www.greenspacearchitects.co.uk

Greenspace Architects ltdThe Old Town Hall

The SquareEllesmere

Shropshire SY12 0EP01691 623889

greenspace@greenspacearchitects.co.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/greenspacearch

Greenspace Architects ltd is an eco-architectural practice, with extensive experience of producing high quality, low energy and carefully crafted architecture underpinned by sustainable design principles.

Quite simply, we create fantastic places, spaces and buildings that exceed the aspirations of our clients.

Architecture is poetry, buildings are prose

Our approach is based on dialogue and collaboration: we listen carefully to you, our client, to establish a strategic brief, then help develop the brief into a project that will exceed your expectations, bringing our experience to bear to realise the opportunities the brief presents. We encourage you to ‘dream’, to draw-out your true aspirations for your project, then find a way to attain the most important elements for the available funds.

We believe in ‘quality of thought’: we do not just do what we are asked or what is easy, we question everything then take you on a journey to discover the solution through exploration and dialogue. Your contribution is vital to the success of a good project.

“We still wake up every morning and look out of that round window towards the sunrise and have to pinch ourselves!”

Clients, Chapel Conversion, North Wales

Central to our philosophy is the desire that all projects undertaken – whether small alterations and extensions to a house, the restoration of a listed building or a large commercial development - will be sustainable in the widest sense. We aim to increase the energy efficiency – and therefore reduce energy bills and carbon emissions - of existing buildings or create highly efficient eco-friendly new buildings, whilst in all cases improving the look, feel and usage of a building or place.

We are at the forefront of meeting The Retrofit Challenge in the region but ‘Sustainability’ is not just environmental: it encompasses economic and social aspects too, so our work is focused on ‘people and places’, using buildings and the spaces in between to enhance the local environment.

But however efficient or clever a thing is, it will not be sustainable if the users do not love it: it will quickly be discarded. The quality of space, access to sunlight, harnessing of views, links to outdoors, materials and colours -

all must be orchestrated to ensure every day is a delight. Architectural sensibilities should not be sacrificed in pursuit of a technical solution.

Buildings should not be a burden on either you or society: they should be beautiful, low maintenance, low energy and above all: work. The Retrofit Challenge is an absolutely key issue to get people out of fuel poverty and to improve their comfort; this should be used for wider improvements to the environment as a bonus, such as with overcladding existing structures.

Architecture should be of its place and time to contribute to the rich fabric of our towns, villages and countryside. Local materials can be employed on structures developed from – not resembling – local forms and combined with new materials, technical advances and radical ideas to address the issues of the day, such as climate change.

“You employ stone, wood, and

concrete, and with these materials

you build houses and palaces. That

is construction. Ingenuity is at work.

But suddenly you touch my heart, you

do me good, I am happy and I say: `This is beautiful.’

That is architecture. Art enters in.”

Le Corbusier

Greenspace Architects Ltd: Our approach

The Retrofit Challenge

Change for the better

In the UK there is a massive burden of energy inefficient buildings with high carbon emissions which the Government has targeted to reduce by 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. Given that 80% of the buildings that will be standing in 2050 are already built, around 20m homes (70% of which are privately owned) and 1.8m commercial buildings will need to be retrofitted for carbon reduction over the next 36 years at an estimated cost of £500bn – the equivalent

of treating every building in a town the size of Shrewsbury every month until 2050.

We cannot afford to add to this burden, so we are keen to ensure any new developments we undertake are low energy and low carbon, such as aiming to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5/6 on new housing; at the same time we are equally focusing our efforts on the existing building stock, researching solutions

and technologies that will be applicable to most building types, particularly hard-to-treat solid walled buildings including historic buildings and more everyday semis and terraced properties.

“The real carbon reduction challenge - or opportunity - lies in treating the millions of ordinary

private houses throughout the country.”

Kevin Slack

What We Do

Creating fantastic places, spaces and buildings

We work across a number of sectors, principally one-off houses and conversions, housing-led mixed-use developments and masterplanning, together with commercial and public projects. Drawing on the wider experience of the team, we are developing interests in the hotel & leisure sector, churches and the growth of country house and agricultural estates.

Our work falls broadly into three categories, always underpinned by sustainable principles:

i. NEW BUILDINGS: the sky’s the limit here, and our knowledge of the planning process, modern methods of construction and our own aspirations for our clients help you achieve your dream project.

ii. OLD BUILDINGS: we take ugly, tired, inefficient or redundant buildings and turn them into incredible new environments, transforming them with a little of our ‘magic’.

