Interview: Christopher Stanley

Interview with Architect & Planning expert Christopher Stanley

Christopher Stanley Architecture Christopher Stanley Architecture & Planning was started in 1999 by Justin Dowling and has grown over the last 22 years into a well established and respected Architectural & Design Consultancy. The practice is now jointly owned and run by Justin Dowling and Neil Roberts who have combined experience of over 50 years in the Design & Construction Industry We specialise in the bespoke Design of Homes, Renovations and extensions in and around the Cotswolds and South West, as well as working with commercial contractors on public and private sector buildings. We have worked in some stunning locations to deliver exceptional homes such as Ashmoon House and Cherry Lakes Estate in South Cerney, right through to large domestic and commercial extensions in and around Gloucestershire. The Practice is on the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technicians (CIAT) register and both Neil and Justin are currently working towards full Chartership.

Clients bearing on process Every Client is individual and the requirement of their projects are quite often very different, depending on their lifestyle and personality . We are a client focused practice, so as we approach each and every project, our priority is to help shape the clients vision and deliver a finished project that exceeds their expectations.

What are the most popular requests What’s hot right now? Living space! Contemporary structures with lots of light, open-plan glazed entertaining space, luxury bathrooms and that luxury hotel feel at home.

Where do you see Architects in the UK now compared to Europe? The UK as a whole has a vast array of Architects and Architectural Design Practices that deliver some stunning projects, from ground breaking eco houses to cutting edge architectural design. However, the biggest problem most practices face in the UK is the planning system. Planning can be very complicated and depending on area, local policy and vernacular, it can be difficult and time consuming to get approval for twenty first century design with many local authorities reluctant to progress them, whilst other parts of the system simply allow basic and poor design to slip though easily.

Is there a recent project that we were particularly proud of? Cherry lakes was one of our favourites. It’s design is very traditional and in tune with the stunning lakeside setting. Additionally, we were also very pleased with the very recent approvals for 7 Charnwood Close and 5 Melbourne Close in Cheltenham which are much more contemporary and completely redefine the existing building.