9 minute read
J G Architecture
J G Architecture’s new home is a converted industrial unit a stone’s throw from Cobo beach. Even at first approach, the modern glazed frontage and carefully designed signage make it clear that the building’s humble origin as a builder’s store is certainly no more. In its place is a modern, well-designed unit that retains an industrial feel without compromising on style. For JGA founder James Gavey, it’s been a welcome move.
“I really wanted to have a building where we could design the space ourselves, which isn’t very easy to find in Guernsey. Converting an industrial unit gave us so much scope to really put our mark on the design, and the location is definitely a bonus.”
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The firm’s previous office was a fairly compact space, with the team of four split over two small rooms and no meeting space. Those limitations directly affected what JGA was looking for in the new office – with open plan workspace and a substantial boardroom a priority. In addition, the design was carefully planned to not only meet the firm’s needs now but to factor in how that may evolve in the future.
“Being able to have the space on two levels was definitely an attraction from the start, as it gave us the ability to separate our workspace above from the meeting spaces below and also add a wow factor when clients come into the office. For us, it was absolutely key that we have a good space for client meetings to not only ensure client privacy when discussing projects, but to leave the rest of the team in peace to continue working on other projects.” THE DIFFERENT FINISHES THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING, ALONGSIDE QUIRKY FEATURES SUCH AS THE ABILITY TO ADD A LOFT NET FROM THE MEZZANINE SECTION, REALLY ADD INTEREST.
For James, the wellbeing and morale of staff was an important factor in the design, with the use of the space carefully considered to ensure a good working environment.
“We introduced skylights in the roof to improve natural light and ventilation, and we’ve incorporated items such as new chairs and sit-stand desks for the team to make their working lives more comfortable. We’ve also considered the practicalities of office life, so as well as the kitchen and toilets, we’ve put in a shower room to encourage staff to incorporate activity into their day.”
Alongside the aim to make the staff’s working environment more positive, the building has also been designed to meet the needs of a working design office, with dedicated space for printing large plans and more space for storage.
But while the layout of the building works on a practical level, it is the décor and finishing touches that really give it the impact. In keeping with the building’s origins, there is a definite industrial feel to the space, although the inspiration came from across the Atlantic.
“We looked at different ideas for retaining the industrial feel and eventually settled on a New York inspired loft style. The different finishes throughout the building, alongside quirky features such as the ability to add a loft net from the mezzanine section, really add interest.”
The bespoke look of the office has been designed to showcase to clients what JGA can offer, as they are able to offer interior design advice alongside their architectural services.
“I think that personal tastes are important in this line of business, and this does show what I like. We’ve incorporated features such as crittall style windows, sliding doors and brick effect walls, which can serve to demonstrate to clients the type of things we could do for them in their projects.
“The lighting design has also been particularly important in this space. We had a bespoke grid fabricated by an electrician for our boardroom, inspired by an idea I saw on Pinterest. These little quirky features have the impact and showcase what we can do.”
While New York lofts may have served as the inspiration, the JGA office certainly doesn’t forget its Guernsey roots. WE HAD A REALLY GOOD BUILDING TEAM OF SUB-CONTRACTORS ON THIS PROJECT AND WE’RE DELIGHTED WITH THE RESULT.
“We wanted to make sure we introduced some very local features so we have a stencil on the wall showing a local scene including the easily identifiable Town Church. We also have some artwork around the office from local artist Tiffany Matthews, and we are looking to develop that local input even further.”
From start to finish, the project has taken around 18 months. Planning permission had to be sought before any building work could commence, as the building use had to changed from industrial storage to office space. Once that had been granted, work could begin to turn what was an empty shell into a modern office space. While Covid did cause some delays, James said the project was fairly straightforward without any unexpected surprises.
“That smooth journey was in large part down to the team we had working on the project. We had a really good building team of subcontractors on this project and we’re delighted with the result.”
That result may well evolve in the future, however, as the building has been designed with growth in mind.
