Stourbridge Glass Museum
Stourbridge Glass Museum Wordsley, Stourbridge 2015 onwards
The former Stuart Crystal Works in Wordsley was converted into a museum of glass in 2015. The site consisted of two elements: the Newhouse Building, located at the entrance to the site, which became the museum and the Mill Building (above) which was converted into commercial units for glassrelated businesses, with 18 residential apartments above.
As part of our involvement in the museum’s external landscaping
development in 2022, we took the opportunity to add a temporary interpretation of the former 10 pot glass furnace which once stood as a centrepiece on the site.
It is hoped that the museum will eventually be linked to the Redhouse Glass Cone site, located across the road, via an underground tunnel.
Standard Works
Ruskin Mill Land Trust (RMLT)
Jewellery Quarter
Completed 2017
We completed the frst phase of the Standard Works building in the Jewellery Quarter for RMLT to bring it back to life as a specialist education college.
The Grade II listed former silversmiths had been sitting empty for 20 years when RMLT took the building under their wing. Standard Works was originally built as 15 separate industrial units
and is considered to be one of the best examples of a 19th Century factory building within the area.
As well as educational use, the building also provides a cafe, performance space, exhibition space, and roof garden.
Gilders Yard
Grainger
Jewellery Quarter
Completed 2022
Gilder’s Yard was a complex regeneration project for Grainger. Located within the Jewellery Quarter conservation area. A number of redundant industrial workshops including the Grade II* listed Ashford & Sons (pictured above) building were converted alongside new accommodation.
The scheme provides 158 residential apartments plus commercial units.
Dudley Zoo Tecton Buildings
Dudley Zoological Gardens
Dudley 2014 onwards
Dudley Zoo houses the largest single collection of Tecton structures in existence today. Designed and built in 1937, the modernist concrete structures received World Monument Fund Status in 2009.
We started working to restore these ageing buildings in 2014 and reanimate the original design intent to secure their future use. With help from Heritage Lottery Funding, four of these structures were initially repaired: the Station Cafe, Entrance, Bear Ravine and one of the two Kiosks.
Originally, 13 buildings were designed by Bethold Lubetkin and his Tecton practice who were recommended to the then Earl of Dudley by London Zoo following the successful Penguin Pool at Regent’s Park. Located within the site of Dudley’s medieval castle, the Zoo exists within an extreme topography. The 13 buildings, that make dramatic use of this hillside landscape were scattered throughout the grounds and sought to display and house animals, as well as cater for the visiting crowds.
Paint analysis with Crick-Smith.
A cross section of samples were taken to understand the original colours used across the scheme.
Designed and constructed in a little over 18 months between 1935 and 1937, the new zoo represented a radical shift from the local vernacular. The structures were also a departure from conventional zoo design philosophy of the time, Lubetkin’s philosophy being not one of passive inspection but one of theatre, exploring the relationship between performer and audience.
Over the years the buildings had become dilapidated and in most cases dramatically altered from their original design. The Penguin Pool was demolished in 1979 due to severe deterioration from the salt water used.
All 12 remaining buildings are listed, with seven being Grade II and fve being Grade II*.
“They are simply wonderful structures; I love them. When you consider that Dudley Zoo’s Tectons were constructed in the 1930s... they are so imaginative, with their deep curves and sweeping shapes, they are beautiful, and what an incredible project to restore them to their original state.”
Ed Vaizey MP, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries (2010 - 2016)
After the refurbishment of the four Tectons structures (a HLF funded project) 2016 saw the restoration of two more of the 1930’s listed structures. Following on from the successful project that restored the Station Cafe, Entrance, Bear Ravine and adjacent Kiosk, the Sea Lion Pool and Reptiliary were in need of attention. The construction supervisor, Carlo Diponio, who had overseen the works on the Bear Ravine and Kiosk, turned his skills to the two structures.
Unlike the Bear Ravine both structures are still used to house animals. The Reptiliary no longer contained reptiles but was now home to a family of meerkats. The Sea Lion pool had been home to more than just Sea Lions over the years, housing dolphins and more famously Cuddles the Killer Whale. It has now gone full circle and is the only Tecton structure to house the animals for which it was originally designed.
In 2020 we began working with a professional team on behalf of DZG on the regeneration of four more Tecton structures.
The second phase sought to repair and upgrade the Discovery Centre (formerly the Moat Cafe), the Elephant House, Queen Mary (formerly the Castle Restaurant) and the Tropical Bird House (formerly the Parrot House).
New entrance lighting was unveiled in September 2021. Using a colorkinetics graze light spanning the width of the roof, the underside of the S-shaped roof is highlighted, emphasising the rhythm of the roof shape. The lighting also highlighted the original colour scheme of the Tecton structure which was restored in 2014.
