Our favourite podcasts

Inspired by Paul’s interview on the We Build Academy podcast, some of the team have chosen the podcasts they most enjoy listening to.

There’s an eclectic mix, so whether you’re a keen podcast listener or perhaps just getting started, we hope you discover something you like.

Our favourite karaoke songs

We’re a divided practice when it comes to karaoke. Some of us [like Liam, Alan & Tom] can’t wait to belt out a good tune. Then there’s some who wouldn’t say no…and the rest of us that definitely wouldn’t say yes!

But one thing we do agree on is that your tune of choice says a lot about you. We’ll leave you to judge our choices below, and if we ever do make it out for a team karaoke we’ll share the video evidence.

Jolene – Dolly Parton

Our favourite buildings that let in light

It’s safe to say 99% of our clients mention wanting more natural light when we first speak to them.

Moving natural light into the heart of any building is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it also improves comfort and reduces energy use.

It’s a subject Alan chats about in detail in the latest issue of Houseproud Stamford & Rutland Magazine and inspired this month’s theme.

An Turas, Tiree, Scotland – Sutherland Hussey Harris

Our favourite projects under construction

After blogging about health and safety on site this month, we’ve each chosen our favourite construction projects. We can only imagine the health and safety responsibilities involved in something like BIG’s energy-to-waste plant in Copenhagen! Needless to say, we’re really excited to see how these projects come to life.

Siége de la Métropole Européenne de Lille, France – Henning Larsenfrom & KeurK Architecture

Big shout to my friends and former colleagues who are behind this ambitious project in my hometown. I can’t wait to see how they tackle the challenges to deliver this very eco & massive office building. [Julie]

 

Flitwick Mill, Bedford – Self-build project 

Earlier this summer I met the owners of Flitwick Mill who are in the process of a huge restoration project. It sounds like a challenging and lengthy project, but I was really impressed by their passion and dedication for preserving the mill whilst making it energy efficient. [Fera]

Amager Bakke Waste-to-Energy Plant, Copenhagen – BIG 

I’m really excited about this waste to energy plant in Copenhagen which includes a rooftop ski slope. The power plant is already open but the finishing touches are being added to the ski slope for its opening this winter. It’s an interesting example of how you can inject some fun into public infrastructure. I can’t wait to go back to Copenhagen and test it out! [Alan]

Bennetts Associates Grant Smith

Royal College of Pathologists HQ, London – Bennetts Associates

Loving the quality achieved with this concrete casting, especially given it’s located six floors up in a central London location. [Tom]

Secular Retreat, Peter Zumthor – South Devon

It would have been immense to have been on site as the rammed concrete walls were formed for Zumthor’s first ever UK based project.

Although it has been a tricky process, with rammed concrete being quite a rare construction technique, the wall texture looks as though it was totally worth the effort. I really want to touch them! Although it’s technically finished, it hasn’t opened yet so I think it counts. [Liam]

Church Grove, London – Rural Urban Synthesis Society (RUSS)

Fresh off the drawing board, and having received funding from Sadiq Khan’s Mayor’s Innovation Fund, this self build housing scheme in Lewisham is a step in a good direction for housing nationwide.

Rural Urban Synthesis Society (RUSS) is the community group responsible. The founder Kareem Dayes grew up on Walter’s Way, a 1970’s self-build project also in Lewisham, from which this scheme likely takes inspiration. [Marcus]

Tibshelf strawbale house, Sheffield – Thread Architects

I love the gloriously hairy interior of this straw bale house before plastering. I haven’t seen any drawings of the project but it’s by Sheffield’s own Thread Architects so I have high hopes and I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out! [Claire]

Windermere Jetty Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories, Lake District – Carmody Groake

When Paul Testa Architecture was only a few months old we joined forces with Bond Bryan Architects, Arup and Ares Landscape Architects to submit an expression of interest in the Windermere Steamboat Museum competition. We didn’t get beyond the first stage, but I’ve been eagerly waiting for the winning Carmody Groarke scheme to be completed. It’s a fantastic design and location. It looks like it will be opening in a few months’ time. [Paul]

Are you excited by something under construction? We’d love to know!

Our favourite low-cost builds

We’re continually impressed and inspired by creative projects that have been achieved on a small budget. From fellow architects to community projects and self-builders; check out our favourite builds that haven’t cost the earth.

