our free time: baking

A number of keen bakers have emerged during lockdown ! Check out our efforts below. Bake off 2021 anyone?

our free time: DIY

We’ve been keeping ourselves busy during lockdown by taking on new projects at home. There are lots of handy DIY types amongst us it turns out!

our free time: puzzles

I’m being inundated with pictures of what my colleagues are getting up to when they aren’t working on gcp projects. Here is a collection of our puzzles … this has sparked some debate about the “correct” way to complete them. I vote that you always start with the edges, what do you think?

#homeworking: the evolution of a desk

You might have seen this already, over on Instagram, but for those who aren’t currently following us (WHY NOT?) here is the evolution of Matt’s home working space.

Matt: So I started the setup with what you’ve already seen [on socials]. It was great - except for the fact that there wasn’t a desk … after four weeks of this I’ve realised it’s no good for my back / neck so …

Matt: I decided to replicate my sit-stand desk … only to realise that ideal ironing height is NOT the same as ideal working height!

Matt: Then things went downhill rapidly as I thought “the only way to improve this ironing board situation is with a ladder”. Actually the height now was pretty good, but the downside of a ladder is it has massive holes in it. Time for a rethink …

Matt: luckily we have been donated an old desk, which when coupled with some Lego monitor stands has created a much better work space!

#homeworking #stayhomestaysafe

WFH Interview: Matt

As you know from previous posts, gcp continues to be fully operational and are here to assist you. In line with government guidelines we are working from home to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, our clients and the communities we serve.

Working from home is a new experience for many of us, here are Matt’s thoughts on this new situation.

What’s something challenging about working from home? I tend to get engrossed in work and with few distractions at home I often forget to get up and move about. My back is not happy with me.

What do you like about working from home? Being able to listen to music. I’ve quickly exhausted my vinyl collection so I have set up a collaborative Spotify playlist with some friends so we can listen to each others favourites.

What do you miss about being in the office? I definitely miss the atmosphere in the office and having people to chat to. Even just some background noise, it’s too quiet here (you can tell I don’t have kids!)

The view looks a bit different right now, here is Matt’s desk-at-home.

WFH Interview: James

As you know from previous posts, gcp continues to be fully operational and are here to assist you. In line with government guidelines we are working from home to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, our clients and the communities we serve.

Working from home is a new experience for many of us, here are James’s thoughts on this new situation.

What’s something challenging about working from home? Trying to entertain our dog, Ralph, he never stops whining when we are around! Distractions of tidying the house too, although the dishes are always washed, which is nice.

What do you like about working from home? I enjoy the flexible nature of it, including listening to music whilst I work - maybe I’ll bring some into the office … you never know! Also the milk frother at home is working overtime …

What do you miss about being in the office? Other people! Day-to-day interaction and the social aspect of the office I miss for sure … and Owen’s coffees!

The view looks a bit different right now, here is James’s desk-at-home.

WFH Interview: Esther

As you know from previous posts, gcp continues to be fully operational and are here to assist you. In line with government guidelines we are working from home to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, our clients and the communities we serve.

Working from home is a new experience for many of us, here are Esther’s thoughts on this new situation.

What’s something challenging about working from home? I can honestly say my cats are as distracting as children! If they aren’t climbing on my shoulder for attention then they are sitting in front of my screen or on my keyboard. I have gotten quite good at working one-handed as one has decided to start sleeping in my arms!

What do you like about working from home? Everyone in the office knows how much I like my PJs and onesies so I have loved being able to work in clothes I feel most comfortable in … I do get dressed properly for conference calls though!

It’s nice to break up my day by cooking at lunchtime - allows me to properly give my brain a rest.

I have a window that is nice to look out of.

What do you miss about being in the office? Firstly I miss my walk to the office in the morning. It’s only 20 minutes but it’s along the Bristol to Bath cycle path & it wakes me up. I get to see the sunrise if I’m early enough & I just felt like it started my day right.

Most importantly, I miss the constant & easy communication in the office from serious, informative conversations about work to just general chit chat about the latest TV series.

Thanks to Microsoft Teams we can still communicate as an office, which is important, but it’s not quite as easy as just talking the ear off the person next to you (sorry Matt, realised how much I must do this now I can’t do it every day!)

The view looks a bit different right now, here is Esther’s desk-at-home.

