MADE Architecture

           Experienced Part II Architectural Assistant or Architect

MADE Architecture is recruiting an experienced Part II Architectural Assistant or Architect to work full-time in our Hampton-in-Arden office.

We are seeking someone who will grow with the company and be excited by the opportunity to work on a wide range of Residential and Commercial projects.

The successful candidate will be required to prepare full architectural and construction packages for ongoing and future projects including new build and renovations.

Desirable attributes:

- Proficiency in Vectorworks and Adobe Creative Suite;

 - Ability to run Jobs from conception until completion

- At least 3 Years UK Experience

Salary is dependent upon experience, with salary expectations to be discussed at interview.

You must be eligible to work in the UK, have a full UK driving license and preferably have a Car although it is not essential.

MADE Architecture is an equal opportunities employer.

All applications should be submitted to Donna Sutheran ([email protected]) until the 10th of October and must include:

- Cover Letter explaining your motivations for joining MADE;

The architectural trends just don’t pop up out of an architect’s mind overnight.

Every year we watch new architecture trends coming out that either stay and become a tradition or they just vanish away. So what have been the top architecture trends so far in 2014? And will they stay or go?

Take a look at our list of 7 top architecture trends this year:

1. Relaxation – Home Spa

We’re nowadays exposed to a lot of information on our daily lives and most of us find it hard to deal with it.

It is becoming increasingly important to have a relaxation spot at home and that’s why the home spa is a big trend this year, a place where someone can relax and unwind from the daily stress.

The home spa industry is growing and in the US over 50% of new builds are now equipped with a whirlpool bath.

                         Lincomb Hall Project – click to see

2. Passive Homes

A big and important trend this year is the reduction in the consumption of energy, a reduction in carbon emissions and a focus on green principles.

That’s why Passive Homes are a big trend, buildings that use very little energy for heating and cooling, whilst also providing a high level of comfort.

A Passive Home can save up to 90% in heating costs, making it a good idea for the environment and for the homeowner’s pockets. We do hope this trend will stay because the positive impact on the world would be significant.

3. Prefabricated Buildings

With the development of manufacturing technology this is becoming a huge trend this year, especially in China.

This trend doesn’t focus on homes only, it stretches a bit further including hotels, offices, sheds and end of garden builds. Floor space and entire walls are pre-made and then delivered to the plot, ready to be assembled in a structure.

This is a real money-saving trend in 2014.

4. Room Flexibility

Families having flexibility at home to facilitate new members (babies or elderly people) seem to be a real necessity this year. That’s why room flexibility is a big trend.

A flex room is a room that can have a wide range of uses or could be easily changed at some point to accommodate new needs.

Flex rooms give the homeowner several choices and enable maximum usage with the space given and allows for change.

5. Centrally-located Kitchens

The traditional out-of-sight kitchen is this year giving place for it to be the focal point of each home.

Kitchens are nowadays the centre of attention and therefore are being centrally located. They’re being used not just for cooking but for other family activities as well: a place to study, work, and other multitasking uses.

This trend helps to bring the family together and strengthening their relationships.

6. Reusing existing buildings

Saving historical beauty is a big trend this year. Buildings with a historical character like churches or factories are difficult to recreate in modern design. Using their existing shells and building around them seems a wonderful option to save these buildings and give them use.

                     The Old Tram Depot Project - click to see  

7. Health Conscious Designs

Traditional materials used to build, decorate and furnish the home like paints, insulation, wood stain and other materials that could cause hypoallergenic reactions and other health issues are being replaced.

Hiring an architecture firm is a big step and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

 No matter how big or small is your project, the architect will be the brains behind it, making it happen for you. So it is important that you’re both aligned and that they understand and listen to you.

 From our own experience, here are the 10 essential questions to use as a starting point and help you get the architect that’s right for you and your project:

 1. Who will design my project?

 If you’re hiring an architecture firm you need to meet the lead architect for your job and get to know them. Sometimes the person you meet initially isn’t the one who’ll design the work, so is a good idea to ask this question.

 You’ll be interacting with the architect a lot and you need to understand if you both fit together and if you like their ideas.

2. Do you have a signature style?

 Some architects have an overriding design sensibility that they bring to every project and might specialise in a certain area like reinterpretation of historic houses or sleek modernism.

 Others might have a high degree of adaptability, which makes them tailor their style to fit each project and client.

 By asking this question upfront, you can understand their unique style and decide if they fit what you’re looking for.

3. How do you charge?

 Architects usually charge a % of the total construction cost, depending on the services provided. Asking what that % will be for your project and how the payments will be due (and when) is a key question to ask.

