Postcards from Hong Kong and New Zealand

One of the directors of gcp Chartered Architects, Jonathan Platt, took a period of sabbatical leave in early 2011 to travel to Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. He promised some postcards, and here are some that he sent, with the last one being from New Zealand. Jonathan is now back in the office - with many memories!

"Hi there, Still moving south, travelling through Fiordland and yes at every bend in the road there are dramatic vistas like this. Currently staying in Te Anau, 4hr south of Wanaha, preparing for a long 3/4 day walk staying in basic campsites / simple sleeping shelters. Should be spectacular if the weather holds, the track gets in excess of 8000mm of rain pa. After that heading further south to Bluff before making way up to Christchurch. Countryside amazing, distances huge, people really friendly, nothing rushed, but many things 10-20 years behind UK - just an observation, not criticism. All the best and see you in March. Jono & Terri."

Previous to that, we had this update: :

"Hi. Have made it to the bottom of North Island NZ, having walked through volcanic landscape and experienced earth quake tremors in Napier, to be followed by tour of Hawkes Bay vine yards. Off to South Island next after 3 days in Wellington. All the best & see you in March."

And earlier in January, we received this card from Hong Kong:

"Hi.
Made it.
Well HK is a mad & fantastic place. It's frenetic with vast contrasts between cultures. China is now very dominant with only [sic] few remmants of British Empire - all very strange that empire thing! See you soon. Jono."

Making a splash at Soundwell Swimming Baths

gcp are delighted to announce that Phase 1: The pool at Kingswood Leisure Centre on the edge of Bristol is now complete and open for swimming! Working locally has always been really important to gcp, so adding the refurbishment of this well used centre to our portfolio of leisure projects is a real triumph.

The design solution developed by gcp director Jeremy Pilling, working along with local contractors ISG, Circadian Trust and South Gloucestershire Council focused the main work on reducing running costs and providing facilities for the 21st century. Achieved largely through upgrading all aspects of the building fabric and creating a new 25m community competition pool and learner pool by dividing the original 33 1/3 meter pool the formal opening is awaited by local residents.

To be ultimately powered by means of a new biomass boiler, this leisure centre has really come a long way since its original opening in 1961. We expect Phase 2, that includes a state of the art well-equipped fitness suite, to be complete in the autumn, with the centre fully refurbished and re-opened by Christmas.

At a recent outing, the pool at Kingswood Leisure Centre, still affectionately referred to by many as Soundwell Swimming Baths, was given an impressive 9/10 by our senior technician's son - that's more than a recommendation we like to think!

For more information on how to reduce the energy consumption of your local sports facilities please call Jeremy Pilling or Jonathan Platt at gcp on 0117 932 8888.

Bristol double award winner for gcp Chartered Architects

gcp Chartered Architects have designed another award winning building in central Bristol. Ducrow Court, a development for Knightstone Housing Association, has been awarded a Silver Standard Building for Life. The development is in the St Paul's area of Bristol and just a few minutes walk from the popular and culturally vibrant Stokes Croft area of the city.

The Building for Life award ceremony took place in November 2010, and was hosted by designer and chair of Building for Life Wayne Hemingway MBE.

Fifty-five schemes were shortlisted for a Building for Life standard and an independent judging panel then selected outstanding schemes to receive a Building for Life award. Shortlisted developments varied from small self-build community schemes to large developer schemes. The standard of the shortlisted schemes was very high making 2010 "a vintage year for housing design" in the words of Wayne Hemingway.

The housing led mixed use development of the 69 new homes including 60 shared ownership properties and eight small scale studios / workspace offers affordable living and working within this sustainable area of Bristol.

The judging panel said "Knightstone takes the top prize for their willingness to take the risk and commit to helping change the face of St Paul's in Bristol. Ducrow Court offers really good quality housing at a very affordable price."

Building for Life is a partnership between several national agencies. It is now led by the Design Council with support from the Home Builders Federation and Design for Homes. The Building for Life reward developers that demonstrate a commitment to high design standards and sustainable development.

In addition to the Building for Life award Ducrow Court has received the Gold Award for 'Best Shared Ownership Development' in the 2010 What House? annual celebration. These awards were presented by comedian Jimmy Carr in November 2010 and are considered the Oscars of the new house building industry.

Aspirations of an Anaerobic-Digester

Already working the Dorset area, curiosity was raised when gcp Chartered Architects heard about the impressive anaerobic-digestion AD plant at the family run BV Dairy on the outskirts of Shaftesbury. gcp are interested in all things environmental and in particular, renewable technologies and reducing environmental impact through design and this AD installation is at the forefront of current innovation.

The dairy utilises waste streams from its soft cheese production to 'feed' the anaerobic-digestion-plant to turn waste into energy. This has greatly reduced their mains electric consumption not only achieving the objective of a reduced carbon footprint, but of saving the dairy considerable sums of money.

The AD plant, built by Clearfleau Ltd with funding through the government's WRAP programme, was intentionally built oversized so that the BV Dairy could fulfil their long-term expansion plans, whilst reducing their overall energy consumption. It was gcp's initial curiosity that led to an appointment, together with industry leading consultants Hoare Lea and Davis Langdon, to produce a detailed feasibility study coordinated by gcp director Jonathan Platt for the development of the site in line with BV's long-term plans.

For more information on the benefits of anaerobic digestion for food producers or for a chat about how we can integrate renewable energy in to your development plans, contact Jonathan Platt at gcp on 01179 328 888.

gcp go Off-Grid

Not one to let festival season pass us by, two directors at gcp donned their wellies and traipsed over to Off-Grid, Sunrise Festival's pioneering, younger sibling, to explore the ways in which we can all live with a lighter footprint.

In-between live music, practical workshops and a local, organic lunch, gcp directors Jonathan Platt and Colin Powell presented seminars to other attendees, lending a hand to the festival's mission to develop and explore sustainable development techniques and technologies.

Speaking in two different venues, Jonathan spoke about submitting and gaining planning approvals for low impact, off grid developments in sensitive rural locations, whilst newly Certified PassivHaus Designer Colin presented on the principles around low energy PassivHaus design. Talks by all speakers were delivered in extreme low energy buildings, agricultural barns!

The Off-Grid's ethos of community living, low environmental impact and creativity was reflected in all aspects of the festival. Colin Powell, reflecting at the end of a long day over a pint of local cider said "the opportunity to have such an intimate environment in which to share skills, trade knowledge, impart wisdom and make a difference is really important". gcp will be back next year for some more reflection.

Another first for gcp

gcp have been at the forefront of service innovation for many years and now we are providing PassivHaus design services, the leading global extreme low energy design standard. gcpConsulting director Colin Powell become the only architect in the West of England region to pass the challenging German PassivHaus examination.

Developed in Germany, PassivHaus is the world leading low energy, low carbon design standard with over 15,000 houses, schools, offices and premises built and performing to standard worldwide. Currently in the UK there are only thirteen certified PassivHaus projects and gcp want to lead the drive to double that number over the next year.

Colin is attending the UK PassivHaus Conference on 24th October to share experience with others and get an update on the latest development in low energy building design from around the world.

PassivHaus adds to the suit of sustainable design services available from gcp Consulting that includes BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes design advice and assessments.
For an overview on PassivHaus and how it could help reduce the energy bills of your home, place of work or any other building please call Colin Powell on 0117 932 8888.