L I D D O N H O U S E , D U R H A M , D H 1 1 T W

NEWSLETTER

S U M M E R 2 0 1 9

S T U D I O N E W S

h o w a r t h l i t c h f i e l d . c o m

A N I N T E R V I E W W I T H J O N A T H A N Y A T E SM A N A G I N G D I R E C T O R

Introduction

What an exciting year it has been so far for HL!

On the 15th February 2019, we relocated from 4 Old Elvet, in the centre of Durham, to a new Studio at Belmont Business Park.

Our fantastic new office, is spacious and modern and easily accessible, plus we

have our very own car park, something that our staff and the clients who regularly visit us are really happy about.

2019 gets even better as it’s our 40 Year Anniversary!

A N E W S T U D I O A S W E C E L E B R AT E O U R 4 0 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y !

When did you join Howarth Litchfield Partnership?I joined Howarth Litchfield in 1990, as a Post-Graduate Architectural Assistant. What was your role then and can you remember the first project you worked on?The first project I worked on which I could call my own was the addition of the nursery school to West Auckland Primary School. I can still remember preparing all the detailed drawings in ink on tracing paper.Where did you train and how did you come to work with HLP?I completed my architectural studies at the School of Architecture, Newcastle University between 1984 and 1990 - an amazing experience with many memorable moments. The studio friendships are embedded, and we still keep in touch via FB. There is even talk of a class reunion 30 years later meeting at “The World-Famous Trent House” - well, where else would you go?Since you joined, how do you think the world of architecture and the built environment has changed?The architecture world has changed massively. In the 90’s the architect was very much at the head of the team and designed and project managed most elements of a project including the planning process; private sector planning consultant’s and CDM didn’t exist. The complexity of the design process had grown exponentially. Project Managers were growing in prevalence but acting only on the largest projects. Drawing boards were standard and the first early versions of AutoCAD were being trialled by the larger practices - brave new world. Fees were also significantly higher. Many contracts were traditional and confrontational. Far more is delivered by collaboration and design and build procurement.How else has the market changed since you began working at HLP?

Following on from CAD, BIM has had a positive impact on HL and the architectural and interior design world. The art of communication is greatly assisted by 3D modelling and CGI renderings . Particularly for viewers who do not necessarily read plans. We have invested in VR and can walk stakeholders through the building environment. BIM demands full commitment and collaboration and greatly assists the delivery of the larger and more complex projects. I am a still a great advocate of hand drawings as an essential skill for any designer. There is a strong connection between the creative mind and hand which creates a natural sense of space and proportion. It’s great to see architecture schools like Newcastle encouraging hand drawing.You are fortunate that as a practice, you have cast the net further afield than the North East for your work - how do you compare attitudes to design here, and in other areas where you are working?We have always secured projects out of the region, currently from Aberdeen to Southampton. We find client expectations are high across all sectors across the UK. People generally want great design delivered with more “bang for their buck”.You have moved into new offices only a few months ago, how do you see the future from this new vantage point and how do you see the practice developing in the years ahead?The move from the Old Elvet to our own building at Belmont has revitalised everyone in the business. We have been here 6 months now and have never looked back. We see a bright future and envisage HL growing from strength to strength in our capability. We have some exciting projects to take forward and everyone who we have shown around our new home gets it; who we are and most importantly where we are going.

Win a bottle of bubbly - enter our competition on the back page

2 3

We hope you enjoy reading the first of many regular newsletters.

If there is any project or discipline you would like to know more about, please get in contact.

C O M P L E T E D P R O J E C T S

h o w a r t h l i t c h f i e l d . c o m

Chorley Council’s innovative £8.4m Strawberry Fields Digital Hub has been handed over boasting 40,000ft2 of state of the art facilities with high speed broadband connectivity and on site digital business support.

The project was part funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and provides accommodation over three floors with hot desking, micro pods,

flexible desks alongside more traditional office suites, allowing SMEs to work in collaboration alongside each other in an innovative, supportive and vibrant environment.

Howarth Litchfield took the project from pre-planning through to completion, providing the RIBA 4 tender construction package, then providing client support on site through to completion.

Images Credit: Chorley Council

S T R A W B E R R Y F I E L D S B U S I N E S S H U B C H O R L E Y

N AT I O N A L C E N T R E F O R H E A LT H C A R E P H O T O N I C S

National Centre for Healthcare Photonics at NETPark in Sedgefield was recently handed over to the Centre for Process Innovation.

