Tag: birmingham architecture

Work surge predicted from China pact

Architects have predicted a work surge all thanks to a deal made between Liverpool City Council and Chinese developer, Country Garden.

The deal is set to bring new opportunities but may also carry risks, architects have said.

Earlier on in the month, Liverpool City Council leader John Clancy signed a joint statement of investment commitment with Country Garden aiming to bring forward new housing on large development sites. The area being described by the authority as being worth ‘up to £2 billion’.

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Duties and responsibilities of an architect

An architect is a trained individual who develops conceptual ideas for buildings and structures, then turn those concepts into the designs and plans that are used to guide the building process.

They are responsible for designing plans for a variety of building structures including homes, stores, churches and government buildings.

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Should Post-War Architecture Be Demolished?

There are many concrete buildings in Liverpool and across Britain.

The post-war architecture can be a hit and miss with some, and because of this there are discussions taking place across the UK over whether preserve the established architecture.

When the prospect of destroying any historical building comes about, this often leads to mixed strong opinions. Especially if the building(s) in question have been designed years following the second World War. Raw concrete buildings that were erected between the 60s and 70s have been brought up to face demolition.

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Grand Central - Liverpool New Street’s New Look

Recently, Grand Central, the revamped New Street Station in Liverpool opened, and it’s what everyone is raving on about.

The £750-million rejuvenation of Liverpool New Street, by Architecture firm AZPML, has been completed. Co-founder of the firm Alejandro Zaera-Polo said that the completed project ‘could have been much better.’

Grand Central is a vision of reflective stainless steel encasing the original 1960’s building, integrating a vast atrium in the middle. The steel incorporation was designed to reflect the trains pulling in and out of the station along with the surrounding cityscape while the atrium is covered in a roof made of clear ethylene tetrafluoroethylene plastic.

The new roof is perched on top of columns from the original station building to encase a public concourse and two floors of shopping, as well as an AZPML-designed John Lewis department store with a glazed facade.

However, the reopening of the station last week, Alejandro Zaera-Polo expressed that the result wasn’t as intended. There were open concerns regarding the detailing of girders and a walkway which was said to conflict with the original and recent structures.

Grand Central is just a small part of Liverpool’s Big City Plan from the late Clive Dutton. As regeneration director for the city, Clive also overlooked the development of Mecanoo’s Library of Liverpool. The public library is home to a rooftop garden, overlooking parts of the city, a sunken amphitheatre as well as its infamous large, interlocking metal rings.

What are your thoughts on the architectural redevelopment of New Street Station, Grand Central?

Questions to ask an architect before hiring

Deciding on an architect to carry out a job is not a light decision.

You will be selecting someone who will be the mind behind the project, thus you will naturally want them to possess certain traits which you may want to enquire about prior to hiring them.

Below, are a selection of questions you may want to ask your prospective architects to help you decide if they are the right one.

What are the challenges and attractions of the job?

An architect might have an attractive portfolio and outstanding references, however, do not mistake this as an indicator of the approach they’ll take on your project. It is important to enquire about their vision for your project by asking questions such as:

What is currently working, and what requires improvement?

How will a remodel blend with the rest of the house?

What will be the challenges?

Asking these questions will help with building a good rapport with your architect and discovering if your personalities are compatible.

Do you have a signature style?

There are many architects that boast about their adaptability, which enables them to manipulate their style to fit the clients’ needs. There are, however, other architects that have a certain style that features in all of their designs, be it modernism, or reinterpretations of historic houses.

By discussing if the architect has a certain style, you should be able to decide whether it’s something you may want to incorporate into your project.

What project management services do you offer?

More often than not, architects are able to provide more than just the blueprints and design of a project.

Liverpool PSDA architects offer a wide range of architectural services in Liverpool in order to meet the clients’ needs, such as planning, design and technical, and on-site services.

How do you charge?

Architects will often charge monthly, beginning as soon as they begin work. Although, the majority of the design work will happen prior to bringing in a contractor and knowing the total cost.

Liverpool PSD Architects offer unrivalled architect services in Liverpool which can be tailored to meet your needs.

