About the practice

We are a firm of architects based in the centre of Liverpool. We believe that good design does make a difference to people; it can enhance the environment, bring people together and support change in a sensitive and constructive way. Architecture does not happen in isolation. We enjoy the process of making buildings, large or small, we value teamwork and recognise that this is essential to the success of a project. It really is about people working together. We do understand the process of design and construction, and the importance of budgets and programme. We look for new solutions and develop innovative ideas, but also value tradition and experience and look for the benefits in both. We have been working for a long time with the view that energy use should be minimised and recognise our responsibilities in designing new buildings or working with existing stuctures, and that we should continue to look for ways to reduce energy consumption in buildings whilst creating enjoyable places to live and work. EXPERIENCE Our experience covers a wide range of building types, the advantage being that knowledge is transferrable. We have worked on historic buildings and we have designed new university faculty buildings and also: - Special needs housing - Extra care housing - master planning - Faculty buildings - Lecture theatres - External spaces - Individual houses - Student accommodation - Sports facilities - Public Arts Projects We aim to make places where people want to be. The design of buildings is often about resolving conflicting issues but also about looking for and taking advantage of opportunities that already exist. To do this we need to have a detailed understanding of the brief and also see the potential of a site or existing building. For example if rainwater needs to be stored to reduce loads on a local drain, why not design a lake that increases bio diversity, encourages wild life with new habitats and becomes an attractive feature in its own right. Buildings need to be places that are enjoyable and contribute to a quality of life. They need to be accessible, not just physically but also in terms of being inviting and breaking down barriers. They also need to provide privacy and quietness. Buildings should respond to a site and contribute to the environment around them, the spaces between buildings are just as important as the buildings themselves.