Derwent Works
Javelin Block
Jewellery Quarter
Completed 2016
Derwent Works on Henrietta Street is a former metal press which has been converted into 4 loft apartments and a ground foor boxing gym. The gritty, industrial style of this development is in keeping with other projects we have completed for Javelin Block.
Steelwork and beams were left exposed, foor and wall fnishes kept in their natural state with exposed brickwork and original features retained wherever possible.
Poor quality windows were later replaced with steel framed windows to restore the building to its original style.
Royal Sutton Place Court Collaboration
Sutton Coldfield
Completed 2016
Located at the top of the town centre in an elevated position, Sutton Coldfeld’s former council house sits just a short distance from the town’s main railway station. Built in 1865, originally as a hotel, the building went on to be used as a sanatorium for a brief period before becoming home to the local authority’s registry service for births, marriages and deaths from 1901 until 2012.
Our role was to sympathetically convert this historically signifcant building into 18 apartments. The exterior was largely untouched throughout the development and the interior features beautiful original architectural detailing which were restored and retained as far as possible.
This refurbishment formed part of the larger Royal Sutton Place development.
The Grand Hotel
Imperial & Whitehall Chambers
Hortons Estate
Birmingham Completed 2017
Forming part of The Grand Hotel redevelopment, we were appointed to refurbish the Imperial and Whitehall Chambers on Colmore Row. We worked closely with the client, principal Architects for the development, Berman Guedes Stretton and other consultants on the redevelopment.
The brief was to create modern ofce facilities that respected the traditional fabric of the building.
The Grand Hotel, shops and ofces comprise fve buildings, interlinked internally but refected externally as distinctly separate buildings. Built between 1877 and 1895, the building is Grade II* listed. Since it opened in 1879 the hotel has had a chequered history, culminating in its closure in 2002.
Original signage uncovered during the strip-out provided a fascinating glimpse into the history of the building and its former occupants.
Bennetts Hill + Colmore Row
Colmore Properties
Birmingham Completed 2021
Refurbishment of Grade II and Grade II* Listed buildings to provide managed work spaces for a variety of diferent sized businesses.
Our works were focused on the fabric of the building including inflling the courtyard with a glazed roof. We also handled all of the planning and Listed building applications.
Charterhouse Priory & Venue
Historic Coventry Trust
Coventry
2016 onwards
The Carthusian Priory of St Anne. Founded in 1381, the Charterhouse Priory is a unique Grade I Listed building and scheduled monument site. It is set within parkland just outside Coventry city centre.
Works started in 2016 on the restoration of Priors House, with its unique wall paintings, and the reconstruction of two monks cells.
Planning was the granted in 2018 for the second phase which involved the restoration of the fomer stables and coach house. Remaining largely unaltered they are connected by a new building formed by reinstating a cloister wall and covered walkway.
Archaeologists from the University of Leicester revisited the site to the rear of the coach house in 2020, where they extended previously explored pits with the aim to ascertain where the monk cells and cell walls were located.
Chance Glassworks
Chance Heritage Trust
Smethwick
2021 - present
Operating from 1824-1976 this was once the world’s leading glass manufacturer and a pioneer of British glass-making technology. In that time, the factory produced glass for the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben’s clock face and the Crystal Palace. It also developed specialist glass for telescopes and lanterns and created lenses for 2,500 lighthouses around the world. Now the site is semi-derelict and the 8 listed buildings and scheduled ancient monument are falling into disrepair.
Chance Heritage Trust commissioned us to prepare a Phase 1 Concept Design and Feasibility Report for an area of land previously home to Chance Brothers Glassworks.
Our vision for Chance Island is to create an urban village of housing, work space and leisure uses in the existing and proposed buildings linked by extensive planting and new connections to the two canals forming the north and south site boundaries.
Mary Street
Malcolm Kirkham & Jan Arkwright
Jewellery Quarter
Completed 2018
Built in 1823, this previously derelict Grade II Listed workshop sits across the road from our ofce. Over the course of 2017 - 2018 the building underwent a sympathetic transformation for new owners Jan & Malcolm, who now call it home.
The project was awarded the Birmingham Civic Society Renaissance Award 2019.
151 Great Charles Street
Court Collaboration
Birmingham Completed 2018
Located in the Jewellery Quarter Conservation Area, One Five One was built in 1932 and was the Birmingham Chest Clinic for over 80 years.
We worked with Court Collaboration to transform the upper 3 foors and roof into 11 residential apartments.
