Squeezing It In

We are delighted to see so many of our projects featured in Mary Leslie’s fabulous new book entitled ‘Squeezing It In - Designing For Compact Spaces’.

Squeezing It in // Mary Leslie // Cover Image: Amy (AJ) Adams

“Our living spaces are getting smaller but, as we spend more time at home, they must now work harder than ever to provide us with room to relax, work and entertain. Interior designers need to understand how to build accessibility, circulation, storage and lighting into the most restricted areas without compromising on style.

In this jargon-free guide, Mary Leslie demonstrates how to design for compact living, proposing creative solutions that can be applied to a variety of settings. A versatile designer may be addressing a cramped studio flat one day and dressing room for an international business traveller the next; this book provides inspiration and advice for every kind of small space, and every budget.

Organised around the different areas of the home, Squeezing It In examines familiar problems and offers clever, immediately applicable ideas for making the best of pocket-sized spaces. The entire design process is considered alongside complete examples, from the UK and internationally, which are generously illustrated with full-colour photographs, plans and sketches.”

Squeezing It In // Mary Leslie // Photography by French + Tye

Squeezing It In // Marly Leslie // Photography by French + Tye

Squeezing It In // Mary Leslie // Photography by French + Tye

THE FUTURE OF COUNCIL HOUSING

Council housing is usually viewed as homes built for the poorest of people where design quality is said to be undermined by poor construction. The usual perception of council estates is deemed to be poverty stricken, isolated by poorly lit walkways, surrounded by brutalist concrete walls and haven for crime and drug dealing. This stereotypical perception has encouraged private developers and local councils to target council housing estates for demolition and redevelopment. 

Research has shown that currently 237 estates in London are facing or undergoing some form of regeneration; either for demolition or privatisation. The Institute of public policy research report, put together by Savills, produced for the government cabinet, titled ‘Completing London’s Streets’, recommends the demolition of homes of over 400,000 Londoners (Savills, 2016). Removing housing stock during a period of  a ‘housing crisis’ and driving out low-income tenants from their homes instigates further problems in itself. We are not only demolishing building fabric, but more importantly we are fizzling out tightly-knit communities.

As I go through my final ‘home run’ of architectural training to become an Architect, this stigma on council homes is something I have always found immensely troubling. In architecture school we were told about the huge investments that were put into social housing during the post war years; local councils and housing associations teaming up with Architects to come up with pioneering initiatives to ramp up housing supply. ‘Housing for all’ was the aim, which brought about the beginnings of a welfare state.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ALEXANDRA ROAD ESTATE // KHALID AIDEED

PHOTOGRAPHY: ALEXANDRA ROAD ESTATE // KHALID AIDEED

Alexandra Road is a prime example of social housing schemes built in the 1970’s that provided a beacon of hope for middle to low income families in London, which was later Grade II* listed in 1993. However, the majority of these estates are not seen in the same light and their architectural asset and face seems to take more precedence over its purpose or most importantly the existing residents and users that occupy these spaces. 

PHOTOGRAPHY: CENTRAL HILL ESTATE // ARCHITECTS FOR SOCIAL HOUSING

PHOTOGRAPHY: CENTRAL HILL ESTATE // ARCHITECTS FOR SOCIAL HOUSING

There lies a different fate with the Central Hill council estate, located in Crystal Palace South London, which is deemed not fit for purpose and since 2015 has been set for demolition and redevelopment by the council. There has been resistance against the redevelopment of the estate by the Central Hill residents who formed a campaign, named ‘Save Central Hill Community’. They  made an alliance with the ‘Architects For Social Housing’ non-profit group to propose architectural alternatives to demolition and to find ways to increase capacity and to generate collective funds to renovate existing homes. Despite their efforts, their ideas were never acknowledge or considered due to the local authorities power of land ownership of the council homes. The futures of the local residents relies on the commercial incentives of the council (i.e the landowner) and the private investor. After all, their decisions are merely based on the socio-economic climate and the ability to sustain long term financial stability.

PHOTOGRAPHY: CENTRAL HILL ESTATE // ARCHITECTS FOR SOCIAL HOUSING

So where does this leave us and where could we do better?

Clarifying the term ‘affordable housing’, ‘social housing’ or ‘regeneration’ and what this all means for the residents, the council and the professions within the built environment would help in reinstating the purpose of council housing.

As Architects it is important to take into account the ultimate impact of our work. It is also difficult to deliver morally sound projects for the user where there are no policies, regulations, contracts or government body to protect the human right of tenants within council homes. I therefore implore all designers, professional bodies, government and non-government bodies to engage with and listen to the voices of the residents to more widely help co-design and fabricate design policy. In a time where the new generation struggle to get onto the housing ladder, it is now time to think outside the box and propose innovative and alternative ways of living.

