Cambridge Architecture gazette CA75 by Cambridge Association of Architects

INNOVATION PERKS

CAMBRIDGE ARCHITECTURE Cambridge Association of Architects Gazette

SPRING/SUMMER 2018 www.cambridgearchitects.org

@RIBACambridge

Cambridge design studio

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COMING SOON

WELCOME

CONTENTS _4 NEWS

_7 MANAGING THE FUTURE Interviewing the University of Cambridge Estate Management team

_ 11 THE ORIGINS OF INNOVATION The past and present of Cambridge Science Park, and how its role might change in the future

_ 14 NEWNHAM COLLEGE Architect Walters & Cohen explains the vision behind new student accommodation

_ 16 THE LEARNING CURVE The role of technology and innovation in creating the iMET Centre

_ 20

THE RIBA EAST 2018 SHORTLIST We reveal the 19 buildings shortlisted from 50 entries

_ 23 SCHOOLS OUTREACH Inspiring students at the Chesterton Community College Architecture Festival

_ 27 Cover photo: The David Attenborough Building by Nicolas Hare Architects © Alan Williams

CFCI AWARDS The winners of the Cambridge Design and Construction Awards 2017

_ 32 RIBA MENTORING SCHEME A mentor and mentee report on their experiences a year after launch

_ 34 REIMAGINING EDUCATION A first-year architecture student discusses the 2017-18 first-year live build project

_ 36 NEWS FROM THE EAST Updates from Suffolk and Norfolk colleagues

_ 38 WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON? A round-up of ongoing projects by local firms

WELCOME

CA75 examines two aspects of the Cambridge region that are key foundations for its success in technology, science and the local economy – interconnection and innovation. From our recent site visit to Newnham College, the new iMet building in Alconbury, through to the joint CAA/ RIBA East School Outreach programme. Our two-part article completes our interview with the University of Cambridge Estate Management department, looking at current and future projects. From the university to the first Science Park in the UK, to start-ups and spin-outs for cuttingedge research, the university is fundamentally connected to the region, directly affecting the built environment. Our regular features are here as well, looking at news and projects from around the region, the CFCI Awards, and the shortlist for the RIBA Awards.

– The Editors CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE | 3

NEWS

THE CAA THANKS THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS • 4CB Architects LLP • AC Architects Cambridge Ltd • Ashley Courtney RIBA AABC • Barber Casanovas Ruffles Ltd • BB&C Architects Limited • BFA Architects • Caroe Architecture • CMP Architects Ltd • Colen Lumley RIBA • Cowper Griffith Architects • Dalton Muscat Architects LLP • EIKON Architecture and Design • Emma Adams Architect • Feilden + Mawson • Freeland Rees Roberts • George Davidson Architect • J F Hillier • Karen Rainsford Architect • M Reynolds RIBA • Mart Barrass Architect Ltd • MCW Architects • Mole Architects • Peter Rawlings Architects Ltd • PiP architecture • R H Partnership Architects Ltd • Saunders Boston • Stephen Brooks Architect • Tristan Rees Roberts Architect

NEWS AND EVENTS

IN RESPONSE TO CA74

CAMBRIDGE ARCHITECTURE GAZETTE

Cambridge Architecture Gazette is a review produced by the Cambridge Association of Architects, the local chapter of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The views in this magazine are those of individual contributors (named and unnamed), and not of the Association. ISSN 1361-3375 Any comments or for a copy of the magazine, contact editors@cambridgearchitects.org EDITORS David Adams, Tom Foggin, Susie Lober ADVERTISEMENT SALES Marie Luise CritchleyWaring (advertising@cambridgearchitects.org) Published by CPL www.cpl.co.uk

4 | CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE

In response to 'Cambridge North up and running' © David Adams (News, CA74), Cambridge Architecture received an email from Dr Douglas de Lacey, councillor for Girton: Councillors are bombarded with unsolicited journals. CA is one of the very, very few I remove from its sleeve and read. Thank you for that. However, I was very interested to read on page 5 of CA74 the note about Cambridge North Station, and its comment 'the response to the station has been very positive'. That is not quite what I am hearing from commuters and the local newsgroup. But you do not comment on the major architectural disaster that it entails. We, of the JDCC, were assured time and again that the design would honour the renowned Cambridge mathematician – and my former teacher – John Horton Conway and his 'Game of Life'. I asked, unsuccessfully, several times that the design might be dynamic, allowing travellers the opportunity to while away their wait by entering some life forms and watching their progress. But, horror of horrors, the design executed has nothing at all to do with Conway or the Game of Life. It appears to be a Wolfram – and, to add insult to injury, Dr Wolfram hails from Another Place. Perhaps you could devote a future volume to this and other architectural catastrophes? CA76 will be looking at the planning system, and this would be an excellent candidate for study. Cambridge Architecture thanks Dr de Lacey for his suggestion and response.

ANONYMOUS COMMENTARY

Cambridge Architecture also received this fascinating – if mysterious – commentary on the 'Mending Histon Road' article in CA74, by Paul Drew and Tim Ward. The feature in Cambridge Architecture 74 'Mending Histon Road' appears to have been written by Tim Ward and Paul Drew after an 'eyes closed' visit to the street. The developments described and pictured – perhaps with the exception of the art deco revival buildings – are grossly out of scale with the area, bland 'bog standard' commercial architecture, poorly detailed (floor-toceiling glass on a main road, anyone?), clumsily built and awful examples of 'could be anywhere' architecture. Look again CA. 'Histon Vitruvius'

CA75 WAS SUPPORTED BY THE KIND DONATIONS FROM: For more information on how your organisation can support the production of the Cambridge Architecture Gazette through advertising and other opportunities, contact Marie Luise Critchley-Waring at fundraising@ cambridgearchitects.org The CAA gratefully welcomes sponsorship of its annual activities, including events, talks, student projects and networking evenings. For more details, please contact treasurer@cambridgearchitects.org

NEWS

UPCOMING EVENTS PLANNING OPEN DAY

9 June, 10am-2pm Whittlesford Memorial Hall, Mill Lane, Whittlesford, Cambridge, CB22 4NE

THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATIVE DESIGN: A RIBA/RTPI JOINT CONFERENCE

10 July, 9.30am-5pm Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford bit.ly/ca75planning This conference will look at architects’ and planners’ experiences of the planning process, and will explore how better collaboration can help improve design outcomes.

CAA SUMMER SOCIAL 8 August, 6.30pm-9pm See CAA website for details.

CAVENDISH GETS THE GO-AHEAD Jestico + Whiles has gained approval for the new Cavendish III Laboratory for the University of Cambridge's Department of Physics, on the West Cambridge site. The new £300m development comprises 34,000m2 of laboratory space and sits with a new Shared Facilities Hub, which gained planning permission in March with a unanimous decision. The projects are being undertaken with NJJB, BDP, CH2M, Ramboll, and Bouygues UK, among others.