Project Sectors

iii. HISTORIC BUILDINGS: Our conservation architects apply our low energy approach to already beautiful structures, maintaining the character whilst improving the fabric to 21st century standards.

RESIDENTIALOne-off Low/Zero Carbon Low Energy Houses

Retrofit projects for carbon reduction & energy efficiency

Barn, chapel and redundant building conversions

Housing developmentsStudent Housing

COmmERCIAL

Hotel and Leisure developmentsOfficesRetail mixed Use

PUBLIC

Schools/EducationCivic/Community facilities.

HISTORIC BUILDINGS

Listed BuildingsChurches Country House Estates

Sustainable ArchitectureConservation Architecture

Retrofit/Energy Efficiency DesignRefurbishment/Conversion

Planning Applications Interior DesignUrban Design

Strategic masterplanningFeasibility Studies

Development Appraisals

Services

Chapel Conversion, North Wales

Conservation | Private Homes | Interior Design | Refurbishment | Retrofit

Location | North WalesClient | PrivateBudget | UndisclosedArea | 140 m²Completion Date | 2014

Greenspace architects were offered an opportunity to transform a deconsecrated chapel into “Somewhere that was both a home and a workplace, somewhere that both respected its original use and function, but somewhere which was also innovative and contemporary.” With the building set into a steep north-facing slope, getting light – particularly direct sunlight – into the 4m high interior was a major goal.

With a continuous design conversation between us, the clients and the very adaptable and skilled builder, together we have achieved the clients’ aspiration of “doing something different”, by transforming the chapel into a spatial and material delight, augmenting the chapel’s historical character with bold contemporary additions.

Having stripped the building back to its walls, a 6m section

of the back wall was removed to open up the building to the south, then a new timber frame structure inserted to create an air tight envelope. multiple roof lights and dormers bring light flooding into the highly-insulated interior, where a combined air source heat pump and woodburner heating system supplies underfloor heating throughout. Extensive use of oak joinery and LED lighting completes a fantastic interior.

“Somewhere that was both a home and a workplace, somewhere that both respected its original use and function, but somewhere which was also innovative and contemporary.”

Clients, Chapel Conversion, North Wales

“We were interested in doing something

different”

Clients, Chapel Conversion, North Wales

“The project has transformed the

Chapel into exactly what we were

looking for”

Clients, Chapel Conversion, North Wales

“Accomplished through a continuous

design conversation between us, the

clients and the builders”

Kevin Slack

1960’s Retrofit House, Staffordshire Location | StaffordshireClient | PrivateBudget | UndisclosedArea | 300 m²Completion Date | 2014Refurbishment | Retrofit | Private Homes | Interior Design

This project turns a bland, boxy, much extended 1960’s dormer bungalow into a stunning, thermally-efficient modern family house by subtly reorganising the interior and complete over cladding with timber-based panels, zinc long strip and new composite aluminium windows and doors. The principal idea moves the stair to the front and the entrance below the central dormer, creating a double height galleried hall around which the principal rooms and bedrooms revolve. The irregular mis-matched dormers are unified with highly insulated metal cladding; which projects forward of the general timber cladding. To the rear a strip of sliding/folding doors opens the interior to the large garden via an extended terrace. We produced photo-real images of the exterior and interior from our single Building Information model to

allow the client to fully understand the proposals, drawing fully on our interior design experience to create a crisp modern design that integrates exterior and interior.

First Floor

Ground Floor

Dining Room

Kitchen

Breakfast Room Living

Room Garage

Cinema

Hall

Office

WC

Utility Room

master Bedroom

Bed 2

Bed 3Bed 4

Dressing RoomEn Suite

En Suite

Bathroom

Gallery

Farm House Retrofit, Shropshire Location | ShropshireClient | PrivateBudget | UndisclosedArea | 530 m²Completion Date | 2014Refurbishment | Retrofit | Private Homes | Interior Design

This is a major extension and refurbishment of a nineteenth century farmhouse ‘modernised’ in the 1960s, and includes total external and internal refurbishment with 100mm of internal insulation, new high-performance sash windows and all glass rear extension with a low-pitched zinc roof. This project demonstrates that highly efficient retrofits do not need to look quirky or modern, but that beautiful traditional buildings can emerge from beneath later additions. High quality Watercolour visuals helped convince the planners to accept an extension that is not set back from the existing building, creating a house that looks so intended from the outset. Phase 1 work to the existing house is virtually complete; the phase 2 extension to the right is to follow at a later date.