WFH Interview: Natalie

As you know from previous posts, gcp continues to be fully operational and are here to assist you. In line with government guidelines we are working from home to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, our clients and the communities we serve.

Working from home is a new experience for many of us, here are Natalie’s thoughts on this new situation.

What’s something challenging about working from home? Balancing mum-work-Natalie life is always challenging but it’s much more difficult when we are all together at home. They don’t understand that I can’t always stop to give cuddles … and when I (almost always) do, it can be hard to refocus on work!

What do you like about working from home? The change of pace has been excellent for my creativity. I feel much more mindful in my work right now. It’s nice not rushing everyone out of the door on a morning. Being able to take time to have a family lunch or do a puzzle together is really lovely.

What do you miss about being in the office? Its the team for me. I MISS YOU HORRIBLE LOT. I am a chatterbox (which I’m sure lots of people don’t miss!) and I genuinely miss chatting away to the gcp team.

The view looks a bit different right now, here is Natalie’s desk-at-home.

WFH Interview: Olia

As you know from previous posts, gcp continues to be fully operational and are here to assist you. In line with government guidelines we are working from home to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, our clients and the communities we serve.

Working from home is a new experience for many of us, here are Olia’s thoughts on this new situation.

What’s something challenging about working from home? Working in isolation can be challenging! We are so lucky we can make use of the available technology & stay connected!

What do you like about working from home? I like the fact that I have gained 1.5 hours a day, by not needing to commute.

What do you miss about being in the office? My colleagues. I miss being surrounded by lovely people who are always willing to help, answer questions, banter & share cake with me!

The view looks a bit different right now, here is Olia’s desk-at-home.

Homeworking: Distractions

We’ve mused about the benefits of working from home - keep an eye on the blog for some home-desk-interviews, but thought it would be fun to post pictures of those things distracting us from work whilst at home. The number 1 culprit is our new “colleagues”.

WFH Diary: Siobhan

WFH Log: Day 10

Mood: Slightly peckish.

Attire: Casual dress and slippers, buts its ok because I’m wearing a work cardigan AND did my makeup today.

Thoughts: Very much aware that I am the newbie working in the office of a regular WFH-er and 2 dogs. Even the slightest breath or shuffle seems to mean that it’s time to go for walkies or to eat or to belly tickle (all requirements of my new dog colleagues not partner!)

To do list: Amendment prep for drawing issue next week, check supplier packs, plant cabbage seeds and start consumption of easter egg!

 #workfromhome #stayhomestaysafe

Working from Home – Is this the future?

New Director Jon Briscoe tackles the current reality of working from home & ponders the future

Working from Home - Is this the future?

During these extraordinary times we have all had to find new ways of working. For those of us lucky enough to be doing this from the safety of our own homes this can be working from the coffee table, the kitchen table, sitting on the end of the bed, taking over the children’s playroom or perhaps in the garden. I know this because video meetings have given us all an unexpected glimpse in the home lives of not just our colleagues but clients as well. As for my ‘home office’, its an old camping table propped up on bean bags to be at a useable height – the big Swedish furniture company doesn’t deliver my desk for another 19 days (not that I’m counting!).

Back to those video meetings – they’re working much better than we all thought aren’t they. And they have a number of advantages. Firstly, you can carry on with other work in the background which is an excellent boost in productivity. Secondly, if you get bored you can always go and do something else. If you turn off the camera no-one else knows that you are now eating a big slice of cake – you can’t do that when you are all meeting around a table.

And what about that rush to buy wine and beer before we went into lockdown? I don’t know about other people, but our office only consumes alcohol at work on Christmas Eve. Somehow the same rules don’t apply when you are working from home in your pyjamas. Whose going to know that you’re enjoying a glass of wine while still on the clock? Just remember to keep the camera off during those meetings!

The biggest adjustment has been finding a work routine - I’ve settled on: get up, eat, work, eat, work, eat, watch tv, sleep, and repeat. And now that we have the technical capability to work from home there’s the opportunity to do this 7 days a week!

When life returns to normal, will this become my new normal? No – I’ll be unlocking the office door quicker than you can say ‘social distancing’.

#homeworking

gcp continues to be fully operational, with staff working remotely. Here’s a sneak peak into our #homeoffice setups. We are progressing current projects & have even had a few interesting new opportunities this week.