Reliance Works
City Portfolio Ltd
Jewellery Quarter
Completed 2022
41 - 42 Caroline Street was built circa 1826, originally as a pair of houses with rear workshops. Early occupants include the noted Birmingham silversmiths George Unite and Nathaniel Mills. The company of Pickering and Mayell occupied the premises from around 1900.
A sensitive conversion of this Grade II Listed building and an extension to the rear of the property delivered 9 unique duplexes and apartments.
Work completed in August 2022.
Before and after.
Jewellery Quarter
Completed 2022
The Gothic Cordia UK
Jewellery Quarter Completed 2022
This regeneration project for Cordia incorporated a wide range of building types, including The Gothic, a former pub built in the late 1870s.
The redevelopment secured the future of the two listed buildings on the site and provides 14 apartments and duplexes, as well as commercial units at ground foor level.
Work completed in September 2022.
Alabaster & Wilson
Private Client Jewellery Quarter 2018 onwards
Grade II* Listed 9-11 Legge Lane is a purpose built jewellery manufactory constructed in the late nineteenth century. Nos. 10-11 were built in 1891-2 and number 9 was added later in 1899.
The buildings were constructed for Alabaster & Wilson Ltd, manufacturers of fne jewellery who have occupied the space for fve generations.
No. 10 and 11 are largely intact with original interior and fttings.
Since 2018 we have been working on proposals to covert 9 Legge Lane into 3 apartments with a new mirror glass extension to the rear.
Planning was granted in December 2021.
Moseley School of Art
Moseley Muslim Community Association
Moseley, Birmingham
Completed 2019
Moseley School of Art is an Arts & Craft style Grade II* Listed building owned by Moseley Muslim Community Association and currently functioning as a centre for community activities.
Heritage Lottery funding awarded to MMCA allowed plans to be drawn up, and new uses for the building identifed.
After an extensive restoration, Moseley School of Art re-opened in 2019.
The building now operates as a community and business hub.
Javelin Block
Jewellery Quarter 2018
Working with Javelin Block and their team we prepared deisgns for the restoration and reactivation of this former 19th century industiral building located in the Jewellery Quarter Conservation Area.
For many years it was erroneously known as the Tramshed because of its distinctive roof shape but it was actually used as a rolling mill since the 19th century. The site is now occupied by a bar and restuarant of the same name.
Wake Green Road Prefabs Wates & Equans Moseley, Birmingham 2018 onwards
Manufactured in 1945 under The Temporary Housing Programme, the Phoenix prefabs were designed by the architects of Henry Boot Ltd, John Laing and McAlpine.
Minimal repairs and maintenance over the past several decades have left the 16 Grade II Listed prefabs in varying conditions.
Listed building consent was granted in 2019 for internal and external improvements on these Grade II Listed Prefabs. 15 of the properties will be refurbished for reoccupation, with one refurbished as a museum piece.
A sensitive restoration that respects the design intent of the original buildings will secure their future.
Hawkstone Hall
HH Hospitality Ltd
Marchamley, Shropshire
Completed 2019
Hawkstone Hall is a Grade I Listed building dating back to circa 1700.
In 2017 Change of Use was granted for a hotel and wedding venue, enabling the building to return to former glory as a grand country house.
Market Place
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Wednesbury
2018 / 2022
SMBC and its partners were looking to secure funding from Historic England under the grant scheme ‘Partnership Schemes in Conservation Areas’, to reverse many years of gradual decline of some the buildings that enclose Market Place in Wednesbury.
To determine the scope of the grant application, we put together a detailed condition survey and options for improvements to facades and shopfronts.
Following on from the detailed condition survey on Market Place, a further survey was carried out on the clock tower.
The grant scheme application was successful and in March 2022 the restoration of the 1911 tower was completed.
Junction Works
Grade Union + Public Artist Ltd
Digbeth 2019
Between 2016 - 2019 we collaborated with art organisation Grand Union, Public Artist Ltd and a close-knit team of consultants to secure the future of Junction Works in Digbeth and to create a new gallery and studio space.
The site is located in the Warwick Bar Conservation Area, at the junction of the Grand Union and Digbeth Branch Canals. It is Grade II Listed and comprises of three connected buildings,
together with an additional single-storey wing and cobbled yard which have all been empty for several years after sufering fre damage in 2004.
Planning and listed building consent were granted in March 2019, and Grand Union started fundraising in order to start the work.
6 Legge Lane
NVSM
Jewellery Quarter Completed 2021
Planning and Listed Building Consent was granted in October 2019 for the restoration and conversion of a unique Grade II Listed terrace of 4 houses with attached workshops.
Vacant since the 1990s the buildings were derelict and required urgent repairs but are now home to 12 2 bed apartments.