By Khalid Aideed

How to Extend Your Victorian Terraced House

We are delighted that a selection of our projects have been featured in this essential resource for designing a wide variety of extensions to a Victorian terrace.

Author: Jacqueline Green. Photography by FRENCH + TYE. RIBA Publishing.

Our projects are featured in case studies covering the full gamut of nineteenth-century terrace house types. Detailed plans reveal, floor by floor, a range of options for extending and reconfiguring space.

Elgin Avenue featured in Homes & Gardens Magazine

Patio door ideas – every style of glazing, from Crittall and aluminium to traditional styles

See the full article here and a link to the project here.

Managing Clients Expectations and Realisation Using Building Information Modelling

At MW Architects all of our drawings are produced using ArchiCAD; from initial design sketches to detailed construction packages. Following its launch in 1987, ArchiCAD was the first CAD product on a personal computer able to create both 2D and 3D geometry. Now in version 23 it has won BIM product of the year 9 times on the trot. We use the program to develop all of our designs in 3D, ensuring a higher level of accuracy and quality than is achievable with the use of 2D CAD alone.

The built-in ArchiCAD features allow our clients to examine our models either wholly or in custom segments. The resulting 2D output we produce therefore consists of the highest level of accuracy possible. Our approach, made possible with the use of ArchiCAD, allows us to tackle each project with the capacity to push the boundaries whilst keeping the process efficient. With the ability to see through the entire design process from concept to project realisation within the same 3D platform, our team avoids many of the costly and timely hiccups that occur when small alterations need to be implemented once projects are on-site.

ArchiCAD simulates physical building designs within one comprehensive 3D model that integrates information from all aspects of the design. Views, plans, sections and elevations are all created automatically and remain up to date with any alterations made to the building model on which they are based. Developing a design and producing output is a fast and efficient process using this method of working . We believe it is important to make full use of the latest technologies to not only help us design, but also to communicate our ideas as effectively as possible to clients, planners, and contractors.

ArchiCAD provides the opportunity to use both real-time realistic visualisations and Virtual Reality. The use of these top end technologies allow us and clients to fully comprehend the look, feel and light quality of proposals, as well as compare different material finishes.

Our ability to export Virtual Reality enabled ArchiCAD models to BIMx, allows us to easily integrate Virtual Reality into our design process. MW Architects offer clients a complementary BIMx model that can be opened on smart phones and tablets, giving clients the opportunity to explore realistic 3D renditions of design proposals. This means they can effectively feed in to the process, whilst remaining fully informed of all developments. As well as clients, contractors also have the ability to utilise BIMx models. Not only can they be used to better understand projects, but also as a tool for communication during site meetings ArchiCAD has proven invaluable to us in all aspects of our work. With its use we feel confident in communicating our design intent, tackling challenges, and ensuring efficiency at all stages of a project. The scheduling tools help us to maintain coordinated information about sanitary ware, lighting, electrics, windows, doors, and windows, with little room for error or misunderstandings. Fully modelling and resolving our design proposals in 3D not only forces us to consider every single aspect and junction of a design, but also gives us the ability to produce high quality imagery paramount, for the successful and smooth running of every design project.

Perfectly Formed - Good Homes Magazine

Great to see MY house featured in the May 2020 edition of Good Homes magazine. Full project details on our website here.

BY Debbie Jeffrey © Good Homes magazine, as featured in the May 2020 issue, on sale March 2020.www.goodhomesmagazine.com. Photography by FRENCH + TYE.

Real Homes - Greenwich Garden Studio

Our garden studio for a writer in South London, has been featured in Real Homes magazine. When space is short in your home, creating the extra room you need outside could be the answer.

REAL HOMES. SARAH WARWICK. PHOTOGRAPHS BY FRENCH + TYE

See Projects for full details and before and after photos.

REAL HOMES. SARAH WARWICK. PHOTOGRAPHS BY FRENCH + TYE

As space is at a premium the partition separating the two spaces contains a Barbican sink within the stud work on the WC side and a series of shelves and compartments for printers and fold down desks on the reading room side.

REAL HOMES. SARAH WARWICK. PHOTOGRAPHS BY FRENCH + TYE

Your Build - New Build House for Mr & Mrs Smith

Our new build house in Hampstead has been featured as a case study in Your Build. The four storey build includes generous living spaces and a striking sculptural staircase. Outside, a grand terrace includes an external kitchen and at the end of the garden - the Yoga Dojo - a stand alone pavilion nestles under a canopy of lime trees. Full project details can be found here.

Your Build. Winter 2019/20. Photos by FRENCH & TYE.