#stayhomestaysafe #architectsbristol #homeworking #homeworkingspace

We're working remotely

Due to developing circumstances the gcp Chartered Architects Warmley office will be closed for the foreseeable future.  All staff will continue to work full time but remotely.  Please contact gcp by using a personal contact or the mail@gcparch.co.uk e mail address in the first instance.  If you have not got a personal contact but would like a call back from a member of the team please call the office number 0117 9676286 and follow the instructions in the answerphone message.

COVID-19

In response to the developing circumstances surrounding COVID-19, gcp has made some temporary changes to working practices. 

We continue to be fully operational and our office remains open. However, we have a responsibility to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, our clients and the communities we serve, whilst helping to slow the wider spread of the virus. 

During this period of uncertainty, we’re here to assist you. You will continue to receive the collaboration and outputs you need from gcp to support your projects and we are committed to ensure that our customers can access our usual high levels of service. Our teams remain fully available for you via all the usual channels – phone, email and online through Microsoft Teams.

From Monday 9 March, all our employees were given the option of working from home and all our technical staff have full remote working capability and full access to gcp systems.  

Following Government advice on Monday 16 March some of our colleagues are now working remotely but there will be a continued presence of Directors, technical & support staff in the office during this time. 

We have encouraged the use of conference calls or software applications for some time and would encourage as many meetings as possible to happen by remote means for the time being. We understand that certain meetings and site visits will remain necessary for the continuation of normal business practice and our attendance at these will of course continue.

We are expecting the circumstances and Government guidelines to continue to change and are committed to a sensible and flexible approach during these uncertain times and will update you as regularly as necessary.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any queries regarding your individual project, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards   

Jeremy Pilling

17 March 2020.

Managing Director, gcp Chartered Architects

Appointment of New Directors and a new role for Colin Powell

2020 will see big changes for gcp as we continue to develop the way we manage our business and our in-house talent.  We have always been a forward-looking employer, keen to support the development of the next generation of architects and technologists.  

We are pleased to announce that at the beginning of March, Jeremy Pilling and Jonathan Platt will be joined on the board of directors by two of our senior architects, Jon Briscoe and Tom Mellor.  Jon and Tom bring a wealth of experience and will be a central part of building our business into the future.

At the end of February, Colin Powell will step down as a director, allowing him to focus on his long-standing passion for research around issues for the design and construction of low energy and PassivHaus buildings.  This will become the focus for his new role as ‘energy architect’ within the practice.  He will continue to support colleagues and clients with his extensive knowledge and experience in residential design, particularly supporting the set-up process and advising on the pre-planning design of new projects.

Jeremy Pilling

Managing Director

gcp Chartered Architects

Bristol County Cricket: a summer of cricket for gcp

On the 21st April 2019 we were appointed to help Gloucestershire Country Cricket Club deliver Phase 1 of this fast-paced project for England v Pakistan ODI on May 14th. Phase 1 has been designed to improve the existing indoor practice hall with a new configuration of bowling lanes, nets and LED lighting adopting the ECB’s latest format standards encapsulated in their 2019-2023 Inspiring Generation strategy.

The bowling and batting ends have now been switched creating a safer entrance approach to the hall with new padding up and bag drop areas with IT enhanced coaching aids. The new lights are the very first LED, ECB approved installation designed to provide 1500 lux in the practice nets.

gcp worked closely with Ridge & Partners (QS) and Griffiths Evans (Lighting Engineers) and 21st Century Building Services to deliver Phase 1.

Phase 2 (yet to be instructed) would extend the hall allowing the bowlers a longer run-up in line with ECB technical design standards.

gcp are also working directly for the ECB to deliver a new Urban Cricket Centre in Leyton, East London in time for the Cricket World Cup being hosted in England throughout this summer.

Planning Consent secured for Downend and Frenchay Tennis Club’s new clubroom

gcp has secured planning consent in the Green Belt for a new clubroom at Downend and Frenchay Tennis Club. This exciting project will provide much-needed indoor facilities for the club, as well as a covered external viewing gallery. Technical design stage starting soon!

We are passionate at gcp about designing places for sport and leisure; this clubroom is the latest in a string of projects for clients including England and Wales Cricket Board, Swindon Town Football Club Foundation and various Local Authorities.