ARCSOC NEEDS YOU!

The University of Cambridge Architecture Society (ARCSOC) is seeking sponsors for its annual summer show. The CAA is already sponsoring, and we would love local practices to join forces to increase the connection between local architects and the department of architecture. If you feel you can help, please email arcsoc@aha.cam.ac.uk or contact the CAA and we will be glad to assist.

STAPLEFORD GRANARY NEARS COMPLETION

11 September, 4pm-6.30pm Sir Geoffrey Cass Centre, Cambridge bit.ly/ca75accordia Ten years after Accordia won the Stirling Prize, we return to the housing scheme for a talk and tour, with reflections from the architects and planners involved in the project.

RIBA SMART PRACTICE CONFERENCE

4 October, 10am-5pm Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge bit.ly/ca75smart This year, the RIBA Smart Practice Conference focuses on design quality, and the value that architects bring to clients and the wider public.

IN MEMORIAM

MCW Architects has undertaken the design and implementation of the final phase of refurbishment and new-build at the Stapleford Granary, for the ACE Foundation, a charity that helps promote cultural and international understanding, serving communities in the UK and worldwide.

LIVING ACCORDIA: TALK & TOUR

Cambridge Architecture is sad to report the death of Ivor Smith, 92, the architect perhaps most famous for jointly designing Park Hill estate in Sheffield, as well as housing around the country, including in Cambridge. Mr Smith is survived by his wife, four children and eight grandchildren.

CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE | 5

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UNIVERSITY PROCUREMENT

MANAGING THE FUTURE

In the second of a two-part article, CA75 brings the story of the University of Cambridge’s estate development up to date. In January 2018, Cambridge Architecture met with key members of the Estate Management team to talk about what the future holds WORDS CAMBRIDGE ARCHITECTURE

Shared Facilities Hub, West Cambridge © Jestico + Whiles

Let’s start with the basics: what parts of the university does the Estate Management team manage, and how large is it? Our department manages the university estate, rather than those that are part of a specific College. This includes, for example, the department of applied mathematics and the Fitzwilliam Museum, but not King’s Chapel, which is owned and managed by King’s College. The estate is valued at about £2.5bn and is more than 500,000m2 in area. As Director of Estate Strategy, what does your job entail? Jason Matthews (JM): My role is very varied but, in essence, I provide leadership in delivering the Strategic Framework. This leadership is a team effort, however; for example, strategically, I am looking at ways to future-proof the university’s

We carry out work on everything from £50 for repainting a wall, through to a £1bn, 15to 20-year development estate. As you will hear, we have lots going on across Estate Management, and I am constantly looking for ways to improve how we deliver services to the university. Estate Management manages lots of different scales of project – how much of a challenge is this? JM: It’s huge challenge. We carry out work on everything from £50 for repainting a wall, through to the £300m Cavendish

Labs development, and a £1bn, 15- to 20-year development such as North West Cambridge. Large projects like that have dedicated teams, purely because of their size and complexity, but it’s a measure of the diversity of the estate department’s activities. The university has a Strategic Framework – essentially the vision for its future development. How is this created? Is it given to you by the Board, or developed for its approval? Paul Milliner (PM): The Strategic Framework sets out the strategic goals for the estate, to support the university’s competitive advantage, productivity, sustainable development, and financial efficiency. The starting point for its preparation was a workshop with the university’s senior leadership, and the framework was

CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE | 7

UNIVERSITY PROCUREMENT

developed, endorsed and finally approved through a series of meetings of the governance bodies.

That's the university's commitment to Cambridge: not to 'parachute' a developer onto a plot of land

Estate Management has some impressive buildings as part of its portfolio... PM: Yes, ranging from heritage buildings of exceptional interest (The Old Schools, Senate House, Fitzwilliam Museum and Madingley Hall buildings are Grade I-listed), to leading examples of brutalist architecture – the David Attenborough Building, University Centre and Stirling’s Faculty of History Building – and the 2010 RIBA Stirling Prize-winning Sainsbury Laboratory. Planning is a key issue for the RIBA this year. The North West Cambridge development was obviously a large – and incredibly complex – project. How important was the planning relationship? Heather Topel: It was incredibly important. Creating a positive planning relationship was helpful to the project, but it is resource intensive. The important thing was understanding how to support the process. That’s the university’s commitment to Cambridge: not to 'parachute' a developer onto a plot of land, but to create a community, recognising it is a fundamental part of the fabric of the city. It’s a long-term relationship – we’ve been here for 800 years, and we’re not going anywhere.

Sainsbury Laboratory © Stanton Williams

Annual carbon emissions (tCO2e per year)

Total annual Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 100,000

The Strategic Framework identifies some impressive carbon-reduction targets. How does this inform projects? Beverley Weston: It’s a core principle of our development approach. Obviously thiscreates some challenges; as the estate gets larger – when we create new developments – the carbon footprint increases. However, carbon-reduction remains a key objective.

90,000 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000

Graphic supplied courtesy of the Estate Management team

10,000

Gas

Heat and Steam

Oil

8 | CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE

Biomass

2016/17

2015/16

2014/15

2013/14

2012/13

2011/12

2010/11

2009/10

2008/09

2007/08

2006/07

2005/06

Electricity

Some of the statistics about the estate are very interesting: only 16% is pre-1900s? PM: Well, remember, that doesn’t include college buildings, a greater proportion of which are historic. Most of the faculty and department areas developed, relatively speaking, much later – the original Cavendish Lab, for example, is from the 1870s.

Vehicle related

Do you measure projects against the aims and objectives of the Strategic Framework? Yes, we review a range of factors and indicators derived from the Strategic Framework, some are assessed as the project progresses and some as part of the postoccupancy evaluation (POE).

UNIVERSITY PROCUREMENT

So you’re interested in POE – and 'lessons learned' exercises? Absolutely – we’re targeting it on new projects after the first year. Learning is a key part of our process and it’s a central part of the ethos at Cambridge. We’re constantly reviewing projects, measuring them against the initial performance criteria and the Strategic Framework. We look at the short-, medium- and long-term goals and needs of the university. It would be remiss of us if we didn’t mention the dreaded word: Brexit... Obviously, we take it very seriously with regard to the university – how it functions, and how our staff and students might be affected. However, we also need to ensure that the university and the estate projects continue to deliver the progress we need. There are some interesting things mentioned in the current Strategic Framework: what’s the Living Laboratory about? PM: The Living Laboratory for Sustainability is led by our environment and energy team, and gives opportunities for students to help improve environmental sustainability across the university estate, through projects, internships and research. There are various benefits, including closer working between academics and estate management, the application of research, delivering culture change in the university, and supporting the student experience. The programme has been a success and there are plans to develop it. What major developments are in the pipeline for you at the moment? The Cavendish III and the Shared Facilities Hub projects, on the West Cambridge site, will come forward in 2018 – the city council’s planning committee has resolved to grant planning permission for both (subject to completion of S106 planning obligations). The projects respond positively to the Strategic Framework, by providing learning, collaboration and communal activities in shared spaces, at accessible locations with high-quality new urban realm. We also we have about £2bn of development currently at RIBA Stage 0, and £1.2bn at RIBA Stages 1-5, so we’re really quite busy. Cambridge Architecture is very grateful to Dr Jason Matthews, Paul Milliner, Beverley Weston, Jan Hand, Heather Topel, Paul Holland and Biky Wan for taking the time to meet us and explain the complexities of life in the Estate Management team.

