Design Engine » Business

Yew Tree Farm | Southampton

James Ferrero — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:19:06 +0000

Won by invited competition in September 2008, this 2,000 sqm office accommodation forms a ‘contemporary farm complex’ around an existing Grade 2 Llisted farmhouse within the emerging Adanac Park development in Nursling, Southampton. New neighbours will include Ordnance Survey and the park will be a major new employer for the area.
The low scale office scheme wraps around the farmhouse, shielding motorway noise and creating a courtyard setting for the house, which itself will be sensitively remodelled; to provide central suport and meeting rooms for the complex as a whole.

Gifford Office | North Baddesley

James Ferrero — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:16:03 +0000

Whilst Design Engine were masterplanning Gifford’s rural Southampton campus following their successful Carlton House collaboration and two subsequent phases of conversion, Gifford had taken a short lease on Roman House as temporary accommodation for their structural engineering teams. The building had fallen into disrepair, but had the potential to offer quality naturally ventilated, open plan studios – along the lines of Carlton House itself (voted ‘Best Office Project of the Year’ at the Building Services Awards 2005).
Design Engine was commissioned to refurbish the existing office space, create offices and meeting rooms, remodel the cores to meet current standards and to make positive alterations to the external entrance area in order to improve its appearance and functionality. The project was an essay in collaborative working on low-budget, fast-track delivery.

Buro Happold Offices | Bath

James Ferrero — Thu, 10 Feb 2005 14:04:49 +0000

Following the successful interior design and delivery of Buro Happold’s two London offices and their Leeds office, Design Engine were invited to make proposals for their original head office in Camden Mill, Bath. Set on the southern edge of the River Avon, the Grade 2 Listed mill represents a memory of the City’s past and is an important landmark for Bath. Our approach was to improve the connection of the working studios with the river and with the careful introduction of a double-height void along the northern side. This opened up the previously dark and labyrinthine accommodation, with a new reception, café, knowledge centre and glass- fronted meeting rooms; all organised around the new internal two-storey ‘street’ and connected to a generous balcony over the river.

Warley Reservoir Conversion | Essex

James Ferrero — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 14:01:43 +0000

Design Engine secured planning consent for the redundant Essex and Suffolk Water Pumping Station at Great Warley, Essex in September 2006. The site falls within the Green Belt and consists of two semi-subterranean reservoirs and four pump house buildings. The buildings have each been converted sympathetically to form a creative office environment, where the character of the industrial past will be complemented by ‘light-touch’ new architecture. The flagship building is the converted reservoirs, which offer open plan floors and good views through a new curtain wall to an enclosed courtyard. Daylight is received via generous rooflights, whilst being concealed from view by a grassed earth bund on four sides. The scheme has adopted a progressive agenda with regard to environmental design. The complex is being constructed under the Client’s own Construction Management.

Buro Happold Offices | London

James Ferrero — Wed, 15 Oct 2003 13:58:08 +0000

The design of a complete new environment for Buro Happold’s central London office brings with it a challenge to embody an ever-changing working culture. The shift of emphasis from ‘office’ to ‘studio’ enables the process of engineering to be celebrated, along with the final achievement of the built product. Buro Happold is responsible for some of the most innovative structural and environmental engineering intelligence in the world, much of which was ‘under wraps’ in the old office.
Tested on working prototype areas, a new hierarchy of working, designing, meeting and conference areas contribute to the day-to-day working pattern where communication between disciplines is paramount and truly integrated engineering solutions are born.

Moorside Live-Works Units | Winchester

James Ferrero — Sun, 25 Nov 2001 13:51:46 +0000

Situated on former railway land, the linear site separates a light industrial area from a site of special scientific interest. The new live-work accommodation is designed as a 12-unit terrace arrangement and provides adaptable space by integrating residential with employment in a sustainable development. The ‘S’ form section allows deliveries and service from the service road, whilst the floors above turn to look over water meadows opposite.

Gifford HQ | Southampton

James Ferrero — Tue, 20 Nov 2001 13:43:47 +0000

This is a new low-energy headquarters building designed within a ‘commercial green’ ethos. The studio building provides open plan office space for 150 engineers on two floors. A new brick reception wing mediates between the client’s current office, a 19th century coach house, and the larger studio building. The wing houses a double-height reception and exhibition area. In meeting its energy targets, the building will be the most energy efficient office in the UK.