By the way, if you’re a self-builder take a look at our informative guide to financing your project here.

URBAN RIGGER, Copenhagen – BIG

By and large, the Danes are a couple of decades ahead of us. Here they are thinking sustainably: upcycling shipping containers to save the approximate 1100 tonnes of CO2 required to build a new home. Socially it gives students a home and a hub, a place for ideas to thrive. And it’s innovative, making use of the water and creating variety within the urban landscape. [Marcus]

Sort Hus, Copenhagen – Sigurd Larsen

Using prefabricated elements, a simple layout and leaving surfaces such as the plywood walls and concrete floor exposed – this small house cost €1500/m2 and lets in plenty of natural light. [Claire]

Field of Wheat, Branston Booths – Studio Polpo

Built to host film projections and shared meals over a two day period, the temporary structure was made on a near-zero budget using local waste materials and straw bales. There’s something lovely in its primitive simplicity; providing shelter from the wind and rain for people to come together and celebrate. Its existence and form is a result of its circumstances, which makes me a little jealous as I’d love to have been involved! [Liam]

Credit: Peter Sharpe

Freya & Robin, Kielder Water and Forest Park – Studio Weave

I just discovered Studio Weave thanks to Claire and instantly fell in love with the magical story of Freya’s cabin (pictured) and Robin’s hut. I’d like to sit there with my husband and dog. [Fera]

Visible Studio, Somerset – Invisible Studio

Piers Taylor often posts images of himself in his studio and it looks a delightful place to work. It was constructed to demonstrate the possibilities of low-grade home-grown timber and amateur (but paid) labour. For an office space of 55m2, it’s impressive that it was built for £15,000 including materials and labour. [Paul]

Ada Street, London – Amin Taha

This 10 unit, mixed-use development in London was completed for the ridiculously low £850/m2. Although this excludes the contractor’s profits, overheads and prelims [he chose a share of the development’s profit instead] it’s still extremely impressive given the quality of the design and the internal finishing! I particularly love how loud and proud the scheme is when viewed next to its scrubby collection of neighbouring buildings. [Alan]

Credit: Joubert Loots

Social Development, Port Elizabeth – Indalo and Collectif Saga

This project shows that with a very low budget you can achieve amazing things. I particularly love the sliding doors detail; skateboards used as the sliding system, which is so ingenious! [Julie]

Do you have a favourite low-cost project? We’d love to know. Get in touch, or head over to our Facebook page and leave us a comment!

Our favourite builds without planning permission

Worried about trying to get planning permission for your project? You needn’t be as not all projects need permission.

Many, from small extensions to loft conversions, can be undertaken within your Permitted Development Rights.

Have a read of our latest blog to find out what you can achieve without planning permission.

We also hope our favourites below provides some inspiration!

Brick House, San Francisco –  Azevedo Design

Broxholm Road, London – Selencky Parsons

Ewelme Road, London – 2LG Studio

I’m a huge fan of 2LG Studio’s work. I love this bright blue kitchen extension and mixture of colours and textures. It feels inviting and relaxing. [Fera]

Thompson Park, Burnley – Burnley Borough Council

Multiple small public buildings have been renovated as part of Thompson Park’s restoration. This has given an injection of TLC into an already much-loved park. [Marcus]

Our favourite places to visit this summer

We really enjoyed compiling our summer guide last year, so we thought we’d create another. We hope we inspire you to have some more adventures this summer.

This month we’re joined by Paul Taylor from Actus Insurance. Paul has also written a brilliant blog with everything you need to know about project insurance. Have a read here.

Wentworth – Rotherham

Love Among the Ruins: A Romance of the Near Future, S1 Artspace, Park Hill, Sheffield

Season of Play – Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield

Outdoor Cinema – Fritton Lake, Norfolk

Our favourite buildings that transform historical sites

What do St Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern, and the Angel of the North all have in common?

They’re all iconic destinations loved by many, and so it’s no surprise that they were recently named in a new top ten of heritage sites.

The list is part of Historic England’s Irreplaceable: a History of England in 100 Places campaign, which brings together historic places and buildings from around the country.