 4. May I see a portfolio of similar projects?

 Architects are very proud of the work they create so they’ll be very happy to show you their architecture portfolio, especially projects that are very similar to your own.

 This will show you their signature style, their experience in a type of similar project and also if you like the work they’ve produced.

5. How do you communicate your ideas?

There are different ways your architect can communicate their ideas to you: hand sketches, CAD drawings, 3D visuals or physical models. This is a good question to ask since you'll know in advance how you're going to visualise it and get an accurate feel for how the design will look like in the real world.

6. Will you recommend contractors?

Architects usually work with and/or can recommend a few reliable contractors in the area and help you evaluate portfolios and bids.

That’s a bonus for the client and saves them time by not having to go trough another search to find a contractor.

7. What sets your firm apart from other architects with similar experience?

This is a key question to ask, especially when you liked 2 or 3 firms and are ensure about which one to choose.

Their reply to this question will not only tell you what makes them different from their architecture competitors, but also if they really fit into what you’re looking for.

 8. How will the design process be like?

 You’ll need to understand how the work process will take place and what are theirs and your expectations, if you’ll have regular meetings, how much you’ll be involved and when.

 9. Can you provide references?

 Architecture is an industry that relies heavily on word-of-mouth and references. Most architects have recommendations/testimonials from former or current clients and will gladly provide them to you.

10. Ask yourself: did you like what you see?

 The last question is a question you should ask yourself: did you like what you see, did the answers the architect gave you fit your requirements? Did you leave the meeting feeling excited and positive about them?

 Ultimately your own answer will provide you the response you need to go ahead and hiring them.

We’re in love with architectural photography as much as we’re with architecture.

 There’s something special in taking a photo of a building you especially admire, being able to capture it from your own reading and perspective.

 The static nature of architecture is great for planning a shot and minimise potential problems with angles and light.

 Here are our top 5 tips for taking great architectural photos:

  1.    Use a wide angle

 This is probably the most important lens type for architectural photos. A wide angle helps you to get really dramatic compositions!

 Anything under 35mm will do fine depending on how close or far you’re from the building you want to shoot. For example if you’re taking photos in a city like Birmingham, you’ll need a wide angle lens anywhere from 12mm to 35mm because you’ll need to shoot from quite a close distance in order to avoid shooting other buildings, cars or people.

 A fish eye lens is also great as it enables the photographer to frame the entire building within its environment. 

Ince House, Kenilworth, Warwickshire

2.    Take time to study the building

 Architects are curious by nature and we’re eager to know anything we can about a building that interests us. This is also extremely important if your goal is to shoot the building.

 Arrive early at your destination and take your time to explore the building before you take a shot. Stroll around to study it and also the lighting conditions to find the best point of view.

 By researching the reason why the building exists you’ll be surprised how a little bit of background information can fuel a great deal of inspiration!

 You might even consider taking an entire day just to study the building at different times of the day and plan your shooting afterwards.

 3.    Look at the light

 Light is as important in architecture as it is in photography. Light interacts with the building and gives depth to it. Shadows can provide contrast and highlight the repeating elements of the building.

 That’s why it’s important to study the building at different times of the day in order to shoot at a time when you’re able to create the type of photo you’re looking for.

 Many architectural photographers like to shoot during the “golden hour” just before sunset. To shoot a structure as a silhouette during sunset, position the building between yourself and the sun. 

 4.    Take a tripod

 A tripod is useful in most occasions when taking architectural photos, but it is specially needed if you’re shooting just before sunrise or at sunset when natural light is reduced.

 Since you’re shooting an inanimate object you can take your time and get as much light onto your sensor as is required to take a great photo, but with a slower shutter speed, there is the risk of camera shake which results in unwanted blurring. A tripod will then reduce camera movement and improves picture quality, helping you take the perfect photo.

 Other benefit of using a tripod for architectural photos is that it can help you get your camera into places you sometimes can’t. Many tripods have the ability to let you place the camera anywhere from just inches off the ground to way above eye level, which can help you take shots of a building using different perspectives.

MADE office, Hampton-in-Arden, Solihull, West Midlands 

5.    Check the weather conditions

 Make sure you check the weather forecast before you head off to your destination. It is very frustrating to start your journey with sunshine and arrive hours later in the middle of a rain storm!

 But don’t let the weather put you off though, since unlike other forms of photography, exciting architectural images can be produced in all weathers!

We’re lucky enough to have our architecture practice located in the beautiful location of Catherine-de-Barnes, just outside Solihull.

                                  Source: http://ow.ly/z7QJz

Besides being surrounded by an amazing and quiet rural scenery and just 5min. from Birmingham International Airport, we also love the fact that we’re 10min. from Birmingham city centre.