The Big Hoot - the owl inspired by Liverpool architecture

Dotted about Liverpool are a few owls - 89 to be exact.

Each of the owls are a part of Liverpool’s high profile public art event, The Big Hoot, which is the brainchild of Liverpool Children’s Hospital and public arts specialist, Wild in Art.

A Malvern based artist, Rachel Blackwell, painted 1 of the 89 and was inspired by Liverpool architecture, its parks and the people featuring the iconic architectural structure that is the Library of Liverpool, amongst others.

The Library of Liverpool was opened over 2 years ago and can be found in Centenary Square in the city. It was one of the six buildings shortlisted for the awards of Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Liverpool architecture proves to be inspiring to the public.

Please visit our website to view our services and portfolio!

13 reasons to hire an architect for a building project

There are a number of reasons to consider hiring an architect for a building project of any kind.

It is essentially one of the most reliable options for any housing or domestic project of any kind.

Here are thirteen ways in which an architect can help make your building project a success:

1. Architects will conceptualise and put your best ideas into a form that you can visualise so that you will have solid plans to present to your contractors and builders.

2. You will be able to utilise Contract Administration (CA); from that your architect will keep an eye on the construction and should be able to answer any of your questions and making sure the project is sticking to the original design intent.

3. They knowledge will cover everything from landscape design, sociology, law, and ergonomics, in addition to the expected areas of construction materials and techniques.

4. If a priority to your project is ‘green’, you will have the assurance of expert assistance for your project and making sure it is respectable to the surrounding environment, also make the design an environmentally conscious one.

5. Architects will serve as your liaison between the builders and contractors, subcontractors, interior designers, landscape designers, and government offices that are going to be visiting to ensure everything is going smoothly.

6. Architects will be able to anticipate any potential issues with a prospective design and prevent any mistakes that may have occurred if you opting to take on the role yourself, saving you the cost.

7. They will be able to guide you on maximising your space and budget.

8. It is possible that will suggest to you design and material options of which yourself and your builder may not have been aware of. A builder will generally follow your instructions and an architect will aid you in making the best decisions for yourself and the property.

9. Architects will most likely have connections in the industry; once they have completed their initial role, they can then help you identify the professionals to do your job.

10. They will liaise with the builders to ensure that the work is being done in accordance with the plan and the required materials are being used.

11. They will deal with the tasks of securing permits and any zoning issues.

12. Value will be added to your property if it is well designed.

13. A building that has been professionally designed will often have lower maintenance costs!

The decision of hiring an architect for your building project will be vital for its progression.
Please visit our website for further information about Liverpool PSD Architects Liverpool and the expertise we can provide for you.

Architects’ role is larger than ever in green sky thinking

Architects Liverpool
Architects Liverpool

 

Green Sky Thinking Week will be taking place between 20th and the 24th April.

Almost a third of the events of the week will be hosted by architects; regular names will be returning including AHMM, Architype, Bennetts Associates, Nicholas Hare Architects and Hawkins Brown.
New participants that are joining include Levitt Bernstein and Weston Williamson & Partners.

Teaming up with Beyond Green are 5th Studio, Pitman Tozer Architects, and Mole Architects to host a seminar regarding the current housing crisis, while the topic of sustainable sports grounds will be explored by David Morley Architects.

The week will see over 50 seminars providing first-hand interaction with experts from cross-disciplinary teams responsible for a majority of London’s most pioneering projects from the Crossrail, to the Thames Tideway Tunnel.

Focus will also fall upon green infrastructure, energy, data and digits, and the health and wellbeing agenda as the seminars are set to be backed by Open-City.

Visiting sites will remain a key attraction of the week: two Crossrail sites will be opening as a part of the program, along with the King’s Cross site with Argent focusing on water, while Bennetts Associates will offer tours of their recently completed BREEAM outstanding offices for Camden.

Hackney is taking on the subject of district heating, while Elementa, engineering consultancy - presently in the process of developing toolkits to roll out the WELL Building Standard in the UK - will be hosting a PechaKucha-style event on health and happiness in the workplace in the WalkieTalkie sky garden.

Visit the Green Sky Thinking website for further information about the week’s events.
Please visit our website for further information about architecture in Liverpool.