It is a difficult day when you suddenly realise your parents are getting older and that they will increasingly need your help. For me it was when my Mum had a stroke 3 years ago and became paralysed, not able to speak or communicate. The long journey of recovery is still going, but with the […]
The number of over 60s living in the UK is continuing to rise. Designers and developers need to understand the needs of this section of the population. There are a lot of assumptions around what the over 60s look for in a living space, but we’ve found through our work with a number of retired […]
“Let’s face it – we do not need special architecture for old people, we need the right architecture for all ages. The problem with designing environments specifically for older people is that nobody wants to move into them: they are the last resort, not the first choice. ” Matthias Hollwich with Matthew Hoff man , […]
This is the first in a series of blog posts looking at the theme of design for later living, or how we could be designing for an increasing ageing population. Over the last 10 years, like many young architectural practices we found ourselves cutting out teeth within the private residential sector. As we have moved […]
Why Living Space Architects The name relates to our own desire as architects to create spaces that are alive with energy and activity. It is after-all the activity and events that happen in spaces that make them special and our architecture is a backdrop to this, an enabler if you like. I think a lot […]
After deciding we should be practicing what we preach we now have a new electric company car. We decided to purchase a Nissan Leaf which has a range of around 100 miles, but this does depend on how many hills you drive up. Thankfully the regenerative breaking helps restore the range on the way back […]
Empty offices above shops could soon be converted into flats if proposed changes from the government come into force next month. Currently planning permission is required for material changes of use of land or a building even if no building work is required. Converting an office above a shop to a residential use would therefore usually […]
Undertaking a building project, whatever its scale, can be a daunting experience. As the chair of the Exeter branch of the Royal Institute of British Architects I am often involved in dinner party discussions where I hear the story of someone’s bad experience with an architect. “But were they really an architect?” I ask; “I’m […]
We were excited to hear that MPs on the Communities and Local Government Committee share a similar enthusiasm for self-build homes as housing minister Grant Shapps. In their report on ‘financing of new housing supply’, they call on the government to establish a fund to incentivise local authorities to support pilot ‘volume self-build’ schemes by […]