PCPT Architects

Drapers Hall

The Higgs Charity have appointed PCPT to do an outline feasibility for Drapers Hall in Coventry. The building dates to the early C19th and is a remarkable suite of rooms including a magnificent top-lit ballroom such that you can almost imagine a scenario and social mores from a Jane Austen novel.

The grade II* listed building maybe somewhat unassuming on the outside, but inside, the building is one of the great secrets of Coventry and could be made to provide badly needed performance space. It is ‘The Higg’s’ belief that the building should be opened up for stimulating uses in particular for the young of the city.

Charterhouse

The Charterhouse Coventry Preservation Trust has appointed a team led by PCPT Architects to consider the future of the Grade I listed Carthusian Monastery (Charterhouse) on the London Road in Coventry.

The site had been used by the local college but became superfluous to needs; it was being offered for sale but PCPT have been able to help the community prepare proposals such that the site has been have been acquired by the trust and a grant from the Architectural Fund secured to start to look at the future opportunities.

A Charterhouse was a closed community with hermits dedicated to prayers occupying two storey ‘houses’ around the cloister. Only a few Charterhouses were built outside of France and this is a unique survivor with the Prior’s House substantially intact amid extensive riverside grounds with medieval walls and much archaeological evidence.

Exciting features such as wall paintings remain and it is PCPT’s role to consider the best ways to preserve and make a sustainable future for the benefit of the community. Micro brewery anyone ……………… or maybe Coventry’s own special brand of Chartreuse!

Royal Bank Of Scotland

PCPT Architects have enjoyed a forty year relationship with the Royal Bank of Scotland and its predecessors, going back to National Provincial. We are, again, delighted to be assisting them with a group of off-shore projects to modernise, rationalise and improve their estate.

Our work involves design and interiors as well as project management of the construction where rules regarding planning, tax and VAT, Building Regulation, duties on importing goods, etc. and are somewhat different and need a steady hand and experience. The package of work is in the region of £5m and will be completed in mid 2013.

Sad News...

PCPT Outing to Brussels, 2003.

It is with sad regret that we announce the death of Hazel Cockings, who died whilst on holiday just a few days ago.

For those who knew her, Hazel worked for PCPT from June 1990 until December 2009 when she retired. For twenty years she was always a good colleague and someone who talked sense and acted sensibly. She always had a good word to say about all her colleagues and was a committed 'PCPTer'. Hazel will be remembered with affection particularly for office events and PCPT jaunts overseas, Christmas and such.

David Mahony saw Hazel and her husband Dave just two weeks ago and her enthusiasm was as ever. We missed Hazel when she retired; we will miss her more now.

Our thoughts go out to Dave and their family who have also helped PCPT so much over the years.

More Awards

PCPT’s work in Far Gosford Street, Coventry, has received a further clutch of awards at a ceremony in Birmingham’s International Convention Centre on Friday 4th July. Harrabin Construction, the contractors under a traditional JCT Contract, administered by PCPT, received the Built in Quality awards for 38-40 Far Gosford Street and PCPT received the WMCEE Heritage Award for the work in the street with CDP and Coventry City Council as the clients.

With 30 English Heritage Listed and locally listed buildings from almost every generation since the early 16th century, the street is a survivor and these awards come at the end of the first phase which has focused on bringing the existing - especially the historic - fabric of the street into use. The next phase follows on from the Compulsory Purchase Order award made in the spring that should see the ‘straggler’ development coming forward and then the construction of modern infill in a courtyard setting lining Sky Blue Way starting later this year.

With a shortlisting of three projects across two categories in the awards, as Ralph Minott of Calthorpe Estates says, it is ‘a testament to PCPT, being part of so much that heritage stands for in the region’.

Very Sad News...

It is with great regret that we announce the death of Mike Phillips. Michael qualified as an architect at Birmingham School of Architecture in Margaret Street and became a partner and then a director of Phillips Cutler Phillips Troy and PCPT respectively having joined his brother John in the early 1960’s starting in the West Bromwich office. As an architect Michael displayed a hunger to learn and an excellent grasp of design influences – particularly Finnish – which was reflected in the work he did in housing for private, volume and one-off clients which included St Modwen, Tarmac, Bloor, Mclean Homes. PCPT gained a series of design awards – Civic Trust, RIBA Awards - for Michael’s schemes in Wales at Port Dinorwic, Beddgelert, Deganwy and Porthmadog.

The small group of houses in the grounds of the Royal Goat at Beddgelert has the finest siting with its angular roof lines and spare materials, white render and harsh cottage vernacular merging so well with the lush landscape of inland Snowdonia, but it is Porthmadog which, although it took a little longer to gain recognition, remains the most significant design. In the 1970’s permission was granted on the slate wharves as a holiday development. A series of long terraces of small segmental rectilinear units all fronting the harbour to the west, the sea to the south or the estuary to the east and it was in that order that phases - dependent on market conditions and sales – were built; it was the time of the 3-day-week and the sale of one block allowing the next to proceed.

