Whilst we have a focus on higher end residential projects and exciting educational projects, we deliver a range of projects for our clients to meet a need and to solve a problem – in this instance the brief was more about an function and basic need than architectural purity. Thinking buildings recently completed this £1.1 million project to expand and create more pupil places at Icknield Community College. The project was to provide 3 general classrooms, an ICT suite and a multi purpose activity and dance studio using modular buildings. The project also included creating a new science lab, new art room and toilets within the existing school buildings and forming additional car parking. Whilst unglamorous in terms of architecture, the project was delivered within budget and to a very high standard. Thinking Buildings provided single source multi-disciplinary consultancy to the Academy Trust and Oxfordshire County Council, providing architecture, cost, structural, civil and M&E services design. Good team effort led by Bethan Axford with James Clark of SKP3, Solid Structures and CBG – the client is really happy with the end result.
Category: Thinking Buildings
Gloucestershire Affordable Housing Scheme Submitted to Planning
Thinking Buildings are delighted to be the architects on this project for 17 new affordable homes with 11 houses and 6 apartments. The scheme has been developed in conjunction with Zesta planning and Apex Transport planning. The architectural design is simple, elegant and necessarily robust using a mixture of facing brickwork, tiled roofs, vertically proportioned windows and landscaping to soften the design. The individual house types have been developed to meet housing standards for affordable housing, using open plan living spaces to maximise flexibility. The 3D ‘birds eye’ view is developed in house using our 3D BIM modelling software and are really useful to communicate the proposals to the planning authority and client.
A Beautiful Combination of Old and New
Thinking Buildings are delighted to have received planning approval for this fantastic scheme in a village close to Chipping Norton. This scheme incorporates an existing L shaped historic stable block as a bedroom wing. A minimal glass link connects the existing stable to a new pitched roof building that accommodates a vaulted open plan living area and utility/boot room. Whilst the public faces of the stable remain largely unchanged to avoid impacting the character of the village, the hidden elevations have a contemporary approach with zinc cladding and large panes of floor to ceiling glazing, taking maximum advantage of views over open countryside. This scheme has been designed with a great sensitivity to the existing stable and the surrounding properties, demonstrating how old and new can be successfully combined to create a elegant and interesting aesthetic. A mention also to Hugh Shepherd of Edgars who helped the client navigate through the planning approval process.
Fairford Primary School Revisit
Fantastic to visit this completed project to expand the capacity and pupil places at Fairford Primary school. This project was completed not long before the Covid outbreak and is now, thankfully, in full use again, which is wonderful to see.
This £3.1 million project was provided via the Gloucestershire Country Council framework and was delivered with Beard Construction, incorporating 4 new classrooms, new school entrance & administrative hub, full production kitchen, external canopies, car park expansion and a new school hall that will in time (and once Covid restrictions ease) provide a central focus for the school. The Beard effort was led by Michael Smithers MCIOB BSc and Marc Roberts with design team input from Cotswold Transport Planning Ltd, Brendan Quinn and Method Consulting, Barry Peebles. A great team effort and the finished project not only looks great but also provides superb new accommodation for this outstanding primary school.
Milton Interchange Update
Really exciting news that Thinking Buildings have received confirmation from GR Planning Consultancy Ltd that the planning conditions for the Milton Interchange have been approved. Working through the detailed infrastructure information with Glanville Consultants Ltd and Glanville Projects Ltd. towards the end of last year, this is significant step forward in securing the delivery a new 3 storey hotel and food retail building, ‘drive-to’ restaurants and ‘drive-through’ restaurants at the Milton interchange.
This larger scale master planning scheme demonstrates Thinking Buildings’ ability to progress complex site redevelopment projects, and how we use in house 3D visualisations and BIM software to add value to the development process.
We’ve won an award!
Very exciting news! Thinking Buildings win Civic Trust Award for their Loveday Mews development!
Every year the Cirencester Civic Society presents an award for the building or development which has made a positive contribution to the town in the previous year and we are delighted to announce that Lovedays Mews, a courtyard style infill development of 7 new townhouses, has won the award. This was a challenging scheme in terms of constraints with a listed building within the site curtilage, numerous party walls and surrounding historic buildings. A great end result as photographed in the sunshine a few weeks ago.
Agricultural Barn Conversion
This week has brought some exciting and long-awaited news. After 4 years we have been able to secure planning permission for the conversion of a pair of steel frame and asbestos-clad barns into two large, very impressive, 4 bedroom homes in Leicestershire.
The original application was rejected, but with the patience, goodwill and trust of the client and the expert support of our planning consultant, the scheme was once again put in front of the planning committee this week and received unanimous approval. We now just await the formal planning approval.
The conversion is purposely designed to match the envelope of the existing barns. We’ve also uses typical agricultural materials of timber cladding and metal roof. Very careful thought was given to the windows and doors. It was essential the properties didn’t look like houses, especially from a distance. We’ve used a combination of full height glazing and vertical timber louvres to shield openings, ensuring that the building still has a very strong barn-like feel.
As you can imagine, the client is delighted, as are we! Fantastic news!
New Oxfordshire Farmhouse Update
Farmhouse complete….nearly! It is the last few days of the contract on this large new farmhouse, annexe, garage and plant/ground source heat pump house. As the externals are being completed and tidied the shape and form of the new buildings are emerging and are starting to look great, with lovely tonal contrast and shadowing from the natural limestone, handmade clay tiles, roof slate, timber cladding and oak framing. The last push before posting some better photos – we’re really excited to share these with you!
Milton Project Update
Project Update: It was very exciting to see the oak cladding fitted between a ribbon of large format sliding glass panels at our new house project in Milton near Bloxham – great to see the interplay of traditional form and materials with a more contemporary approach to detailing, cladding and glazing within its conservation area setting.
Cotswold Country House
It all starts with a sketch……..This is the initial design proposal for a substantial rear extension to a large Cotswold country house. This exciting project will provide a new 2 storey wing of accommodation with a side entrance, utility/boot room, a formal living room and a master bedroom suite, together with an indoor swimming pool, changing/shower area and a roof terrace to sit out and enjoy the sun set. More to follow as we progress to planning application stage.