New Cavendish Laboratory, West Cambridge © Jestico + Whiles

Size and scale 336 buildings

49 listed buildings (22% of estate area)

Gross internal floor area of the estate:

640,000m2

% WASTE from the estate is

RECYCLED

Aerial view of the North West Cambridge site © North West Cambridge Development

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INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

THE ORIGINS OF INNOVATION

The Bradfield Centre © Cambridge Science Park

Cambridge Science Park was the first science park in the UK, and another example of the reach and impact of the university. Today, it is a hub for innovation and development. Cambridge Architecture asked Jeanette Walker, director at Cambridge Science Park, about the past and present of the science park, and how its role might change in the future WORDS: JEANETTE WALKER

The Cambridge Science Park was established in 1970 when Trinity College embraced the concept that would change the hi-tech sector in Cambridge, the UK and beyond. Since it was established 48 years ago, the park has played a pivotal role in the 'Cambridge phenomenon' – the transformation of Cambridge from a market town with a world-class university to one of the leading technology hotspots in the world. Trinity College owns the freehold of the park, which comprises 150 acres, with 1,700,000m ft2 of technology and laboratory buildings. Today, it is home to more than 100 companies – including exciting start-ups and some of the world’s leading technology businesses – and employs 6,500 people.

Many are working on potentially lifechanging technologies, from personalised medicines and non-invasive cancer diagnostics to artificial intelligence, virtual reality and the Internet of Things (IoT), as well as display and communications technologies – to name but a few.

HISTORY

The land on which the Cambridge Science Park is located, on the north-eastern edge of the city, has belonged to Trinity College since its foundation by King Henry VIII in 1546. It was farmland until World War II, when it was requisitioned by the US Army to prepare tanks for the D-Day landings in Europe. After the war, the site lay largely derelict until the

decision to develop it was taken in 1970. The development was in response to a report by a special University of Cambridge committee, set up under the chairmanship of Sir Nevill Mott, to consider an appropriate response from Cambridge to an initiative of the Labour government. Whitehall was urging UK universities to expand their contact with industry, with the objective of technology transfer and to increase the payback from investment in basic research. Trinity College was impressed with the importance of these ideas and applied for planning permission to develop a science park – an idea born during the 1950s in the USA, where the first science park was established by Stanford University.

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INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Proposed Unit 22 © Cambridge Science Park

COMMUNITY

The Cambridge Science Park now functions as an integrated community, rather than a site where individual companies happen to be co-located. The diverse range of businesses means that opportunities for learning and collaboration are unrivalled. Initiatives to catalyse business growth include special interest groups, 'lunch and learn' events, and one-to-one introductions. Beyond the provision of offices and laboratories, the park also hosts a varied programme of social events, ranging from sports and fitness to arts performances, lunchtime talks, quizzes, talent competitions and cookery demonstrations.

The diverse range of businesses means opportunities for collaboration and learning are unrivalled CHALLENGES

The park is committed to being a place where people love to work. This includes offering easy access and affordable transport for staff and visitors – a significant challenge that the park is seeking to

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Proposed Unit 25 © Cambridge Science Park

address through a variety of transport initiatives. One example is offering a free taxi service for commuters to and from Cambridge North Station, as well as improvements for cyclists and pedestrians around the park. Access to quality, affordable housing is also a major challenge. Working with the developers of new housing provides an opportunity to ensure the needs of park staff are taken into account.

EARLY ADOPTER OF INNOVATION

Ensuring the park is as smart as the people and the companies that work on the site is part of the current phase of investment

INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

The Bradfield Centre © Cambridge Science Park

renewal. This includes the use of smart materials, such as paving slabs that absorb nitrogen dioxide, park benches that monitor air and noise pollution, wastemanagement systems and, in the future, autonomous vehicles. Earlier this year, the park was the first site to trial a system that enables couriers to access the boot of a person’s car to make secure deliveries in the absence of the owner.

NEW PHASE OF INVESTMENT Today, the park is benefiting from a new phase of investment in buildings, infrastructure and landscaping. The awardwinning Bradfield Centre, designed by Aukett Swanke, opened last summer, and

offers 40,000ft2 of accommodation in purpose-built offices for more than 600 technology entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-up companies. The centre is part of a network of clubs operated by managed workspace specialists Central Working, and members of The Bradfield Centre benefit from free access to Central Workings clubs in London and Manchester. Three levels of membership are on offer at the centre, enabling members to choose from a hot desk in the atrium for 40-hours a month, a private desk and locker in the members-only area, or a private office. In March, leading games company Frontier moved into a new 60,000ft2

Inside the Bradfield Centre © Cambridge Science Park

building, which forms part of the redevelopment of one of the early phases of the park. Designed by Scott Brownrigg, it includes a 40,000ft2 BioHub and a 60,000ft2 research and development (R&D) building, both of which are under construction with funding from Trinity College’s Chinese joint-venture partner, TUS-Holdings, of Beijing. Further developments scheduled to come for the next few years – subject to planning – include up to 200,000ft2 of office buildings and a social hub comprising a hotel with leisure and conference facilities. Jeanette Walker is the director at Cambridge Science Park

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CGI view of new courtyard © Studio Archetype

NEW ROOM AT Earlier this year, the CAA took a trip to Newnham College to see the new student accommodation by Walters & Cohen Architects WORDS: CINDY WALTERS AND SARAH MORRISON

THE ARCHITECT'S VIEW Cindy Walters, leading the design of the project at Newnham College, on the façade's design The external façades of the new building at Newnham are made up of five materials: beautifully crafted, handmade red brick; bronze window and door frames; limestone surrounds to the windows and doors to the Porters’ Lodge; high-quality granite to the Sidgwick Avenue frontage; and generous areas of glazing. Windows and doors are bronze anodised, chosen as a reference to the beautiful bronze Clough Gates under Pfeiffer Arch and to complement the red brickwork. The brick has been carefully blended to match The [Basil] Champneys Buildings;

