Preparations are in place for the Forge Design Studio Open Day. True to form we have made sure that visitors will be looked after … tea and cakes looking spectacular. It will be a great chance to show off our work … come and join us if you can!
Please see the ‘Contact Us’ for information on where to find us!
Even the puppy is ready to go!
The interior of this project doesn’t look the same when viewed as an arty black and white shot!
Our nearest project, for neighbours Stephen and Amanda, has recently been completed. The extension to their home has added a unique, vaulted kitchen with exposed trusses and generous roof glazing to create a real wow factor. Doors from the original cottage on the site have been incorporated and the light and airy space has immediately proved itself popular with the whole family.
Amanda’s sense of fun and use of colour has added an extra dimension to the space which has blended in really nicely with the original house. The outside courtyard, which forms a link, to the adjacent studio workshop is secured by a pair of hand crafted gates which have been recently installed.
Amanda claims to be happy to spend all day in the new kitchen but we’re not sure she really means it!
We enjoyed a great staff day out of the office on Thursday. It was CPD, honest!
After much discussion in the office about an away day, our lovely Director Mike, set up a top secret tour of three mystery locations. The team were only told to be ready by 8:30 and to wear sensible shoes!
Rendezvousing bright and early, Claire, Loretta, Mike and Nick, set off from Salisbury just before 9.00am and headed to the new Denton Corker Marshall, Visitor Centre at Stonehenge. Arriving before the crowds it was good to see the building and overall masterplan coping with the hordes of tourists who began descending on the site. The trip out to the stones was enjoyed by all, and as we had 3 out of 4 first-timers, it led to a lot of interesting discussion and speculation.
We all hoped that the plans for tunnelling part of the adjacent A303 will go ahead. (Click here to find out more)
From Stonehenge we headed west to Durslade Farm, home of Hauser and Wirth. For those that don’t know –
“Hauser & Wirth Somerset is a pioneering world-class gallery and multi-purpose arts centre, which acts as a destination for experiencing art, architecture and the remarkable Somerset landscape through new and innovative exhibitions of contemporary art. A landscaped garden, designed for the gallery by internationally renowned landscape architect Piet Oudolf, includes a 1.5 acre perennial meadow, which sits behind the gallery buildings”
The buildings, garden and exhibits were a revelation and were much admired by all. It also provides a really nice lunch!!
For the last stop of the day we came back to Salisbury and made our way along to Roche Court to admire the work of Stephen Marshall Architects at the NewArtCentre. The range of projects, attention to detail and accessibility are admirable. Great to see a long-lasting relationship between architect and client. The obvious trust and understanding between the parties was plain to see.
The Artist’s House was a firm favourite – if you haven’t visited you should try and get along to see it.
A great day out with a chance to see 3 world class projects within a 45 or so miles of the office. Nice.
Our Director Mike, always full of bright ideas!
Please see the links for further information on all of the locations we visited yesterday!
After extensive pre-application discussions with the Planners at Brighton and Hove City Council the application for the regeneration of the Former Brewery Site at Portslade has been submitted and registered with the Local Authority.
Mike attended the second public exhibition held on site on the 8th June and the feedback received has been further reflected in the submitted proposals. Notwithstanding the regeneration of the whole site and securing a future use for the distinctive brewery buildings, one of the most exciting elements of the scheme is the potential partnership with Pheonix Arts Brighton.
It is proposed that the former workshop building and lower floors of the corner Tower fronting onto the High St are converted to form a series of affordable low-rent studio spaces, multi-purpose exhibition, teaching areas and café. The attached images show an example of the proposed spaces together with an extract sample of the submitted drawings.
The scheme includes 50 residential units with a comprehensive mix of sizes and configurations and approx. 7,000 sqft of creative employment space.
Having been retained on the project by the new site owners, Leary Developments Ltd., work is underway on the working drawings for 66-68 St Andrew Street.
The surveyors have been on site to check the setting out and discussions are underway with the planners regarding some minor alterations to the permission. The client is planning a start on site in September this year.
We are developing the project as a BIM test case and are working closely with the Structural Engineers and Energy Consultants to develop a fully integrated 3d model of project. This can be tested and manipulated as the optimum construction methodology is developed.
Looking forward to seeing another project starting on site.
We are looking forward to holding an ‘Open Studio’ event on Saturday 17th September.
Over the last three years we have been lucky enough to have worked on a great variety of projects including schemes for a number of our neighbours! The ‘Open Studio’ will be an opportunity for us to meet a wider cross-section of the local community, whilst inviting them into the office to see, and learn more about, what we do.
Further details will be released shortly. Watch local press for details
Please see our contact page for our address and other details.
After a week of weather watch we welcomed a great number of our friends and colleagues to enjoy a glass of prosecco in the garden at The Forge on Friday 10th. We managed to dodge most of the showers however the new sail shades were called into action briefly and proved to be almost waterproof!
The effort that everyone made to attend was much appreciated and it was a great chance to catch-up with progress within the office. The conversion of The Forge was much admired by those that hadn’t previously visited the office – it is hard to believe that, not only have been in the new space for more than a year, but we are coming up to our third birthday.
Time passes quickly when you enjoying yourself!!
Forge Design Studio has a number of projects currently under construction on site
Setting-out and the below ground sub-structure has been completed at Cedardore for Mayflower Homes. The concrete beam and block floor is in and the first lift of masonary is well underway. Progress should be good as the better weather arrives!!
Site clearance and excavations have been dug and foundations poured at Cowesfield Lodge. The beam and block floor has been installed, and, as you can see, all the preparations have taken place ready for the mini-steel frame to arrive.
Steel has been required to suit the light, open and airy extension. Almost 50sqm of new space is being created, as well the re-organisation of the existing house. This has been achieved under permitted development.
Richard Stanton at RFS is the Main Contractor.
The first phase of development is well underway at North Brook End Stud. The first floor staff apartment is being dry-lined, rooflights are in, the original exposed trusses have been cleaned. The contractors, Overton Builders, have got the first fix installations in place and are getting ready for the fit-out and all second fix joinery.
Mike and Nick have been rewarded for all their hard work carried out on the Cheltenham YMCA project on Vittoria Walk by the award of a citation from the Cheltenham Civic Society.
The project was nominated by the Contractors, Speller Metcalfe supported by Forge Design Studio and received an award in the category of New Build Projects. The awards were recently presented at a ceremony held at Cheltenham Town Hall on Wednesday 20th April.
Work was completed by Terence O’Rourke and is acknowledged accordingly.
Forge Design Studio welcomed Jonathan Reeves into the office for two days of 3D Modelling/BIM training. Utilising our Vectorworks 2016 CAD package we fully explored the capabilities and potential of the system. The training is the first step towards our BIM Level 2 accreditation which we are currently undertaking.
Great progress was made and the opportunity to step outside of the day-to-day project work was welcomed by all.
We look forward to making full use of all the 3D modelling capabilities and, in particular, explored and verified the inter-relationship between our software and other industry standard systems.
* nb Jonathan is the author of Innovative Vectorworks BIM, a recent publication which showcases many examples of BIM collaboration.
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