CHBC Architects is proud to announce 25 years of providing architectural, planning, construction drawing and creative services to the residential, commercial, health care, educational and community sectors. To celebrate this we have updated our image with an equally striking logo that better reflects the organisation as it stands now - a forward thinking company underpinned with years of experience.
News 01/06/2008: Great Jackson Street
CHBC Architects has recently been involved in proposals for part of the large Southern Gateway Masterplan for Manchester city centre, prepared by Manchester City Council and Simpson Associates. This mixed use development forms an essential link between Hume Park and the city centre, with a 'green bridge' over the motorway. The proposals consist of 180 apartments and 13,000 sq .m. of mixed use development, with public open space related to the remainder of the Gateway Masterplan and the surrounding city context.
News 01/12/2007: Albion Wharf wins award
Albion Wharf (now known as Regatta Quay) in Ipswich wins a Daily Mail UK Propery Award.
News 21/09/2007: Hartford Road wins award
Foundations for Living won the Independent Living and Older People Award, sponsored by The Guardian at the National Housing Federation Neighbourhood Awards.
Services
Creative Media
CHBC Architects' in-house graphics department - CHBC Graphics - provides visual and presentational supporting information to many of the architect-led projects. The graphics department also provides graphic design and visualisation services to many other clients from various business sectors.
The formation of CHBC Graphics - over ten years ago - arose from a growing demand for architectural information to be presented in a way which could be easily understood and appreciated by people from a non-architectural background. The combination of creativity and architectural awareness of the members of our graphic team is a major contributor to the success of CHBC Graphics and also to CHBC Architects' consistent record of obtaining planning permissions. We offer a number of services, ranging from architectural-specific products, such as coloured site plans and elevations, through to photorealistic photomontages. We also offer marketing-based services, and provide clients with inspirational sales brochures and marketing materials to assist them with their promotional and sales campaigns.
Our continued investment in new software, and the experience of our team, means that we can deliver a complete package of presentation and graphics services at competitive rates and within set deadlines.
Masterplanning
With the ever-increasing demand for large-scale, mixed-use developments, CHBC Architects has responded to the need for an integrated approach to urban planning and individual building design by utilising our expertise and experience in the creation of the overall development masterplan. Our knowledge and understanding of the planning system and detailed design requirements ensures that we are able to draw together the multidisciplinary aspects of a project to prepare a meaningful and definitive masterplan.
It is through an appreciation of all the factors that constitute a successful design translation of the client's specific development brief that CHBC can formulate the design concept from which the successful masterplan will emerge. The essence of achieving satisfactory statutory approvals within acceptable time scales is dialogue with the planning authorities and other interested bodies, both to develop a masterplan and then to create the design from the ideas and principles encapsulated in the masterplan. By paying close attention to the significant detail at the appropriate stage in the establishment of the masterplan, we are able to advance the planning principles and policies set out by the Local Planning Authority and ensure accurate and meaningful guidance to successfully maximise the site's development potential.
Architecture
CHBC Architects offers a total architectural and planning design service. We provide expert design and guidance to our clients, at all stages of the planning process, from initial concept and site potential appraisal through to the production of full working drawings and taking up the leading consultants role at the head of multi-disciplinary teams.
We have extensive expertise in planning design and post-planning production, leading to more than 95 percent of our schemes successfully passing through the planning process. In those few instances where our client's brief and our design response do not concur with the Local Planning Authority's interpretation of Government and local planning policies, CHBC has the knowledge, skill and experience to play a definitive part in any subsequent planning inquiry.
We have maintained our position at the forefront of planning for more than 25 years by keeping abreast of the latest planning philosophies and policies, including the current pressures asserted on architectural design and development by the growing awareness throughout the world of the need for improved environmental and ecological sustainability.
Whilst we have gained a specialist reputation in all facets of housing design, our experience in designing for the commercial and retail interests is extensive, as well as certain aspects of the leisure industry. CHBC has undertaken many large, mixed development projects and has the expertise, technical ability and graphics / CAD hard and software to prepare major presentations for public and planning display.
Construction Drawings
CHBC Architects' technical departments are led by a highly motivated team whose experience and qualifications reflect the high standard of working and detailed drawings produced throughout the practice. Our drawings are detailed with the on-site contractor in mind and therefore offer outstanding clarity and highly considered achievable design solutions. This knowledge and understanding of the 'workings' of a building and its proposed use is available throughout the design process from concept plan to working drawing.
Our experience in new build, refurbishment, conversion and conservation ensures that we produce drawings which ensure an economic build. We involve our clients in every critical decision and hold regular project reviews. This maintains the integrity of the detailed technical design in accordance with the original approved planning drawings. With a balanced proportion of technical staff in all three of our regional offices, we can be confident that projects will be completed both on schedule and on budget, whilst adhering to the ever-changing criteria for sustainable and regulatory requirements.
Such is the quality of our technical departments that they regularly operate independently of the design teams, working on working and detailed drawings production for clients whose projects have been designed by others outside the CHBC Architects Group.