‘curtains’ of decorative brickwork interspersed between the windows and doors are laid in a dogtooth pattern, which becomes perforated at ground-floor level (every other brick is removed) to create a delicate foil between inside and out, and so that windows

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at ground-floor level can be left open for ventilation with no risk to security. Windows to the outward-facing bedrooms at the upper levels are traditional casement windows. Bedrooms facing the new garden court have double doors and a Juliet balcony. One of the doors to each balcony can be opened using what is known as a 'tilt and turn' function, to provide ventilation when the doors are otherwise closed. Doors to offices and senior members' rooms facing the courtyard have double doors and opening windows behind perforated brickwork. The building has been designed to maximise natural light and ventilation, and there are strong connections between inside and out, plus long views over the surrounding gardens and towards the Sidgwick site. Cindy Walters is director at Walters & Cohen Architects

NEWNHAM COLLEGE

THE VIEW ON THE GROUND Sarah Morrison summarises an informative site visit organised by the CAA In late March this year, the CAA was invited to visit the new student accommodation, Porters' Lodge, café and conference facilities at Newnham College, designed by Walters & Cohen Architects, with SDC as contractor. Although the project is still under construction, some of the rooms looked finished, so this was an interesting stage at which to see the building process. All were impressed by the generous student rooms, with 2.9m-high ceilings and wide corridors, as well as the attention to detail. The floor levels for the new concreteframe building were guided by the adjacent Fawcett Building, with concrete soffits exposed mainly on the ground floor to form

ceilings. Windows rise up to the ceiling, with a deep timber-lined reveal – including a window seat – making best use of the space within the room. Likewise, shelving is built in and beds will be 1.5 x single-bed size. The top floor features a gym and roof terrace, with grand views over The Champneys Buildings, and there are generous social kitchen/dining spaces on upper floors. For me, the remarkable discovery as we moved outside was the brickwork. The new accommodation connects to the Fawcett building (1938) and there is harmony

The remarkable discovery as we moved outside was the brickwork between the two in the rhythm of windows and expressive use of brick in the façades. SDC uses its own bricklayers, who enjoyed working to the architects’ design and who were directly involved in developing some of the details. Specials with a scalloped curve form jambs to frame the structural openings, which softens the outline. Other brick details include a perforated pattern in front of the ventilation windows. The brief developed from the competition stage, with a new site being identified, including part-demolition of the Fawcett Building's smaller north-facing rooms and the replacement of a 1960s building, which was no longer fit for purpose. This sustainable approach – making best use of the old and building for longevity, designed for 100-year life – seems to make sense on this site. It is a bold thing to do in the heart of a college site, but it has been done with confidence. Sarah Morrison is an associate at Feilden+Mawson

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THE LEARNING CURVE

Alconbury Weald is an example of the Cambridge Cluster effect: technology and innovation used to create a facility to serve the needs of the locality. Cambridge Architecture asked contractor Willmott Dixon and architect Bond Bryan to explain how economy and innovation have enabled a new education facility for the region WORDS: PAUL KIRKWOOD, WILLMOTT DIXON CONSTRUCTION & ZUBIN MASTERS, BOND BRYAN ARCHITECTS

The Innovation, Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology (iMET) centre is due to open within the Alconbury Weald Enterprise Campus later this year, after a customer fit-out. iMET will be a joint venture between Cambridge Regional College and Peterborough Regional College, and has

been 100 per cent capital funded by the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership – through government Growth Funds – thanks to site owners and developers Urban&Civic. It has been built by Willmott Dixon Construction and designed by Bond Bryan Architects. Using the Scape Major Works

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framework, there was a fully collaborative effort from a wide array of professionals and stakeholders from the project’s outset. Through apprenticeships and an industrytailored short-course programme, iMET will focus on high-level technical training for the construction, manufacturing, digital and science sectors, where increased skills have

IMET CENTRE

The design embodies the technological and environmental aspirations of the iMET

iMet nearing completion ©iMET

been identified as essential for growth in the region. iMET is employer-led and employerresponsive. It has already engaged with more than 50 local and national businesses to ensure the training and practical education offered will improve the talent entering the construction industry, alongside other key sectors. Echoing the key message of ‘modernise or die’ contained within the Farmer Review of the UK construction labour market (October 2016), this facility – in how it was put together by Willmott Dixon and the design team, and what it means to future students in construction – is addressing that challenge head on. Mark Farmer identified issues of: low productivity; low predictability; supply chain and leadership fragmentation; low margins and adversarial pricing; dysfunctional training models; and a 'lack of improvement' culture, with a scarcity of R&D investment and innovation. These all point towards a construction industry that is currently running at 35% efficiency. Since its conception in 2012, iMET has been practising what it preaches, with BIM

CGI showing the interior of iMet ©Bond Bryan Architects

Level 2 used throughout the design and construction process, forming part of what the facility will teach – opening up the onsite journey and how the students themselves might overcome the ‘real’ challenges the team faced. By sharing the onsite team’s true experiences, this project will serve as a learning tool for future potential schemes and iMET itself.

INNOVATIVE AND FUNCTIONAL DESIGN

The pedagogy-led design solution by Bond Bryan Architects brings together highquality traditional teaching spaces and contemporary environments into a simple, flexible two-storey building. With state-of-the-art workshops, spaces for virtual reality and a dedicated digital suite to focus on product design and the creation of BIM, iMET will be able to offer cutting-edge training to meet industry needs and bridge the gap between generations of the workforce. Double-height workshops give the space for larger-scale training in manufacturing

techniques, while a teaching wing offers smaller training rooms and specialist laboratories. The centre will offer opportunities for group and project-specific work, as well as a venue for employer events, educational lectures and conferences. Through the use of moveable walls, loose furniture and a variety of types and sizes of functional spaces, the building has been designed to be flexible on a day-to-day basis. Its structure, services and fenestration have all been designed to be adaptable in the longer term, to cater for evolving teaching and employer requirements. The design not only embodies the technological and environmental aspirations of iMET, but also allows it to be used as a learning tool. For example, the structure and services are visible and accessible, as are elements of the building fabric. Referencing the engineering and technology curriculum, the building has been clad in a metal skin, interspersed with glazing, expressed in a vertical rhythm at the upper level. On the ground floor, extensive glazing on the front façade showcases the learning within.

CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE | 17

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IMET CENTRE

By sharing the onsite team's experiences, this project will serve as a learning tool for future schemes and iMET

CGI showing iMet as it will be later this year ©Bond Bryan Architects

A key feature of the building is the perforated metal skin overlaying the baselayer panels wrapping the façade. The perforated aluminium rainscreen system aims to give a striking and distinctive image for the new centre. The skin incorporates interplay of solid and void, using differing sizes of perforations to orchestrate varying levels of transparency and areas of light and shadow. This alters the industrial form from a typical black-box environment to a light-filled space with a strong visual connection to the outside. Functionally, the perforated skin also serves as solar shading and glare control.

