Bristol International Student Centre: Complete

gcp has just completed a much-needed facelift to the Bristol International Student Centre, a charity that offers accommodation for international students neighbouring Bristol University.

Improvements were needed to maintain the Centre’s HMO licence. gcp reconfigured internal spaces to meet current standards and specified upgrades to ensure safe escape routes from the first floor bedrooms, including lining the existing ceiling to provide better acoustics and fire protection. The work has resulted in increased flexibility for BISC and privacy for the residents.

We are incredibly proud of the outcome, having given the building a new lease of life and assisted a fantastic charity in offering the best possible accommodation to provide a home away from home for international students.

We worked closely with contractor Creative Construction and were incredibly impressed by their attention to detail and ability to tackle unexpected issues arising on site.

Tavistock Road by Tom Hubbard →

It was fantastic to see the progress made down on site at Tavistock road last week. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside Bristol Together who employ recently released prisoners and train them up ready for a career in the construction industry. They have done a great job getting a very complicated design out of the ground and looking so good. The site is aligning to two existing terraces at different angles, creating a complicated geometry and a roof with more angles than a math teachers chalk board. The scheme is to create 12 affordable rented apartments in Knowle West, a deprived area of Bristol with a housing shortage.

We can’t wait to see the finished product.

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Futurebuild 2022 account by Tom Hubbard

I got stuck in the demonstration area for quite a chunk of the day where there was a talk on COB building, lime plaster/render, straw bale building. Although I had previously seen these methods of construction as self-build small scale projects I was surprised to discover they are being more commonly used for larger commercial scale projects with fantastic environmental impact. They reduce the need for membranes and have a net zero carbon impact so something we might see more of in the future.

The COB walls can achieve building regs at a certain thickness (Link to website attached). There is also now a block product being produced by H.G.Matthews https://www.hgmatthews.com/ called a Strock which is structural block of clay and straw which can be used for internal load bearing walls up to 3 storeys and has a very low embodied energy and as such seems like a great alternative to concrete blocks.

For more info and details for COB buildings and details you can find info here http://www.cobbauge.eu/en/

I went to MPA The concrete Centre: Optimising the use of concrete which discussed the consideration of concrete frame buildings and their potential change of use in the future and ensuring that the design for the concrete frame takes this into account in the design stage. I.e should we be designing a residential block to be changed to an office in the future? A conversation to be having with the structural engineer and client at the design stage to ensure buildings are dynamic and can adapt to a changing world.

My main takeaway of the day. We have essentially come back round to the idea that natural materials we have been building with since the bronze age are actually the best. Timber, lime, clay, earth, straw are all sustainable, clean and don’t leech nasty chemicals into the spaces we work, live and learn in.

It is all in the detail.

The brickwork on Mi-Space’s Oakfield development is amazing. Really attractive bricks have been specified, and bond patterns used that showcase them at their best. There is Flemish bond between paired front doors with the alternating header and stretcher bricks in contrasting colours. The projecting brick detail also features contrasting bricks, which with the sunshine and shadow looks really spectacular. Visitors to the development will also notice that prominent corner plots feature a basket weave pattern which is an eye-catching but quite subtle detail.

gcp have prepared brick setting out details to assist Mi-Space in achieving these really great results.

www.oakfieldswindon.co.uk.

Phase 1 at Oakfield development making great progress.

Fantastic progress is being made on site where Mi-Space are constructing the Oakfield development in Swindon for Nationwide Building Society. Phase 1 will see the completion of 44 houses, 12 walk-up apartments and the Hub building.

The houses and walk-ups are a mix of open market and affordable units. They are traditional masonry cavity construction of two and three storeys in height, and progress ranges from completion of ground floor slab to installation of first floor joists.

The Hub has a community room on the ground floor and 18 intergenerational apartments, for local affordable housing provider GreenSquareAccord. Construction of the 4 storey concrete frame is now at roof level.

www.oakfieldswindon.co.uk.

The Hub building with phase 1 houses in the foreground.

From the roof of the Hub building, phase 1 houses can be seen to the right with phase 3 to the left and phase 2 in the distance.

Special moment for Lawrence Weston as planning submitted for Ambition House, a much needed Community Hub.

gcp is delighted to have submitted a full planning application to Bristol City Council for Ambition Lawrence Weston’s new community hub in the heart of Lawrence Weston.

This will create a fantastic facility so desperately needed for the community of Lawrence Weston providing multi-purpose halls, meeting rooms, workshops,  a community led interactive library and much more.

We have been working with Ambition Lawrence Weston for several years now and have had various setbacks along the way, but we are proud of the proposed scheme and the determination of the team.

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Ambition House, Lawrence Weston, Bristol.

Care home Blog, a personal account by Tom Hubbard

I started working with gcp in August 2019. One of the first projects that hit my desk was St Phillips and St James care home. We have a history of working for this care home and in 2013 we worked with them to create an extension to adjoin two existing buildings creating additional bedroom space, circulation space and lift to make the building work better for the residents.

As the care home is set across three existing terraced houses there are some odd level differences leading to staff having to go up and down sets of stairs to access different areas of the building on the same floors. To address this issue, we worked closely with the care home to design out the need to use these stairs by combining two bedrooms into one bedroom and incorporating a new by-pass access corridor.