Example Projects
Project 1: Albion Wharf
This challenging, waterfront site in a Conservation Area involved the demolition of most of the existing structures, with a few of the better Victorian Maltings buildings being retained. The new, mixed-use development, including commercial uses at lower level, was designed with the lower buildings set around the perimeter of the site, enabling the residential units at the upper levels to enjoy views of Ipswich and the docks.
Project 2: Peachey House
The site is a redundant office block and parking area to the western side of the Town Centre, thereby having good communication links and all local facilities.
Peachey House itself is a tall 1970 office building forming a landmark feature on the edge of the Town Centre. The proposal is to convert and form a mixed use facility on the lower floors, with 1 and 2 bed apartments on the upper floors. This will involve total interior refurbishment and re-cladding of the whole of the exterior for the new uses as well as upgrading its landmark status.
The remainder of the site, which is a surface car park, will have a new block of 1 and 2 bed apartments, lower than Peachey House itself, so as to relate to the adjacent buildings. The area will also have a large underground car park with both residents and public landscaped recreation areas over this car park.
The proposals will give a mixed use development on the edge of the Town Centre bringing new life and activity to the area.
Project 3: Madingley Road
CHBC produced an imaginative scheme with contemporary design solutions for this disused site opposite Churchill College.
Occupying a prominent corner position on the site of a redundant take-away, this stylish apartment block, now called 'Cambridge West', provides 19 luxury apartments - some with terraces, most with private balconies - set within landscaped grounds.
Project 4: King Edward VII Hospital
The former King Edward VII Hospital on the outskirts of Warwick is set on a steep gradient with views over the surrounding countryside.
Most of the existing buildings were demolished except for the main facade, with a new-build apartment block being constructed behind this elevation.
This building is the main focus of the site, with public open space stretching away down the slope, and the 112 houses and apartments around the rest of the site being orientated to take advantage of the views across the Avon valley.
Project 5: Mare Street
Our proposal was to create an innovative mixed-use scheme, including an existing 1960's commercial block, constructed around an inner courtyard. New build elements, in render and glass, were provided to the principal frontage, whilst to the rear of the site new live-work units and apartments were built in two, different height towers linked at lower level. A separate, contemporary residential/social housing block formed an enclosure to the rear courtyard.
Project 6: Hartford Road
The closure of a town centre commercial premises resulted in this innovative development now called 'Saxongate', which provides progression units for the Papworth Trust in a mixed development of apartments for rent and private sale. The special nature of the site and the requirements of the Trust resulted in a design of considerable character which, whilst taking detail references from local buildings, has created a unique group of dwellings.
Project 7: Waters Meet
A difficult waterside site was developed in conjunction with the client to provide 30 classically proportioned dwellings each overlooking a tributary of the river Ouse and open countryside beyond. Each property is individually styled with a contemporary use of traditional materials.
Project 8: Blackbird Road
Blackbird Road was one of the first city centre brown-field sites to gain approval in Leicester.
The site is situated in a predominantly residential area with strong transport links to the city centre.
The scheme of 269 houses and apartments created a formal and strongly-defined series of elements and spaces by the use of straight lines and crescents, with the frontage apartments providing a boundary statement and defining the development edge.
Project 9: Rockside Hall
Situated between Cavendish Road and Wellington Road in Matlock, Derbyshire, this former hydro / hotel complex had fallen into disrepair after use as a teacher training centre and was part of a development proposal which included 5 new build houses. On completion of these, the then developer pulled out and the property remained exposed and subject to vandalism. The new client's brief was to provide maximum residential coverage on the remainder of the site to permit the full refurbishment of the original buildings.
Project 10: Langford Business Park
The site already has the benefit of an outline planning approval for 'B' Class use, adjacent to the existing Water Company site.
The surrounding area is of relatively flat agricultural use, with a mixture of both sparse and dense tree planting.
The proposal is for B1 and B8 uses, including associated parking and landscaping. The units are arranged as a series of relatively low pavilions, grouped around parking and landscaped courtyards. This low form, together with its related details, lightweight regressive materials and extensive landscaping, provide a modern high tech environment, which is sympathetic with the existing landscape surroundings.
Practice Profile
From its origins in the early 1980s, CHBC Architects has expanded from Essex into Suffolk and Warwickshire on the strength of its commitment to good quality architecture based upon sound planning expertise and technical knowledge. Our success is testimony to our ability to balance experience and flair, and to remain focused on our clients' requirements and aspirations, from initial inception and viability analysis to completed project.
Regardless of the brief or proposed development, be it residential, commercial, retail, industrial, educational or leisure, CHBC Architects has the requisite skill to provide the appropriate solution within the required programme.
Our design, technical and graphics teams provide an integrated service to each client according to the needs of each project. These disciplines can also be utilised independently as required. From hand-drawn initial concept and viability sketches to computer generated models, photo realisation and interactive CD-ROMs for planning and sales processes, CHBC Architects has the experience, skills and confidence to achieve our clients' aspirations.