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT Aerial CGI showing iMet in context ©Bond Bryan Architects

iMET facts Item

Measurement

Equivalent

Brickwork

218m2

13,000 bricks

Concrete in foundations

550m

3,437 barrels of beer

Steel frame

140 tonnes

1 adult blue whale

Stairs

72 steps/26 tonnes

6 adult elephants

Workshop volume

3,480m

38 London Routemaster buses

Roof area

1,570m2

6 Wimbledon Centre Courts

The iMET centre offers a future of innovative learning that will contribute to the next generation of construction professionals – and, hopefully, play its part in addressing some of the shortcomings outlined in the Farmer Review. The iMET team hopes that its own learning and achievements, ups and downs, mistakes and great ideas will provide a ‘real’ example to the students of what can be accomplished through collaborative working. A copy of The BIM Journey at iMET: A Case Study in the Practical Application of BIM Level 2 can be requested directly from iMET at www.imet.co.uk

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RIBA EAST SHORTLIST

Bracelet Close

RIBA EAST 2018 REGIONAL AWARDS

Bell Phillips Architects © Kilian O'Sullivan

Bushey Cemetery

In this year’s RIBA East Regional Awards, 19 buildings have been shortlisted from 50 entries, including two projects in Eddington, the University of Cambridge’s new urban district. Also on the shortlist is a Hertfordshire cemetery made from rammed earth, and the restoration of a World War II transmitter block in Suffolk St Chad's Aura, Great Kneighton

Waugh Thistleton Architects © Lewis Kahn

TateHindle © Timothy Soar

The Deerings

Storey's Field Community Centre and Nursery Gresford Architects and Nicolas Tye Architects © Quintin Lake

Bell Phillips Architects © Kilian O'Sullivan

Fijal House

Mole Architects © Matthew Smith

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MUMA © Alan Williams

Magna

bptw partnership © Craig Auckland

RIBA EAST SHORTLIST

Bawdsey Radar Transmitter Block

Stephen Perse Foundation Sports and Learning Building

Freeland Rees Roberts © Ian Lambert

White Heather House SK Architects © Alan Gloyne

Five Acre Barn Chadwick Dryer Clarke Studio and LSI Architects © Richard Chivers

West Court, Jesus College The David Attenborough Building Nicholas Hare Architects © Alan Williams

Blee Halligan © Sarah Blee

Swirles Court

Downs House R H Partnership Architects © Richard Chivers

Niall McLaughlin Architects © Nick Kane

James Gorst Architects © Ståle Eriksen

New Library, University of Bedfordshire MCW Architects © Nick Hufton

Henry Moore Archive Hugh Broughton Architects © Nick Hufton

Hutton Hub, University of Hertfordshire Vincent and Gorbing and Stride Treglown © Stephen Chown

CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE | 21

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SCHOOLS OUTREACH

CHESTERTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL CAA volunteers inspire students to consider a career in architecture WORDS: CARL ROWLAND

During March, the Cambridge Association of Architects (CAA) was involved in running two day-long workshops at Chesterton Community College, offering an insight into the role of architects and design generally. Day one was for year 7 and 8 students, and day two for years 9 and 10. The workshops were very popular, with 30 students participating each day and more on the waiting list. They were followed by an evening meeting – open to all students, parents and carers – which offered feedback from the workshops and a presentation on an architect's role in society, a typical project, and the traditional route to qualification.

The Chesterton Community College Architecture Festival was a collaboration between the college’s design teachers and the CAA, with several members contributing to the organisation of the workshops, producing information and resource packs, and helping at the school during the day. All the workshops were design-led, challenging the students to improve an external space within the school. Common to most architectural projects, it involved analysis of a brief, before coming up with a design solution to the identified problem. Students were encouraged to test their ideas using maquettes, and to present them through models, collages and

The students were encouraged to test their ideas and present them through models, collages and drawings drawings. The CAA sponsored the event and supplied a pack of materials for each group, plus large sheets of cardboard donated by the local branch of DS Smith Packaging. Throughout the day, the students worked in groups of three, and received

CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE | 23

SCHOOLS OUTREACH

The 'marshmallow challenge' encouraged the groups of students to work together – a theme that continued throughout the day help, when needed, from teachers, architects, and designers from the CAA. The day started with the ‘marshmallow challenge’. Each group was given 20 pieces of spaghetti, one metre of string, masking tape, and a marshmallow, and given 20 minutes to construct a tower that would support the marshmallow as far above their table as possible. The winner achieved a height of 64cm. This exercise encouraged the groups to work together – a theme that continued throughout the day. The groups then visited the external space allocated to them – an area of playground on the school premises – to carry out an evaluation of the space and record its qualities, orientation, views, shadows, materials, landscape, levels, other features, limitations, and potential for improvement. After a short break, they discussed their site analysis and produced concept sketches and collages. After lunch, the groups' concept ideas were developed and models built for their presentation. The packs supplied to the students included examples of annotated sketches and diagrams as techniques to explore ideas and connect materials to build their models. At the end of the day, each group was given four minutes to present their work to the headteacher and her deputy, with each student taking the opportunity to express their ideas. CAA members gave a critique of the students’ work. Major construction work is being carried out at the school to build a new hall, dining space and kitchens, and move the reception to the front of the site, so it

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SCHOOLS OUTREACH

was helpful to have the project architect, from Atkins, take part in the workshops. During the festival, information was given to the students on the role of the architect, and they had the opportunity to ask questions about a career in architecture or related professions. The emphasis of the workshops was on practical problem solving and design in a relaxed environment, to explore the process of design, with students’ ideas taking the lead. One group designed a quiet shelter within the very noisy football playground; the sphere was set in a raised grass mound – so partly underground – and was well executed. Overall, the enthusiasm of the students was very rewarding, and the CAA hopes to conduct similar workshops at other local schools.

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CFCI AWARDS

CAMBRIDGE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AWARDS 2017

North West Cambridge was one of the many projects to be recognised at the annual Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry awards. Cambridge Architects looks at the winners and what the judges had to say WORDS: MEREDITH BOWLES AND EMMA FLETCHER

WINNERS' SHOWCASE The Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry (CFCI) awards evening, held in March, again celebrated the extraordinarily high standard of design and construction completed in and around Cambridge in 2017. © Julian Claxton Expert compere Meredith Bowles led the evening, with support from the CFCI panel, and there was a series of insightful PechaKucha-style presentations from architects responsible for the shortlisted schemes. As well as recognising excellent design, the event includes the Considerate Contractors award scheme, which acknowledges the hard work of contractors across the city in dealing with the constraints of often challenging sites. With a remarkably high standard of entries, competition was fierce in a number of categories, with commendations and special project mentions too numerous to fit within these pages. Of course, the CFCI awards recognise people as well as projects, and a special mention should be made of 2017’s Young Professional of the Year, Joel Gustafsson.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR – JOEL GUSTAFSSON Willing to question the system, Gustaffson has: correctly challenged – and altered for the better – the West Cambridge energy strategy for the university; driven low energy aspirations for many clients around Cambridge; and championed high standards of architectural and engineering design. He has also undertaken the complete refurbishment of a derelict 1920s semi, as well as an awardwinning new-build garage, to get a new appreciation of all the roles involved in construction.