Within the new bedroom we have worked closely with the care home to ensure the specification of the shower room and WC are designed with the elderly residents and care staff in mind. This includes grab rails to WC, shower controls outside of the shower cubicle, level access into the shower etc.

During the construction stage of this project the dreaded COVID-19 hit, and works were temporarily halted. Fortunately, we were able to create a solution to reduce the need for SW Wren building services to access the project through the care home. All access to the area was through the external scaffold tower and the existing bedroom doors were maintained and sealed effectively isolating the new bedroom and corridor from the rest of the care home. This allowed the majority of works to be carried out in isolation. Close contact and communication with the care home was maintained when larger items were required to be brought through the building.

Despite the challenges COVID-19 presented us and difficulties in obtaining materials the project was successfully completed in late 2020 and the client was very satisfied with the end result.

We are proud of the outcome and look forward to working with the care home in the future to help improve the experience of the elderly residents, enjoying a functional and comfortable building. 

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2020 Favourites: Ambition House, Lawrence Weston

“I am proud to have been involved in this project as this is a community driven building, desperately needed in this active but underfunded area of Bristol.  This has been in the making for several years and has had many challenges along the way. I am hopeful that the latest scheme being developed with the client, Ambition Lawrence Weston, will be the final design and we can get this building out the ground to provide a well-deserved functional community hub for future generations to enjoy. Public consultation is now well under way with responses due back by 8 December”

— Tom Hubbard, gcp

We asked everyone in the office to name their favourite project of 2020. Tom’s favourite is the new community centre at Lawrence Weston Ambition Lawrence Weston.

Meet the Team: Tom H

Tom Hubbard joined gcp last summer as an architectural technologist experienced in housing, leisure, education, care, refurbishment, and healthcare projects for a range of clients including local authorities, housing and commercial developers.

For over 10 years Tom has been driven by an interest in how buildings are put together and delivering the best technical solutions to provide a high quality outcome for his clients.

Tom has worked for several architecture practices, as well as pursuing other interests which led him to live and work in China teaching English for a year and a half.

Tom has experience working from design conception and planning all the way through to completion and enjoys each stage for its own challenges and processes. He has had experience in a range of architectural practices throughout his career and is comfortable working from small extensions all the way through to large commercial projects.

Since joining gcp, Tom has been involved in producing design and technical information for a community hub in Bristol and has joined teams working on large residential schemes.

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Hi Tom. As it’s your 1-year anniversary at gcp, here are a few questions so we can get to know you a little better. You have an interesting history with gcp, could you tell us a little about that and how it has evolved over the years?

My first ever job in architecture was with gcp, which I started in my first year of Uni back in 2006. I worked one and a half days a week and holidays and it is probably the reason I am still in architecture to this day (curse you all).

Jeremy very kindly offered me this as I mentioned my strong tea making abilities which I am still known for now. (Been a very sad time only making tea for myself every 2 minutes during lockdown).

Jumping forwards 13 years and here I am back at gcp.

Firstly, I was surprised to see just how many faces I still recognised which I think is testament to what a great company gcp are to work for and have been for a long time. With that being said there are good amount of new, young and very talented architects here now and I feel gcp has a very strong team with a fantastic range of experience which I have already learnt so much from.

Personally, when I first started with gcp all those years ago I wasn’t much more than a glorified paper folder and teas maid. I now have the experience and knowledge to hopefully be a worthy member of the team and strive for the excellence expected of me from gcp.

So far, my favourite project I have worked on was a doctors surgery and community hub. Unfortunately, this project didn’t come to fruition but I hope more like this come up in the future.

gcp’s residential sector work and experience is also fantastic and I love being part of building future family homes knowing my work really contributes so positively to our society.

Quite a trip down memory lane! I was brand new back then but am one of those old faces now! So, what’s been the best moment at gcp for you in the last year?

Winning bronze with my team at Go-karting.

And what are you looking forward to in the next one?

I want to become chartered with CIAT this year. The lockdown has taken the wind out of my sails but I hope to achieve this by the end of summer.

Let’s hope the pandemic doesn’t put you behind on that achievement. It’s been a wild and busy few months.

What do you like to do in your spare time, Tom?

Painting, hiking, wild camping, and Kayaking.

And one last thing – always amazes me – tell us something we might not know about you?

I can speak a little German and Madarin.

And there you have it folks! Thanks for your time Tom, hopefully it won’t be too long until you’re making me tea again.

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Keep an eye on our blog for more staff interviews over the coming weeks, the summer is a popular time to join our team!

If you’ve been following us for a while you might also remember that September is the company’s own birthday. We have some exciting news to announce during our own anniversary month …

gcp appointed to deliver 239 quality sustainable homes in Swindon.

gcp are thrilled to be part of the team delivering Nationwide’s major new housing scheme in Swindon. The not for profit development will deliver 239 quality sustainable homes. The development has been designed as an intergenerational community with a mix of houses and flats, a community room, shared gardens, green spaces and links to the existing neighbourhood. 30% of the properties will be affordable. gcp are working for contractor Mi-Space, who started on site in April 2020. The first homes will be available to view in autumn 2021.

CGIs credit to PicturePlane, Metropolitan Workshop and PRP

Please take a look at the development website www.oakfieldswindon.co.uk for more information.