 Birmingham city is a place for quite some inspiration with a great variety of architectural styles, from modern architecture to some fine Victorian buildings from the 18th century like Birmingham’s Town Hall, or mid-19th century Gothic Revival buildings like St Chad’s Cathedral.

 It is quite outstanding that we have in Birmingham some of the most modern architectural styles in the United Kingdom, like the library of Birmingham. It is also one of the first cities in the UK to feature the blobitecture style as it shows in the Selfridges building and the Bullring Shopping Centre.

 In fact, if you stroll along Waterloo Street in the city centre, you’ll be able to see architecture from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries!

                                    Source: http://ow.ly/z7IWi

Birmingham is a vibrant and young city having grown very quickly as a result of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. New projects and redevelopment schemes are planned for the city as part of Birmingham City Council's Big City Plan.

 We feel we’re fortunate enough to be located in the West Midlands near this great city and be able to create many architecture projects in Birmingham like the Al Amin Wholesale project in Aston, the prestigious 15 storey building four star Hilton Double Tree Hotel and the East End Food cash &carry project in Aston Cross.

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One route to becoming a librarian is having a good bachelors degree and also a postgraduate librarianship qualification. It is possible to study for this while working as a library assistant, in which case your institution may pay for you to study. Depending on your first degree, it is possible to become a subject specialist librarian focussing on an area of interest, for example working in a science library. It is possible to do begin by doing an undergraduate degree in librarianship, but you would still need to go on to do the postgraduate work in order to become fully qualified. http://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/non-academic-case-studies/618/working-as-a-librarian/

MADE CAMERA OBSCURA

To create your own, all you need is...

Surface wall/ceiling/floor (preferably north facing so you avoid over exposure from sunlight and works best on plain light coloured walls)

black out all light (windows/openings) with black bags ensuring complete blackout

cut a pinhole opening in the black bags to a window 

use a piece of card to experiment with opening sizes (our worked best at just bigger than a 2pence coin)

the external image is projected (upside down and mirrored) onto the intenal surfaces

watch the magic!

We got very excited when we saw an plane flying upside down across our studio walls!!

more exciting camera obscura adventures in collaboration with international artist Ann Walker to follow...

New changes to Building Regulations, due to come into effect from 6th April 2013, are said to 'reduce the heavy burden on industry', and harmonise the British Building Regulations with the European Standards and the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. A number of references to British Standards will be omitted and replaced with references to BS EN documents, along with references to Approved Document N, which has been merged with an amended Part K.

Any work starting after the dates below and not covered by an Initial Notice served beforehand, will be subject to the new regulations.

Here are some dates for your diary!

6th April 2013:

Part N is to be omitted and incorporated into Part K, including Part M Access recommendations.

Part K has also been updated to include reducing the minimum handrail dimensions to 32mm (no longer 40mm) and forces of door closers.

Approved Document P has been revised to reflect the Government's continued effort of de-regulation, allowing homeowners to carry out minor works to their kitchens, without informing building control or using a qualified electrician.

The areas of Part B that have been updated are minimal and relate to classification of coverings, thermoplastic lighting diffusers amongst a few other tweaks.

Part M now refers to the Equality Act 2010 and the Equalities Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010 and revises a lot relating to the requirement of Access Strategies (no longer to be referred to as 'Statements'). Further updates relate to the relaxation of the use of cold-to-touch metals, so long as it can be argued that resistance to vandalism and low maintenance are key factors.

Minor changes to Approved Documents A, C, D, E, F, H & J to align with changes to Regulation 7.

Part L will be amended to reflect European Performance of Buildings Directive on EPCs and Energy Assessments. References to Regulation 29 will be deleted. Further amendments incorporate the changes made to the Energy Performance Certificates requirements, which came into effect on the 9th January 2013.

1st July 2013:

Revised Regulation 7 and new supporting Approved Document is to incorporate new European Construction Products Regulations.

9th July 2013:

Amendment of Part L will requires consideration of the use of high efficiency alternative systems for in the construction of new buildings, if available.  Changes Part L1B to the renovation or replacement of thermal elements.

There are also plans to amend Regulation 25B to 'Nearly Zero-Energy Requirements for New Buildings', in 2019. The details of these plans are yet to be confirmed and are part of the government's plan to achieving zero carbon homes in 2016 and non-dwellings in 2019. This can only mean more focus on lower U-values and air tightness requirements, more efficient heating and ventilation systems, along with a greater emphasis placed on renewables, all of which MADE is keen to advocate.

Although we are ware that this potentially means more expensive builds and house prices initially, the cost of living will be reduced due to lower energy consumption, which is something more and more property buyers are getting ‘switched on’ to!