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CONSERVATION, ALTERATION OR EXTENSION OF AN EXISTING BUILDING WEST COURT, JESUS COLLEGE Architect: Niall McLaughlin Architects Contractor: Cocksedge

This has been an extensive project, which variously refurbishes, re-imagines, and extends the college. Each aspect of the work has been carried out with invention and delivered with confidence, and has given the college a ’new face’. The combination of the slightly monastic brick and tiled new buildings with the richly lined fresh spaces – all set within a revitalised 1970s concrete frame – are beautifully designed. The new pavilion to the rear, overlooking the gardens, adds a beautiful space that – as the CFCI can attest from its annual Lego competition – functions exceptionally well.

CRAFTSMANSHIP AWARD SWIRLES COURT, NORTH WEST CAMBRIDGE Contractor: Graham Construction Architect: R H Partnership

Attention to detail in a number of areas – including the textured brickwork, sliding screens and articulated metal panelling – help to elevate this scheme.

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CFCI AWARDS

BEST NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD AND AWARD FOR SUSTAINABILITY & ENGINEERING NORTH WEST CAMBRIDGE Masterplan: Aecom Contractor: Various

This was always going to be a hard one to beat. The judges were unanimous in praising the ambition of the project from the University of Cambridge. As much as money, the enormous investment of time is evident in the quality of the urban realm, in terms of design, materials and planting. The thought given to pedestrians, cycling, connectivity to the landscape, and open spaces is also exemplary. Particularly noteworthy is the market square and new community building – the Storey’s Field Centre – which has a generosity and scale that gives Eddington a real centre in which people can come together.

BEST NEW BUILDING (SMALL) THE GARAGE

Architect: Ashworth Parkes Architects Builder/client: Joel Gustafsson

The judges were all charmed by this building. It was seen in the spirit of Cambridge’s enterprise, as a project that was full of invention and originality. The ingenious Part K-compliant sliding folding staircase – with the quality of Russian dolls, or a musical box – was pure delight. Special mention goes to engineer Tyrone Bowen and, of course, to client and builder Joel Gustafsson, man of the night.

CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE | 29

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CFCI AWARDS

BEST NEW BUILDING (LARGE) There was no one, clear winner, and each scheme had much going for it. Various judges remained a champion for each of the schemes and it was finally decided that all schemes would be given an award.

THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION

Architect: Chadwick Dryer Clarke Contractor: Kier Eastern

The new building for The Stephen Perse Foundation, by Chadwick Dryer Clark, has created a fantastic sports facility on a complicated urban site. It has transformed the school without apparent loss and – once the entrance is complete – created a more accessible school. This is a clever building, with great spatial complexity.

THE BRADFIELD CENTRE Architect: Aukett Swanke Contractor: SDC Builders

The Bradfield Centre was an inspiring new form of working. Its internal organisation of space is able to adapt to changes, to accommodate businesses as they grow, as well as the new breed of start-ups that require the facilities of a corporate address while operating as a small company. All the judges were impressed with the quality of this as a working environment. Bradfield Centre lakeside setting © Daniel Romero, Aukett Swanke

RYLE YARD, NORTH WEST CAMBRIDGE (NWC) Architects: Maccreanor Lavington and Witherford Watson Mann Contractor: R G Carter

Ryle Yard, by Maccreanor Lavington and Witherford Watson Mann, sets high standards for the future development at NWC. The quality of the flats – as well as of the common areas – feels simple and timeless, and the elevational treatments are well composed and beautifully built by RG Carter in loadbearing masonry. The inspirational corner recess is a delightful pleasure in a restrained, but sophisticated, form of urban place making

CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE | 31

RIBA EAST MENTORING SCHEME

THE RIBA EAST STUDENT MENTORING SCHEME GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH Last year, the Gazette featured an article on the successful pilot of the RIBA East Mentoring Scheme for third-year architecture students at the University of Cambridge. Delyth Turner-Harriss, of RIBA East, revisits the scheme one year on, to see how it is progressing from a mentor and mentee perspective Mentors meet mentees, November 2017 © Freeland Rees Roberts

32 | CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE

WORDS: DELYTH TURNER-HARRISS

RIBA EAST MENTORING SCHEME

Since its launch, the number of students and mentors participating in the RIBA East Student Mentoring Scheme has doubled. Students really appreciate seeing a ‘practice at work’ on live projects, while practitioners enjoy the fresh perspective undergraduates bring to their day-to-day work.

THE MENTOR’S EXPERIENCE

Jerry Lander, director at Freeland Rees Roberts Architects Freeland Rees Roberts has taken part in the RIBA East mentoring scheme for University of Cambridge architecture students for the past two years. Architects have long complained that students know nothing of practice when they arrive in architects’ offices after graduating. Students also complain – perhaps not quite so vociferously – that they do not get the chance to sample how practice works. The mentoring scheme is an excellent way to redress this. It brings third-year students into contact with practices for a few hours, so they can see what everyday life is like in an office, by sitting in on meetings, perhaps going on a site visit, or helping out with a drawing or a piece of writing. We, in turn, get to spend time with budding architects, answer their questions, and see what we do through their eyes. It can make you think the job is not half bad after all! Architecture is a great profession, but it can easily become mundane or burdensome. The students are more likely to see the fascinating side of our work, which can be very refreshing. Last year, in addition to doing a few drawing jobs in the office, we took our student to visit a prefabricator that was making a toilet pod off site. This year, we visited several church projects that were nearing completion, which gave her a good insight into the life of a conservation architect. It doesn’t take much time – it only needs to be two or three hours on each of the three visits, plus the introductory meeting at the department. In fact, the students are as busy as we are – they have to pack a lot into their eight-week terms – and they have to find time in their schedules. It’s very easy, and I can recommend it to anyone.