THE CONTRACTORS
• M&R Construction • J Avery Electrics • Guernsey Trade Windows • Pure Plumbing • Norman Piette • Stainless Steel Fabrications • Channel Welders • CBL Consulting • Quantum • Rock IT • POS Interiors • Buster & Punch • Reclaimed Brick-tile • Peppermill Interiors • Loop • DWA Flooring • Carve Creative • Dowding Signs • Sound & Vision • Sure • Tiffany Anna Matthews • Jaine Vermeulen Gardens • The Drone Ranger
Before
After
The current team happily fits on the first floor, so there is still plenty of scope on the ground floor to open up more working space if necessary. For now, it’s mainly clients who will get to enjoy the benefits of that area.
“The boardroom has been a key part of the design, both from a style point of view to serve as inspiration, and for the service it will allow us to offer clients as it gives us a great space to showcase our projects. As part of the build, we had a real focus on IT which will bring tangible benefits.
“Design communication will improve dramatically with our new facilities. We can show clients exactly what we’re working on and provide 3D walkthroughs that will really help them picture how their design will look in reality.”
But while James is focused on his clients and how they can benefit from the new space, he admits that he did enjoy running his own project from start to finish.
“I had a clear vision from the beginning as to how I wanted the space to look, and it was very satisfying to then see that come to fruition. As a practice, we aim to do that for all of our projects and bring that feeling to all of our clients so that they are as happy in their space as we are in ours.”
Health and Safety in practice
Almost 25 years after its previous version was developed, Guernsey’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been consulting with industry stakeholders on the new Guernsey Construction (Design and Management) 2020 Approved Code of Practice (ACoP). The HSE wants to find out what the industry feels would be a sensible approach to making health and safety accessible and effective.
AS FAR AS ENFORCEMENT GOES, WE WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A LEAD IN TIME TO ENSURE INDUSTRY CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND FACTOR THE NEW REQUIREMENTS INTO NEW PROJECTS.
When Guernsey’s HSE began its conversations with industry on how to update the island’s code of practice, they outlined three options: to leave the original 1996 code in place; to adopt current UK regulations outright; or to find a middle ground similar to the approach Jersey implemented in 2017 and develop an island-specific code adapting the lessons learned elsewhere.
Health and safety inspector, Matthew Coggins, has been the man in charge of the project and says the consensus amongst industry professionals was clearly to pursue the third option and develop a Guernsey-specific code similar to Jersey’s, which would benefit pan-island organisations.
“The current code of practice dates back to 1996, which was certainly accepted by industry as being outdated, and no longer fit for purpose. There has been a certain amount of confusion in recent years as HSE staff would be undertaking site visits and talking about modern standards, and the industry would still be relying on the outdated provisions. It put both sides in a difficult position.”
With that situation ongoing, it has been clear that the 1996 provisions required updating, and the recent consultation has focused on how best to do that. For Matthew, whatever precise form the new code takes, it will certainly be an overall benefit to the industry.
“We are keen to follow the UK’s example and promote Safety Schemes in Procurement, which will require checks to be carried out before any work commences. A central database will hold relevant information so a health and safety coordinator is able to simply check that and know that all relevant training, experience etc has been completed. We are aware that the requirement may be a little onerous at first, but we are hopeful it will develop a good health and safety culture at all levels.” Unlike regulations, a Code of Practice is not legally binding. However, it is a quasi-legal document which does bring responsibilities for those in the industry, as Matthew explains.
“If an industry professional follows what is in the ACoP then they will have complied with the minimum required within the health and safety ordinance. If an incident occurs, their actions will first of all be compared with the requirements under the ACoP and if they have met them then they will have met their responsibilities. It is therefore recognised within the industry as having legal standing without having the prescriptive nature of regulation.”
Matthew admits that the feedback from industry on the ACoP has raised some concerns, including the financial implications of the new requirements and the way in which it will be enforced.
“The intention is certainly not for the new code to be too much of a burden to industry – anyone involved in leading the project who wants to take on the coordinator role can do so, whether that is the designer or the principal contractor. As far as enforcement goes, we will certainly have a lead in time to ensure industry can make adjustments and factor the new requirements into new projects.”
As well as the open consultation, the HSE has spoken with organisations such as the CIOB, GBTEA, Guernsey Chamber of Commerce and GOSHA.
While the precise nature of the new ACoP is still be decided, what is for certain is that it will be updated much more frequently than its predecessor. The HSE wants to consider it a ‘living document’ that will be reviewed every couple of years to ensure it meets the needs of industry and achieves its objective of keeping those working within the sector safe.