Comet Works
Javelin Block
Gun Quarter
Completed 2017
No’s 44-47 Princip Street formed a group of mid-19th century works typical of the industrial development of the city during that time. Whilst only No. 44 is Grade II Listed, we found the other three, some of which are Locally Listed to be excellent
examples of complete workshops from the period.
The buildings have not only been home to a former Spitfre Machine Gun factory but also the Lloyd family, listed in 1894 as Stationers Sundries Manufacturers and Haden Motorcycles, who went on to produce the company’s most popular motorcycle the ‘New Comet’ until 1924.
Steelwork and beams were left exposed, foor and wall fnishes kept in their natural
state with exposed brickwork and original features retained wherever possible. Windows were also replaced with matching steel framed Crittal windows. A new build element to the rear of the site, The Blast House, is in stark contrast to the existing buildings through its paler brick, corten steel reveals and its curved frontage.
Comet Works was shortlisted for the Birmingham Civic Society Centenary Renaissance Award 2018.
Moseley Road Index Birmingham 2019 onwards
Granted planning in February 2021, this project sees the redevelopment of the Listed buildings fronting Moseley Road, the removal of the industrial blocks to the rear and the construction of two new apartment buildings.
The Royal Hospital Jessup Brothers Wolverhampton 2020 onwards
Along with Jessup, we have been working with Homes England and Walsall Housing Group to transform the former Royal Hospital site into 192 dwellings. This includes converting the Grade II listed building on Cleveland Road into 38 wellbeing apartments for the over-55s.
The scheme follows the Cleveland Road former bus depot on a neighbouring site which has provided a 63 bed YMCA with nursery, retail and ofces, as well as 74 apartments and 18 houses for Walsall Housing Group.
Much of the building dates back to 1848 and is being preserved as a nod to its history
Taylor & Challen
Private Client Jewellery Quarter 2020 onwards
Founded by Joseph Taylor in 1852, Taylor & Challen produced presses for the metal trades including the manufacture of complete plants for the minting of coinage and machinery for the manufacture of guns, cartridges and the processing of gunpowder into various forms. In the 20th century it supplied goods such as wheels, radiators, clutches and brake drums to the motor trade.
Our proposals to revive this Grade II Listed building include a rooftop extension, the restoration and conversion of the four storey manufactory fronting Constitution Hill and the two storey 5 bay workshop building on Henrietta Street.
The extension design takes precedent from the detailed existing facade and the recurring theme of diamonds and arches which are present in both the faҫade and decoration.
Vittoria & Unity Works
NVSM
Jewellery Quarter 202 onwards
Built in 1866 and 1867, Grade II Listed Unity and Vittoria Works have been vacant, almost derelict, for over 20 years.
We’ve been working with NVSM on a scheme to convert these buildings into 34 residential units and commercial space.
The Bond Oval Real Estate
Digbeth
Completed 2023
Located on Fazeley Street in Digbeth, The Bond is comprised of fve main structures, all of which had quite diferent architectural characters.
Completed in 2023, the primary objectives were to maintain and celebrate the successful and historic elements, rationalise the layouts and internal spaces, improve the landscaping and approach and reveal and enhance more of the historic features.
The Bond is now a hub for flm, TV and other media companies who like the creative character of Digbeth, with some of the spaces designed for events such as weddings and markets.
Lichfield Waterworks
Lichfield Waterworks Trust
Lichfield
2022
In 2022 we met with Lichfeld Waterworks Trust to discuss a feasibility study on the Sandfelds site.
Built around 1858 the pumping station and engine house formed part of the original scheme implemented by South Stafs Water and was the company’s sole source of supply when it opened.
The trust were interested in exploring options on how the site could develop over the next 10 years.
United Reform Church at Spencer Yard
Leamington Creative Quarter
Complex Development Projects
Leamington Spa
2020 onwards
Proposals for the reuse of this Grade II Listed building were a high priority due to its vacant and Listed status.
As the future fagship space for the Creative Quarter, part of the basement has been opened up by a staircase well, which connects to the upper foors.
The crypts in the extensive basement have been turned into individual pods and studios with social meeting spaces, and the mezzanine level has been extended with access via a grand central atrium, showcasing the original painted glass windows and decorative ceiling.
Button Works
Hanehouse Developments
Jewellery Quarter 2022 onwards
Design proposals for the restoration, refurbishment and conversion of an existing Grade II* Listed building on Great Hampton Street.
The proposals provide a high quality residential scheme and serve to secure and protect this important historic building for the future.
16-18 Princip Street
Luisha Development
Gun Quarter
2019 - present
Grade II Listed, this L-shaped site on Princip Street was a brass foundry in the 19th century but has had many diferent uses since.
The current proposals include the conversion of a number of existing buildings along with the creation of new build apartments and townhouses overlooking the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.