We get to spend time with budding architects, answer their questions, and see what we do through their eyes. It can make you think the job is not half bad after all! The students are more likely to see the fascinating side of our work, which can be very refreshing THE MENTEE’S EXPERIENCE

Alice Bell, third-year student, department of architecture at the University of Cambridge During the three half-days with my mentoring practice, Freeland Rees Roberts, I experienced a very broad range of activities, in and out of the office, giving an intense snapshot of the breadth of work undertaken. My first visit covered different activities in the office, starting with a meeting to evaluate the website. It was interesting to see how everyone’s opinions were synthesised when quick decisions had to be made. This was an excellent way of discovering the practice’s broad range of work, from projects for the Cambridge colleges to the renovation of Bawdsey Radar Transmitter Block Museum, far removed in physical location and architectural style. My second session was a site visit to a building for Cambridge City Council in the centre of the city. The building had reached a point where the structure was discernible but not yet covered by external finishes.

It was interesting to see the different types of construction and to hear about some of the problems that had been discovered during the building process. In particular, the difficulty of reconciling an old structure with modern insulation requirements while maintaining the integrity of the original building, with the interesting ceiling construction exposed. In contrast, for my final visit I was taken out of Cambridge to visit three church projects that had been completed, or were nearing completion. It was fascinating to see the individual issues that had arisen during construction work, particularly around preserving wall paintings. I also met some of the people involved in church projects, including members of the church committee and contractors. Overall, I think I gained some very valuable experiences, as well as learning some interesting facts about different conservation projects.

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CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE | 33

FIRST-YEAR PROJECT

FIRST-YEAR ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS REIMAGINE EDUCATION

Dan Wakefield, first-year student at the department of architecture, University of Cambridge, discusses the 2017-18 first-year live build project, which reimagined ways of studying Between Two Walls

WORDS: DAN WAKEFIELD

It is a rare opportunity in architectural education – especially in the first year – to have the chance to take an idea from the drawing board and realise it in the real world. By the end of our first term at Scroope Terrace, however, we had already done just that. For this year’s live build project, we worked with Queens’ College to reimagine ways of studying. As a year, we worked in six groups, each on a different site around the college. All these sites were interstitial and undervalued spaces, ripe to be considered from a new perspective. Situated at the edge of Queens’ newest court, 500M tied together two underused areas of the college. Built from 500m of timber, the installation took the form of a staircase that followed the perimeter of the small courtyard behind the student bar, winding its way up to the roof garden above. It acted as an enclosure that marked the end of an unresolved space, offering a focal point from within the bar and extending the social space out into the court. A Wave Beyond made the most of the college’s riverside location, inviting students out of the hectic Cambridge ‘bubble’ and into a more private, mindful space. The bench was built from small sections of

plywood, which were cut and laminated by hand to create a fluid, wooden structure that floated on the River Cam. The installation was designed to respond to the natural environment to unlock a new perspective within the college and offer a space for reflection and contemplation. Perhaps the most challenging site was Between Two Walls which was in a tight alleyway on the periphery of the college behind a student accommodation building. The installation was a series of wooden ladders and seating platforms that exploited the verticality of its location. The platforms were suspended from the walls using home gym equipment, usually installed in doorways on which to do pull-ups. The installation was temporary, creating a new space within the college without leaving a mark on the site. Stop and Stair sits unassumingly at the top of the Erasmus Building staircase, surrounded by rooftop views over central Cambridge. The installation comprises a wooden seat suspended from a frame of scaffolding by a collection of springs and chains. The seat was constructed from treated plywood to create a comfortable environment in which to study for an

34 | CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE

extended period of time. Grey Matter was a cantilevered desk intended to address the lack of dedicated art spaces at Queens’. Primarily built from plywood, the installation also featured several cast concrete panels that indicated its different functions: space to draw and to store personal belongings and equipment. Above the Erasmus Building, on a site that was previously inaccessible to students, Suspended Study was an installation in two parts. The first was a tented enclosure made from scaffolding mesh that was attached to the existing rooftop structure using wire and bricks and, the second was several wooden ‘viewing boxes’ that focused the eye over specific sights from the rooftop. Owing to the scale and ambition of this year’s build project, each group realised a small fragment of their final design, working to a tight budget and timeframe. We’d like to thank the members of the CAA for their support at various stages throughout the project, both as sponsors and also through attending reviews of students’ work in the department. More than just an exercise in construction, the first-term project is an important reminder for us, as students, that architectural education is not simply confined to the limits of the classroom.

FIRST-YEAR PROJECT

A Wave Beyond

Grey Matter

Suspended Study

500M

Stop and Stair CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE | 35

NEWS FROM THE EAST

With so much happening in Cambridge, it is easy to forget the exciting work our colleagues in other parts of the RIBA East region are undertaking. In this issue, we are pleased to include news from RIBA Suffolk and the Norfolk Association of Architects on how they are engaging with young and aspiring architects WORDS: BRYAN WYBROW AND ANA RUTE COSTA

THE SAVIN AWARD, A STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION RIBA Suffolk is launching a student design competition in memory of the late Mark Savin, RIBA Suffolk chairman and architect. RIBA Suffolk has established this annual competition as a lasting tribute to Savin, who was a role model for young architects and students in the region. In its initial year, the competition has been created to promote architecture

and raise awareness of the many talented architects practising in Suffolk. Each year, students will be encouraged to submit designs within the Suffolk context. It is envisaged that the social and contextual analysis in their designs will encourage those who have left the area to study architecture to return and practise in Suffolk, following completion of their courses. The competition also aims to introduce those from other regions to Suffolk and the great opportunities the county offers to practise in the eastern region. Albion Wharf, a prominent feature on

36 | CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE

NEWS FROM THE EAST

the Ipswich Waterfront, began in 2006, but was halted in 2008 after the financial crash. Since then, it has remained a concrete frame but has recently been purchased by John Howard, who has engaged contractor R G Carter to complete the scheme. With the permission of the developer and contractor, RIBA Suffolk has launched The Savin Award design competition around this project and will invite students to submit their own interpretation of the development using the existing concrete frame as a base structure for their designs. RIBA Suffolk will encourage entrants to analyse the building and its context to generate their own brief to complete the project. The organisation is actively encouraging the promotion of architects and architecture within Suffolk, and this competition has been created to boost the appeal of the profession in Suffolk. It coincides with the opening of the newly created School of Architecture at the University of Suffolk. Situated in Ipswich, the university is launching a BA architecture degree in September 2018. RIBA Suffolk is heavily involved with the university, as the course undergoes final review of its curriculum to ensure it has the best chance of eventual RIBA validation. An autumn exhibition is planned to showcase runners-up of The Savin Award, and this will be held at the university’s Waterfront Building in Ipswich. The event, on Friday 12 October 2018, will also showcase a range of work carried out by Suffolk architects, a selection of RIBA Suffolk Design Award winners from previous years, and a display of client-focused videos highlighting the value architects bring to the construction industry. In collaboration with the Ipswich Society, the event will be launched by a guest lecture and the winner of The Savin Award design competition will be announced.

ARCHISCHOOL

WHY?

