social interaction.  The competition was won by by German British architect Erich Mendelsohn and his business partner…

We Love…….     ….All  Saints Church in Brockhampton because it is a beautiful embodiment of the Arts and Craft Movement. The church was commissioned by a local landowner Alice Foster in memory of her parents, and was designed by the architect William Richard Lethaby, who was a leading light in the Arts and Craft Movement. William Lethaby was born…

The brief is the starting point for all projects and its importance cannot be over-stated. A clear brief will help you and your architect bring your ideas to life and avoid delays and disappointment! Here is a list of points that could be incorporated or discussed in order to produce a comprehensive brief: What are you trying to achieve from…