Proposed Ground Floor

Whitchurch Civic Centre, Shropshire Location | WhitchurchClient | Shropshire CouncilBudget | £685,000Area | 800 m²Completion Date | 2014Civic | Community | Interior Design | Refurbishment | Retrofit

The £863,000 project was largely funded by Shropshire Council’s market Towns Revitalisation Programme and Whitchurch Town Council. Our strategy was to give the tired 1970s building a ‘green makeover’, particularly bringing the external spaces into complimentary use with the newly-linked existing halls, making a fantastic indoor/outdoor venue for markets, events, festivals and local/street theatre that is a real ‘event’ on the High Street and a long-term daily attraction in itself.

The contemporary design, which features a public balcony at first floor level, is realised in handmade brick and green oak, ensuring the building will blend with the historic fabric of Whitchurch. Internally, the foyer has been remodelled to create a hub for the council and library services using a central ‘drum feature’.

“The town council is very pleased with

the Civic Centre’s refurbishment and we look forward to

the new community hub providing a unique and

exceptional service to the people of

Whitchurch.”michelle Wilson, Whitchurch Town Clerk

“I think to describe the original 1970’s building as ‘tired’ would be polite.

What we have now is a massive

improvement”

Chris Westwood, customer service manager

“These improvements will

help to revitalise the town by attracting more visitors to the building itself and

the high street.”

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for business growth

Church Street, Shropshire Location | Ellesmere, ShropshireClient | PrivateBudget | £ UndisclosedArea | 8,900 m²Completion Date | Submitted to planningmaster Planning | Landscape Architecture | New Build

This is a development of 10 new dwellings of varying sizes that demonstrates the potential for a positive impact in a sensitive development.

The principle factors in establishing the site layout that we took into account were the views to and from The mere, the position of access points, the existing surrounding development and the positioning of existing trees and features, and the need to retain the natural habitat

for wildlife and animals. The mix of units offers housing to suit a wide range of potential occupants and will blend well with the current built fabric of the town.

The landscaping of the public and private amenity spaces takes its cue both from a desire to protect the existing biodiversity of the site and from the principal features on the site: the boundary with Cremorne Gardens, mature trees and The mere itself. We wanted

to create a high quality ‘gateway’ to the town’s principal natural asset, The mere, and to promote stronger links between this lake and the town.

“A much needed link between The Town and The Mere”

0 20 50m30105

North

Change for the better

Conservation

Old buildings – built before 1914 – are designed differently from modern buildings and perform differently. It’s essential to understand this difference when carrying-out repairs, alterations or designing extensions. Without this understanding, “improvements” can actually make matters worse. Two of our architects have attended the RIBA conservation course and the practice is on the RIBA Conservation Register enabling us to conserve, enhance

and protect old building for years to come. We have carried out Quinquennial Inspections for listed churches, advised on remedial work and appropriate repairs to listed buildings, and designed numerous extensions to old buildings. Retrofitting old buildings is also something our practice is keen to do properly with an understanding of how old buildings behave and how they can be upgraded to enhance

their thermal performance and overall quality. members of staff have undertaken training in the responsible retrofit of old buildings and we are currently completing the retrofit of a substantial Grade II Listed property.

Detailed recording of an oriel window at The Hollies, Ellesmere

The Hollies, Ellesmere, Shropshire Location | ShropshireClient | PrivateBudget | £285,000Area | 500 m²Completion Date | OngoingConservation | Private Homes | Interior Design | Refurbishment | Retrofit

Greenspace Architects were appointed to bring a derelict Grade II listed home back in to use as a family dwelling whilst improving thermal comfort and reducing its carbon footprint. The property had widespread dry and wet rot following years of neglect, requiring extensive timber treatment and stripping back before work could begin to re-instate modern technologies alongside original features.

Internal wall insulation was introduced to all external walls and ground floor rooms received insulation and underfloor heating where possible. Along with improved loft insulation, air tightness and weather stripping, mechanical ventilation units with heat recovery have been installed to manage condensation and air quality. Existing decorative oak panelling was restored and re-instated along with existing cornices.

Careful consideration and consultation with the Local Authority Conservation Officer was required throughout the project to ensure that the overall appearance and the existing historic fabric were not compromised whilst restoring this locally recognised property as a home fit for modern family living.

