The consultation process included workshops, public exhibitions and questionnaires, which attracted a cross-section of the local community giving them an opportunity to voice their needs and ideas.

The meetings explored ideas and alternatives before determining a preferred option. The development team was able to take on board the resulting feedback to revise and refine the design before submitting it for approval.

The development comprises six retail units, two smaller kiosk units, and a retail food store on a site in the centre of Dorridge that is currently occupied by the Forest Court Shopping Precinct on the edge of a Conservation Area.

The Client’s enthusiasm for their recently revamped store in Welwyn Garden City has been matched by the positive response from local people and traders.

Designed by Chetwoods London, the store has quadrupled in size to almost 60,000sq ft sales area with its external elevations incorporating green walls planted with nearly 3000 plants.

Designed to meet the highest standards in environmental construction and efficiency, the fast track build is a new concept in Dubai and the project was completed 4 weeks ahead of schedule with early access for CEVA.

The largest of Chetwoods’ overseas projects to date, it marks the second joint project for Gazeley in the region.

‘We didn’t move very far; from the third to the sixth floor!’ As part of our refurbishment of the grade two listed mill for Igloo Developments, we have refurbished the roof top attic space to create a light and fresh studio space.
The studio creates superb open plan studio office accommodation and a collection of informal breakout spaces for collaborative working.  We wanted to create a place where people felt comfortable working, that their environment had been considered and that they were being looked after.

The level of enthusiasm was palpable and everyone mucked in to help with the move, it was a fun day in the office! To celebrate the move and as an excuse for a reward we had champagne with our fish and chip lunch!

To reinvigorate the bleak and confusing visitor journey the external works approvals include consent for the lowering of the three metre high boundary wall to the street to allow views into the site and the introduction of a structured temporary landscape consisting of extensive large scale container planting of native tree species and lower level tray planting.

Consented works to the reception include a comprehensive redesign and refurbishment of the internal spaces to rationalise and modernise the reception area. Externally a new seven metre double height fully glazed timber framed vestibule is to be the key feature of the works providing a new high quality signature entrance for the Mill to house a series of changing large scale illuminated art installations.

The ambition of the proposals is to raise the profile of the building, secure values, and act as a driver for future development and the eventual delivery of the clients’ masterplan for the site.

Patrick has worked with Laurie on three gold medal winning Show Gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the latest for B&Q earlier this year.  He has already been involved in the landscape planning for a number of Chetwoods’ successful competition proposals.

The conceptual garden demonstrated how any available space in an urban setting has the potential to be used to develop new local and sustainable food growing spaces while enhancing urban greening.

The garden was laid out to replicate a model Modernist landscape, mixing typical urban profiles with references to horizontal and vertical allotments. It demonstrated how many elements of a traditional allotment could be located in a wide range of urban settings represented in a 9-metre tall ‘tower block’ and 5-metre high 90 room ‘insect hotel’.

The central structure embodied environmentally sustainable features including a hydroponic wall fed by a borehole via a water tower and power to irrigate provided by a wind turbine and photovoltaic wall converting daylight into electricity.

An innovative exhibition in The Green Room showcased the richness and diversity of work at Oxford Brookes School of Architecture, from Azorean and Olympic landscapes to Dangerous Consumer Realities; from Celebration in Venice to Sub-urban Crofting; and from Crime as Ornament to Architectural Gleaning.

“Many of our students find work in London so the Clerkenwell Green location taps into an existing network of alumni. Matt Gaskin, our new Head of School is supporting initiatives by students and staff to externalise their work beyond the institution and to make connections with the profession and industry, working with firms such as Ibstock.” Jane Anderson, BA Architecture and Interior Architecture Field Chair, School of Architecture.

At the Private View Chetwoods Chairman Laurie Chetwood commented:  “We are constantly striving to push boundaries and I am particularly encouraged by both the quality and imagination of the work produced by the Oxford Brookes students”.

Previous Green Room Exhibitions:

• Birmingham School of Architecture Exhibition of work by graduating students.
• Students Sci-Fi Eco Architecture by students from the Department of Architecture at Oxford Brookes University. The exhibition featured a range of experimental projects that engaged with environmental catastrophe and fragile environments.
• The Broken Home Collection by Oxford Brookes graduate Cait Sweeney explored the element of display, drawing from the disciplines of Still Life and Cubism inspired by artists such as Louise Bourgeoise, Rachel Whiteread and Cornelia Parker.

The Green Room was opened in Chetwoods Clerkenwell Green offices in 2010 to provide a free temporary base in central London for job-seeking architects and architecture students and a highly visible showcase for university architecture departments to showcase their top students’ work.