Howarth Litchfield are delighted to have been Lead Consultant, Architects, Interior Designers and Principal Designers in the delivery of the National Centre for Healthcare Photonics for the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), this exciting facility at NETpark in County Durham will lead the way in the use of light to diagnose and treat medical conditions. HL utilised their multi-disciplinary approach to work alongside CPI to inform the design, ensuring flexibility in terms of layout and service capability in this innovative and fast moving sector.

It was a pleasure working with Centre for Process Innovation Limited and Surgo Construction Limited.

A new build house completed in Northumberland for a Private Client. The 600m sq house and Garage complex consisted of Lakeland stone and slate roofs in a modern re interpretation of a farmhouse set in a beautiful woodland plot.

The challenging site levels and landscape setting add to the dramatic form of the house as it sits high in the site looking over the views to the south.

We hope our client enjoys the house after all the work he has put into completing the project.

4 A C R E S

54

h o w a r t h l i t c h f i e l d . c o m

N E W Q U A Y & F I L E Y H O L I D A Y PA R K S

N E V I L L E H A L L N E W C A S T L E

HL is currently developing a portfolio of work in the leisure and holiday sector with works ongoing in Newquay and Filey, with other sites in early feasibility stages.Newquay will boast 143 modular off-site lodges in the phase 1 development, with three different modular manufacturers. Second phase proposals will involve the delivery of a further 200 lodges, with leisure

facilities, wedding barns and other amenity spaces, over a two to three year rolling programme.Filey is a smaller development of circa 75 lodges extending the recently completed Bay resort for Aria Resorts.Further holiday resorts developments are currently in their infancy and further details will follow in due course.

The Grade II* listed building in Newcastle, next to the Railway Station is the renovation and upgrade of the building for the Common Room of the North. The charity is seeking to create an exciting building to encourage young entrepreneurs and Engineers .

The practice has been working with Gardiner & Theobold to develop a sustainable restoration of the Heritage building. The project is currently being tendered, with the project programmed for an Autumn commencement on site .

R G S L I B R A R Y

The new Library for the Royal Grammar School is beginning to move towards completion in the Summer. The scaffolding has just come down and Robertson’s are working hard on the interior spaces in the building. A fabulous suite of art rooms , new library and Agora lecture area make up the accommodation on the site. The building has replaced the 1930s swimming pool on the corner site.

Once open, the school will have completed its latest phase in the masterplan to develop their facilities .

P L A N N I N G D E S I G N S TAG E S

D E R E S T R E E T H O M E S

We have secured planning permission for Dere Street Homes, for a new development of 74 family homes, which includes 11 new older peoples bungalows. The site is located on the edge of the current settlement of Langley Park, in a greenfield

location, therefore it has been a great win for the client and our team.

Further housing developments are currently being looked at to strengthen our residential offer and build upon our current residential portfolio.

O N G O I N G P R O J E C T S

6 7

h o w a r t h l i t c h f i e l d . c o m

L O C A L C H U R C H E S

We are currently working on a planning application for alterations and extensions to Bethany Memorial Independent Methodist Church at Grindon in Sunderland. The works consist of the demolition of the existing entrance hall and toilet lean to block, stripping out the existing partitions, and internal remodelling, forming a new worship hall and ancillary facilities, with a central café/hall connecting new and existing parts of the building. The existing building will accommodate a large domestic kitchen for events catering and two multi-functional halls with a new minister office, and new improved entrance. The new facilities will provide the church with much greater

flexibility to host a wide variety of events and social groups, to reinforce its position as an integral part of the local community. This will also help maximize community links to existing schools, care homes, nurseries, etc.As part of this project we have utilised BIM in the development of the design with newly acquired VR equipment used to give the client a full understanding of the project before they sign off the proposals for planning. This has allowed them to walk through the virtual proposal with all the proposed finishes, lighting etc. to get a true feel of the spaces. This will be further developed when the interior design elements are introduced in greater detail.

AWA R D S

AWA R D W I N N I N G & S H O R T L I S T E D D E S I G N S T H R E E Y E A R S R U N N I N G !

Armstrong Building, Newcastle University - RIBA 2019 Shortlisted for Building Conservation, RICS 2018 Highly Commended for Building Conservation

The Boiler House, Newcastle University - RICS 2018 WINNER for Building Conservation

Acklam Hall, RICS 2017 Shortlisted for Tourism & Leisure

8 9

h o w a r t h l i t c h f i e l d . c o m

A N D F I N A L LY, J U S T F O R F U N . . . . .

How would you like to get your hands on a bottle of bubbly?

Just find where Neil Turner is hiding in the picture below, mark him with a circle and send your entry back to: nchapman@hlpuk.com.The winner will be drawn on Friday 27th September 2019.

10