Early stages of a project are often carried out freehand or on a drawing board, to quickly explore ideas; hand illustrations are also often used in presentations, particularly to planners and funders where they can offer seductive images of the proposals.

AutoDesk Revit is the new industry standard for architectural design: it produces all the project information – plans, elevations, details and schedules through to photo-real perspectives if required - from a single project model. With the all the information from a single source, the project is fully coordinated and can be viewed from any angle, sliced in any way and represented with cast shadows at any time of day. Our 3D work is complemented by the industry standard 2D CAD software AutoCAD, as this is still in use by the majority of consultants and suppliers.

Photoshop is another industry standard tool, and is used to produce images and graphic material principally for presentations. At the top end, as an additional service, photo-real images of the project can be merged with photographs of the site to give a good impression of the finished product. We also use Adobe illustrator and Indesign to ensure that our work is presented to the highest level.

We have the full range of professional printing facilities to ensure your project can be documented to the highest standards, both for your own approval, funding applications, publicity and in applying for planning permission and/or listed building and conservation area consents.

Hand drawn techniques 3D Building Information modelling Software [BIm]

manipulation with Adobe Creative Suite

Outputs - Large format and colour

Resources

Greenspace Architects Ltd use the latest 3D computer software to develop and document designs, together with physical moddels, traditional hand drawing and watercolour painting processed through image manipulation software for presentations as appropriate to each project.

The Greenspace Team

Outside our new office: The Old Town Hall, Ellesmere

Formerly Design Director for the North at Capita Symonds Regions, principally involved with the multi-disciplinary education teams working on bids and delivery of BSF schools and academies, in September 2010 Kevin set-up Greenspace Architects Ltd with the late Robert Netherwood in Ellesmere, Shropshire as an eco-architectural practice specialising in sustainable design. He set-out to create fantastic spaces, places and buildings with sustainable principles at the core of the firm’s work.

Kevin has thirty years experience – fifteen at Principal Architect/Director level - across all fields of architecture and interior design and a variety of procurement paths with values up to £50m, principally focused on Residential, Hotel & Leisure, mixed-Use Regeneration and Education sectors but encompassing commercial, healthcare and retail. Kevin has achieved BREEAm Excellent, Code

for Sustainable Homes level 6 and EcoHomes Very Good on a number of projects. In 1993 he won a Distinction from the Royal College of Art for his mA studies in ecological architecture. In 1998 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts for his work in sustainable design and art & architecture.

Whilst managing the business Kevin maintains a strong concept design/feasibility role, together with design team leadership and direction. With his experience as part of a construction and development group he also has a demonstrated ability to meet the design and informational requirements on complex large-scale phased developments. Kevin is married with five children and is keen mountain-biker.

Kevin SlackmA(RCA)(Dist) BSc(Arch) BA(Hons)(Int.Des) FRSA RIBA

Chartered Architect | Interior Designer | Director - Greenspace Architects Ltd

Fellow, Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)Corporate member, RIBA and Registered Architect

Diploma in Professional Practice (Honours), Architectural Association member, Chartered Society of Designers Interiors Category C2 (mCSD)

mA Architecture, Royal College of Art, London [Distinction]BSc Architecture, Polytechnic of North London

BA[Hons) 3D Design [Interior Design], manchester Polytechnic [Class:2.1]

199819941993-199419931991-19931989-19911983-1986

“Good design starts with a conversation and a pencil”

Kevin Slack

Kevin’s career includes designing city centre apartments (top left), a 1000-bed sustainable student scheme (top right), and hotel projects such as the interiors of the 5 Lakes Hotel and Country Club, Essex (left below) and a 5-star boutique hotel and spa on the North Wales coast (right).

Geraint graduated from Liverpool School of Architecture in 2009 and joined Greenspace Architects in 2010 - becoming a project architect in 2014 following the successful completion of the RIBA North West Diploma in Professional Practice. Prior to joining Greenspace, Geraint gained a wide range of experience working on large scale residential, commercial and leisure projects at all stages of the design process.

Geraint has been responsible for overseeing a number of recently completed projects within the office, including a chapel conversion in North Wales, and residential retrofit project in Cheshire. Geraint believes in making every project he works on the best it can be, and is passionate about providing our clients with fantastic spaces to enjoy.

Outside of architecture, Geraint is a keen DIY enthusiast and has

recently renovated a house in Wrexham for his young family - gaining some valuable hands-on experience.