Porthmadog was visited by Francois Sperry and Sir Bertram Clough Williams Ellis who both wrote articles in praise of PCPT’s brave designs and gradually public affection followed. Porthmadog slate wharf is now the gentrified South Snowdon Wharf and residents - who include those who bought in 1975 - love it. Locally the scheme was described as ‘New York’ but today there is something so right about the almost ‘brutalist’ design in the harbour setting and although some of the greys and sepia render colours are starting to change to Tobermory garish – Suffolk Pink and Coventry Blue - and the odd plastic door and window has appeared, it remains 1975 in Portmadog.

Mike died aged 74 at his home on 15th May and he will be missed by family friends and the practice he helped establish.

168 High Street, Dudley

Recently completed: A total refurbishment of an existing corner shop building known as 168 High Street in Dudley. It was originally owned by local retailer ‘Preedy’s’. The refurbished building is now a ground floor retail unit with first and second floor student accommodation containing 6 bedrooms. The works were part funded by Dudley MBC utilising ‘Townscape Heritage Initiative’ funding

The main building dates from Victorian period but there is an older Georgian property hiding underneath. Underneath that there is also some evidence of a much earlier stone building (1650’s?). The older existing shop-front dates from the 1920’s. Photographic evidence was used to refurbishment the shop front and return it to 1920’s style including moving the door back to the corner.

The works also included the following: New lime render, rebuilt and refurbished roof structure, new natural slate roof finish with cast iron rainwater goods, new sash windows with ‘Slimlite’ double glazing based on original type (corded and weights), major structural repairs, insulation (internal walls and roof) and rewired

35 Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham

Recently completed full restoration and extension of this key Grade II* listed building on the Calthorpe Estate, Birmingham

This Georgian building, dating back to 1820s, has been restored to provide new office accommodation. The majority of the work to this building was restoration, with specialist rendering work as necessity to retain existing features and finishes. Internal restoration and the new extension were carried out by working closely with Birmingham City Council’s Conservation and Building Control officers to incorporate traditional materials and techniques including lime render and lime plaster works and specialist paints in accordance with heritage listing requirements.

Special features included the restoration of the iron balstrude and handrail of the grand staircase, doors, sash windows and all the existing 180 year old timber floors were repaired, renovated and reinforced.

Insider Property Award for Fargosford Street

PCPT are delighted to announce that they were part of last weeks winning team, the Fargo Partnership, as Fargosford Street, Coventry won the Regeneration Award at the Insider Property Awards 2010, which were held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel at the NEC.

The plan is to turn a run down edge of Coventry city centre into a thriving area of creative businesses and alternative retail and leisure. The plan is extremely complex and the judges were impresses by the level and depth of cooperation shown by the partnership members.» Read more

New project win - Bridgewater Potteries

PCPT have beaten strong competition to win the RENEW North Staffordshire commission for development of design options for the (re)development of the existing Bridgewater Potteries site to determine a solution which best fits with the aspirations for the area but also with the aspirations of Bridgewater Potteries.

Bridgewater Potteries is currently operating from an existing building within the Canal Quarter which is within the ownership of the public sector. Overall the existing premises are an inefficient location for the current and future needs of the pottery company. » Read more

Refurbishing more sustainable than replacement

PCPT assist in identifying refurbishment as the more sustainable option. We assist developers and their advisers recognise the incentives and opportunities to building refurbishment over demolition and new build.

Rising energy costs are making refurbishment projects an increasingly attractive option. Refurbishment is traditionally viewed as more risky and costly than new build, though the benefits of heritage conservation, community retention and higher resale values are acknowledged.» Read more

PCPT supporting the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign

PCPT are pleased to be supporting the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. We are providing pro bono architectural design services to help establish a new Neuro Muscular Centre for the Midlands at the Lakeside Centre, Kings Norton, Birmingham.

The NeuroMuscular Centre, has been designed to work to support people affected by musuclar dystrophy, creating an environment where full potential and optimal well being can be achieved, through employment, training and physiotherapy. » Read more

National contracts awarded by national Bank

PCPT continue their long history of working for financial institutions across the UK and Europe. The practice were appointed earlier in 2010 to undertake the Lloyds TSB ‘Your Branch Design’ retail & commercial refurbishment and remodeling roll-out programme across the UK.

This rapid programme will meet the Bank’s desire to be customer relationship focused and to respect the diminishing need for traditional bank cash transactions, as the global trend towards reduced cash and cheques becomes a UK reality. » Read more

Kewford Eagles - The Grass Roots Project

Acting as Lead Designers, PCPT are very excited to announce that we have secured full Planning Approval with both Dudley MBC and South Staffordshire Council for a new development with local football team Kewford Eagles called “The Grass Roots project”. Plans for the 30 acre site in Wall Heath, include 11 pitches of varying sizes, a premier pitch, 100 car parking spaces plus coach parking and overspill parking.

» Read more