To enable children to know architecture: discovery, observation, listing, locating, naming.  To enable children to understand architecture: translating, discussing, demonstrating.  To enable children to experiment: Using problem solving methods, manipulating, designing, experimenting. 

The ArchiSchool toolkit has been designed by a team of architecture students from Norwich University of the Arts (NUA) and developed in collaboration with the Norfolk Association of Architects (NAA), and is to be delivered to local schools across Norfolk. The main aim of the ArchiSchool toolkit is to raise young people’s awareness of architecture and encourage greater engagement with the built environment. Primarily a learning resource, the toolkit comprises a series of activities and workshops that can be delivered by teachers and educators. It will facilitate a project-based learning approach and address specific curriculum objectives from a range of key stages. Some of the activities are designed in a flexible way and can be adjusted according to the age group and learning outcomes. Through awareness and exploration of architecture, young people of all ages will be encouraged to understand the built environment in an integrated way and identify the advantages of good design.

FOR WHAT?

To be aware, to explore, to get inspiration and to learn from architecture.  To take part, to participate and to engage with architecture.  To improve and change the architecture and the built environment.  To research and explore ways to enable young people’s involvement in their issues affecting their everyday lives. 

This project will launch by the end of June, with hard copies of the toolkit sent to schools across Norfolk covering all key stage groups. Resources will be made available online.

PLANNING TEAM

Ana Rute Costa, Coordination NUA – toolkit and planning team Drucilla Boakye, Margaret Belle, Susanna Pacini, Tobias Grimwood-Snook – NUA students Jonathan Mawer, Coordination NAA – external relationship/relationship with the community For more information, contact a.costa@nua.ac.uk

CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE | 37

WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON?

GRAHAM HANDLEY ARCHITECTS RESTORATION OF LISTED MODERN MOVEMENT HOUSE IS ON SITE The restoration of a listed Modern Movement house, built in 1939 by a local architect with links to Cambridge University, is currently on site. Built partly with an experimental construction, the house was in a bad state of repair. However, it is largely unaltered from its original form. Its new owners chose it because of its architectural and historical significance, and wish to restore it to its former glory, while upgrading it to contemporary standards. Researching appropriate methods for the various specialist repairs has been fascinating, as was a visit to Metwin, which is extensively overhauling the original steel windows. Poor state of original steel windows

TWO INFILL CITY PROJECTS BY STUDIO 24 ARCHITECTS NEAR COMPLETION After winning the Cambridge Design and Construction Award in 2016 for Nelson Court, two subsequent infill city projects by Studio 24 Architects are almost complete. 114 Mill Road, which sits on a prominent linkage site, is set to complete in May. The project focuses on rejuvenating and injecting new life into the site, while retaining an important, established local trader. The area forms part of a wider urban renewal in this part of the city. One88 on Histon Road is also nearing completion. It comprises five two-bedroom flats, eight onebedroom flats and a private courtyard garden.

CONSTRUCTION IMMINENT ON BUTCHER BAYLEY ARCHITECTS COPPER EXTENSION ON MILL ROAD Butcher Bayley Architects (BBA) has been granted planning permission for a copper extension to a mid-terrace house in the Mill Road conservation area. The design opens up a series of small rooms in the existing house, providing a new open plan kitchen and dining room, with views into the garden. The stepped volumes of the extension are clad in pre-patinated copper, giving a visual contrast with the original house and a later dormer loft addition. New roof lights are positioned to give natural daylight in the centre of the house. Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2018.

38 | CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE

Windows after restoration by Metwin

WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON?

MOOI COMBINES PAIR OF VICTORIAN PROPERTIES MOOi has recently obtained planning approval to reconfigure, extend and combine a pair of Victorian properties into one single dwelling in the Central Conservation Area of Cambridge. With some careful internal reconfiguration, combined with a small infill extension along the boundary, the proposals stay mostly within the existing building footprint. The design seeks to rationalise and combine the rear additions into a singular modest, yet, contemporary gesture, finished in black standing seam zinc. The distinctive bold design and palette of materials seek to complement the existing building, yet remain as a subservient entity.

MOLE ARCHITECTS ADAPTS WATCH OFFICE INTO CHARITY HQ A brownfield site at the former RAF Alconbury airfield is currently being developed by Urban & Civic, as part of a larger master plan – Alconbury Weald. The listed watch office, and the landscape around it, are seen as a central feature of the initial development phase, mediating the relation between the mixed-use Enterprise Campus and the future residential neighbourhoods. The watch office is to become the headquarters of an environmental and social charity, while the connected Nissen hut will serve as a community room. Future phases will see the first floor converted to a small heritage space to tell the site’s military history.

CHADWICK DRYER CLARKE’S BOTANIC GARDEN RISING PATH ON SITE

PLANNING PERMISSION FOR PETER RAWLINGS ARCHITECTS DOWER HOUSE EXTENSION

The Rising Path is a competition-winning scheme for Cambridge University Botanic Garden. The 65 metre-long structure features an interpretation hub and a 3 metre-high elevated viewpoint, designed to inspire visitors to explore the garden’s systematic beds with fresh eyes and greater knowledge. The Rising Path appears as a natural extension of the existing gardenesque path network, growing into a simple spiral slope, both complementing the organic design of the beds and forming a pleasant promenade. The project is currently on site with Millcam Construction and will complete in summer 2018.

The project, a large 19th century house in Bartlow, involves an extension to the main house, providing an open-plan kitchen dining area and a conservatory. The proposals include: a pool; breeze house 'shrouded' with trellises and a pergola; an outdoor kitchen; games room; and a stable block. The main organising element for the outbuildings is a brick and flint garden wall that threads its way through the gently sloping site. Many of the outbuildings are attached to the wall – their “fourth wall” – which continues to enclose the tennis court.

CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS GAZETTE | 39

PRIVATE NEW BUILD COMMISSION, CAMBRIDGE

FRANKEL STATUE, NEWMARKET

TRACERY WINDOW REPLACEMENT, CLIFTON CHURCH

WYMONDHAM ABBEY, NORFOLK

Proud to have helped restore and conserve Cambridgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic stonework for over 125 years Hibbitt & Sons was established in 1890. We are one of the oldest and most trusted companies in Cambridge. Pride and quality is in everything we do. We take the ethos and traditional skills of the stonemasonry craft and combine them with cutting edge technology to enable us to carry on looking after the rich heritage of Cambridge. This in turn, allows us to bring the striking presence and beauty of stone to a wider market place more affordably. Our traditional values mean our workforce is dedicated to passing on its inherited skills to the next generation of crafts people. Hibbitt Masonry, 126-128 Victoria Road, Cambridge CB4 3DZ Tel: 01223 354 556 info@hibbittmasonry.co.uk | www.hibbittmasonry.co.uk