Since graduating in 1997, James joined Rodney Bellamy Associates, becoming a Chartered Architect and also an associate by 2001. James was principally involved with residential, ecclesiastical, commercial and retail projects, with a focus on conservation and sustainable design. This has involved achieving AECB Silver Standard for a series of barn conversions and also undertaking

work on many listed buildings, including the Grade II* listed Pell Wall Hall, the last domestic project by distinguished architect, Sir John Soane. Work on various church projects has involved Quinquennial Inspections, re-ordering, re-roofing and extensions.

Since joining the team at Greenspace Architects Ltd in may 2013 as a project architect, James has worked on a variety of schemes including housing developments on sensitive sites, works to listed buildings and small commercial projects. In 2014 he completed the RIBA Conservation Course and has been involved with the responsible retrofit of existing housing stock, attending several seminars on the subject.

James is married with one child, he is a keen sportsman, being a member of his local running club and regularly entering races across the West midlands.

Geraint EdwardsmArch(Hons) BA(Hons) HNCChartered Architect | Project Architect

Chartered member, RIBA and Registered Architect Advanced Diploma in Professional Practice

mArch(Hons), University of Liverpool School of ArchitectureBA[Hons) University of Liverpool School of Architecture [Class 2:1]

2014

2007-20092003-2006

James BennettmArch Dip Arch BA(Hons) int RIBA

Chartered Architect | Conservation Accredited Architect | Project Architect

Corporate member, RIBA and Registered Architect masters in Architecture, University of Huddersfield

Graduate Diploma in Architecture, University of HuddersfieldBA[Hons)International, University of Huddersfield [Class:First]

200120001995 - 19971990 - 1994

Anne - also an Ordained Priest - qualified from the Liverpool School of Architecture and worked with Gerald Beech & Partners, before establishing her own practice with her husband, Robert. He and Anne accepted an invitation from the Church mission Society in 1976 to relocate to Tanzania and establish a Home Advisory Service for people who wanted to build their own homes. This led to Anne being responsible for designing a ‘self-build residential area’ for a population of 15,000. Returning to the UK in 1984, they re-established Robert & Anne Netherwood Architects, gaining a great deal of conservation experience working with historic buildings.

In 2010 Anne, along with Robert and Kevin, established Greenspace Architects where she acts as the practice conservation consultant. Anne is registered on the Lichfield Diocese’s list of approved architects,

and is responsible for a number of ecclesiastical projects.

Outside of architecture, Anne combines her role at Greenspace with acting as minister Responsible for Pradoe Church. As well as being a doting grandmother, Anne is also a dedicated gardener and can be regularly found tending her allotment - keeping the office supplied with a wonderful variety of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Robert is a young, enthusiastic architectural assistant who graduated in 2014. Prior to this he gained his first experience in architecture during a period of work experience at Aedas in 2008, working on an office development in Derby.

Since joining Greenspace Architects, Robert has been involved in several housing projects. Keen to express his ideas and his strong interest in sustainable design, Greenspace has given him the opportunity to continue to expand his knowledge and gain vital experience.

Robert enjoys playing badminton, mountain biking and skiing.

Katrina joined Greenspace in 2012 and fulfills a range of roles covering Finance, HR, PR and generally making sure everything is running smoothly.

She has a wealth of administration experience, in both the public and private sectors, and is currently undertaking an Open University degree in Business management. Away from Greenspace Architects, Katrina is a keen on running and gardening.

Anne Netherwood

Katrina Chalk

Office manager

Robert SimcoxBA(Hons)

Architectural Assistant

B.Arch BD RIBAChartered Architect | Conservation Accredited Architect

SPAB - Repair of old BuildingsRIBA - Conservation course

Ordained Priest (Church of England)RIBA Professional Practice Examination, Registered Architect, Associate RIBA

Liverpool School of Architecture

2013

199419681961-1966

2011 - 2014 BA(Hoins) LJmU [Class 2:1]

www.greenspacearchitects.co.uk

Greenspace Architects ltdThe Old Town Hall

The SquareEllesmere

Shropshire SY12 0EP01691 623889

greenspace@greenspacearchitects.co.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/greenspacearch

Chapel Conversion and Civic Centre Photography

Phil Barrett ©www.pbartworks.co.uk

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Business Print and Designwww.bpandd.co.uk made from recycled paper

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Greenspace Architects ltd www.greenspacearchitects.co.uk