MADE are constantly researching innovative new products which allow developments to achieve better environmental standards and believe good design which accommodates these requirements at an early stage of the project will help achieve the standards within practical budgets. It is critical to see sustainable design as integral to Architecture and not just an add on which ticks the  minimum ‘green box’ requirement!

RIBA PLAN OF WORKS 2013

21st May 2013 has been announced as the launch date of the new and improved RIBA Plan of Works (PoW)!

PoW is recognised as the UK's definitive model for the building design and construction process. The original PoW was defined back in 1963 (long before many of today's practising Architects were born!) so it's probably fair to say a dusting off and refreshing is long overdue!  The role of an Architect has changed dramatically in the last 50 years with the introduction of CAD (Computer Aided Design), requirements for Sustainability, not to mention the flexibility the role requires to meet a modern client's ever-changing needs.  

So what does it all mean and how does it affect clients?!

In short, not an awful lot.  The draft 2013 (pictured) plan works alongside the original alphabetical chart running numerically from preparation through the progressive design stages onto construction and final use of the project.

So what's good?! It recognises that not all projects need Stage D (Planning) now permitted development rights have been relaxed, whilst maintaining the importance of developing the design thoroughly and most importantly establishing the brief.  There is more emphasis of discussing possible procurement methods early on in the appointment and acknowledgement that the boundary between technical drawings and production information is often blurred. There is also acknowledgment of offsite and onsite construction methods, perhaps a suggestion from RIBA that the way forward involves far more pre-fabrication offsite.

Big changes include early integration of BIM (Building information Modelling) and focus on designing for sustainability. Both areas which desperately needed to be incorporated if we can expect the new Pow to see us through another 50 years of Architecture!

Good news for clients is that this will also be issued in a free adjustable electronic document, making it possible to adapt to suit any type/size of project.  Hopefully enabling Architects to easily explain what can appear complex to clients who aren't familiar with the process.

We look forward to sharing the final document in May!

For more information see RIBA website... 

From BIG house to LITTLE house!

DESIGN FOR EDUCATION

On the 1st October 2012 Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, released the Department for Education’s baseline designs for school buildings. These standardised layouts are anti curves or faceted walls, encourage the ‘stacking of blocks’, suggest a standard size for all windows/doors, and adhere to a basic finish for interiors. 

This ‘one-size fits all’ approach to architecture suggests ignorance of what can be achieved through well-considered design. It not only ignores the specific needs of individual schools, but also fundamental issues such as site context and orientation. A building that has a function as important as educating future generations deserves a bespoke (albeit within the practical guidelines), and considered solution.

We recently worked with a Technology College in the West Midlands, initially to enhance their food and technology department and subsequently to help solve a maintenance problem with a dilapidated toilet block. Our designs included both curved walls and ‘non standard’ heavy duty finishes, and therefore under the current guidelines would not be deemed suitable. An innovative approach was also taken to the toilet block, utilising a fully glazed corridor wall to encourage natural surveillance of the new facility thus discouraging vandalism and bullying. These tailor made designs were not only functional but creative! Images of the school grounds were printed onto the cubicles with a quality finish throughout, instilling a sense of pride in both pupils and staff. We recently learnt of a pupil visiting the college to watch an Christmas production, when asked what he though of the performance, responded “the singing was good, the dancing was OK…but what I really liked was the new school toilets!’ Praise indeed for any designer!

‘Building and the Environment’ journal concluded that good school design has a significant role to play in a child’s education. The report was able to estimate the proportionate impact of the architecture on learning progression, scaled at a 25% contribution on average.

There is also the question of the ongoing maintenance and lifespan of finishes and the building as a whole.  Will these regulations result in lifetime costs being more expensive and mean that buildings need replaced more regularly? We think false economy is something to be highlighted! In response to the Departments for Educations baseline designs, Angela Brady, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, stated the following;

“Our students, teachers and local communities deserve great schools - environments that are beneficial to the best-quality teaching and learning. In these times of austerity of course we need to cut our cloth on all spending; however, the government's proposals for the design and construction of future schools are far too restrictive with too much focus on short-term savings.”

Here at MADE we believe strongly in the importance of good solutions and creative based architecture and believe nowhere is it more important than the places in which we live and learn!

FOR MORE INFORMATION FOLLW THESE LINKS

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-01/03/school-design-influences-learning

http://www.architecture.com/NewsAndPress/News/RIBANews/News/2012/OurchildrenandteachersdeservebetterRIBAslamsGovesflatpackapproachtodesigningfutureschools.aspx

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/schoolscapital/buildingsanddesign/baseline/b00213673/baseline-designs---cost-and-area

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/shortcuts/2012/oct/02/michel-goves-war-on-architecture-curves