There are ten categories, so naturally we were most interested in Art, Architecture & Sculpture, in which the BBC’s Arts Editor Will Gompertz selected the final ten.

We were delighted to see some locals make it in: Chatsworth House, and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (which Paul recently visited).

After looking at the top ten, we picked our own favourites from around the world. The results are below…

Bicycle Shelter, Oxford – James Wyman Architects

Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax – Evans Vettori Architects

Giants Causeway Visitor Centre, Northern Ireland – Heneghan Peng Architects

Neues Museum, Berlin – David Chipperfield Architects

I had the pleasure to visit this masterpiece in 2016 and it is absolutely magical! [Julie]

 

de Young Museum, San Francisco – Herzog & de Meuron and Fong & Chan Architects

I adore the de Young. It first opened in 1895 in Golden Gate park, and when it re-opened in 2005 it gave over two acres of land back to the park. A must-visit if you’re ever in the city! [Fera]

We also have two guest contributors this month.

John-Paul Walker is a partner at Walker Cunnington Architects and has extensive experience in conservation and reuse, often working with non-profit organisations. He also teaches at Sheffield School of Architecture and currently acts as Heritage At Risk Architect for Historic England.

The Great Court at the British Museum, London – Foster & Partners

An amazingly refined piece of architecture, but what I really like is the way that it not only unlocks the previously clogged up building, but creates a new urban route from St Pancras to Waterloo station. [J-P]

Sam Letchford is currently working with us and has just completed his fifth year studying architecture at the University of Sheffield.

Sala Beckett, Barcelona – Flores & Prats

The Sala Beckett Theatre reworks the complex layering of a 1920’s Barcelona building, which had suffered from disjointed development throughout it’s lifetime. Rather than stripping out the existing building, Flores & Prats brought it along for the ride, reworking it into new features and creating some fantastically theatrical spaces along the way. [Sam]

 

We’d love to know what you think of the 100 Places campaign (do give their podcast a listen!) and which of our selection is your favourite?

Our top 5 buildings in film

Our Top 5 this month has a cinematic theme. Buildings, set design and landscapes play an important role in film, from supporting key areas of the narrative, to establishing the look and tone of the scene. There has always been a close relationship between architecture and the film industry; we decided to pick our favourite films where buildings have taken a starring role.

We also asked Alex Maxwell to choose his favourite building. As well as teaching undergraduate architecture at the University of Sheffield, Alex co-owns design-led bookshop La Biblioteka which stocks a plethora of film publications – so it’s safe to say Alex was keen to be involved.

James Goldstein House – John Lautner – The Big Lebowski

 

While this tough watch scampers across central Italy as much as a Fellini caper, the scenes that hit home are the violent domestic strife, filmed at the Vela di Scampa housing estate, designed by Franz di Salvo in 1962. At the forefront of post-war social housing design in Italy, di Salvo was inspired by Kenzo Tange’s megastructures, and as well as distinctive triangular apartments. He wanted to provide ultra-modern meeting places, playing fields and other facilities, but unfortunately they never materialised and the oft-repeated story of estate decline was accelerated by an earthquake that left many homeless. Whilst known for its Camorra links, many families still call its aerial parks and streets-in-the-sky home. [Alex]

The Grid – Joseph Kosinski / Darren Gilford – Tron: Legacy

Villa Arpel – Jacques Lagrange – Mon Oncle

Our top 5 Rural Homes [& Landscapes]

This month we’re sharing our favourite homes in the countryside. These are houses which take advantage of, and enhance, the beautiful landscapes in which they’re sited. We’re often asked to look at isolated plots in stunning landscapes so we’re always interested in how others work in these idyllic settings.  These are a collection of the projects that have inspired us recently.

We’ve also asked Simon Hall, as a Landscape Architect and regular collaborator on our NPPF55 projects, to give us his guest expert choice…

Shearer’s Quarters House – John Wardle Architects

This has a lovely mix of cheap robust cladding and a beautifully bespoke interior. The house’s sculptural form sits in the folds of the site and feels very rooted in its place. [Paul]

Tinhouse – Rural Design

This is an elegant and well thought through minimalist and cost effective design. It’s great that the magnificent view is at the centre of the design [Julie]

Marika Alderton House – Glenn Murcutt

Coromandel Bach – Crosson Architect