Find out more via the Trust’s news pages at http://tinyurl.com/6w6mlmn.

Gelder Harvey Architects turns 5 years old today.  And what a five years its been. 

We’ve gone from the tail end of boom to recession (and possibly a double dip), seen planning law changes proposed and knocked back, stagnation in building of new homes and the end of many public sector funding initiatives.  In the private sector, unless you’re thinking about food retail, it’s a struggle to get financed.

On the positive side, innovative models for funding are emerging and with growth in the US and China maybe we are beginning to glimpse the still distant prospect of a recovery.  Mid-term, the government must also be beginning to think about the feel good factor and maybe that will filter through as investment in the public sector estate and measures encouraging private sector development.

What’s it been like for us here at Gelder Harvey Architects?  Well, we’ve maintained our strong and rewarding relationships with key valued clients and have sought to find new opportunities, not just wait for them to come knocking.  That’s always been our approach – whether finding sites for client, clients for sites or just building close erelationships with trusted, skilled and enthusiastic colleagues. 

In these last five years we’ve tried hard to keep a healthy balance between sectors and across markets and that has helped us.  At the same time we have been driven to deliver high quality, award-winning design.  In the current market, mediocrity isn’t acceptable.

So, thanks again to everyone who has worked with us over the last five years.  We look forward to the next five.  We like a challenge.

We hope you found it interesting.  We’re very pleased to have been involved in some very rewarding and worthwhile projects across a range of sectors and for a variety of clients.  We’d like to thank everyone, once again, for working with us – whether client, contractor, consultant or consultee.

We look forward to a busy and prosperous new year for us all.

Dementia Care Home, Otley, West Yorkshire

Our proposals for a new build 60-bed care home are currently submitted for planning approval, with a decision expected soon in the new year.  The facility will provide very high quality care for people suffering from dementia.  It will include landscaped gardens, a therapy room and a variety of day and activity spaces.

The building has been designed to suit the local character and to prove a warm and inviting feel for residents and their families.  The proposals have also had to take into account significant floor risk and mitigation issues.

Fringle Mill, Darley nr Harrogate

This project was closer to home than most we are appointed on.

This project saw the conversion of a dis-used mill building in a picturesque village location to provide five distinctive executive homes.  The development makes use of original features and required sensitive landscaping.

Manningham Library

This project has been one of our most successful, achieving success in the RICS Pro Yorkshire Awards 2010 (Highly Commended, Community Benefit) as well as being named Society of Chief Architects in Local Authorities Awards 2010 ‘Building of the Year’ (Conservation category).

City of Bradford MDC won Big Lottery Fund funding to extend and refurbish Manningham Community Library. The library has been extended to increase the overall floor area by 50%. The existing library has been completely refurbished internally and externally.

The project benefitted from involvement of the local community at each stage. The library is now able to accommodate a wider range of activities while a new community garden will help to reinforce a sense of ownership and community involvement.

The Castle Museum – Debtors Prison Refurbishment

This is the last of our series of current and past projects at the Castle Museum.

It is proposed that existing displays are removed and the remaining fixtures and fittings and modern interventions stripped back. The purpose of this is twofold – firstly, to provide a shell for new displays including new infrastructure and secondly, to assist in the interpretation of the building through revealing original features and key subsequent interventions. A key principle would be that the layout of the displays would be contained within the spaces of the original prison layout, i.e. cellular in form. This will assist in achieving the aims of interpretation of the building whilst also being strongly connected with the themes of the displays presented in the museum as a whole.

It is also proposed to introduce a new passenger lift to provide access to all three floors of the wing and to reconfigure non-public areas and improve efficiency and circulation.

To date, Gelder Harvey Architects has prepared an option appraisal and developed concept plans for the project. This has culminated in the completion of a feasibility study and assistance in preparation of a successful 1st round HLF application.

York Castle Museum – Kirkgate Alterations

This is our most recent project at the Castle Museum and was handed over just this month.

The project concerned refurbishment and alterations to the visitor toilet area, adjacent to the ground floor ‘Kirkgate’ display and comprised refurbishing existing male and female toilets and creating a new disabled toilet/baby changing room.

The thematic and stylistic requirements for the project were established with YMT as needing to avoid a pastiche of Victorian toilets and instead to incorporate ‘highlights’ relating to Victoriana and providing a link with the museum displays. The brief also required the toilets to possibly include a display wall and other elements providing a contemporary interpretation of Victorian life and times.

The Kirkgate toilets refurbishment will compliment the planned refitting of the new Count Down to Kirkgate gallery.

Debtors Prison Exercise Yard, York Castle Museum

The second of a series of projects at the Castle Museum concerns reinstating the ‘original’ exercise yard.

This has required extensive research into the building and grounds as well as a comprehensive archaeological investigation and interpretative response.  Gelder Harvey Architects is working closely with English Heritage to establish a design which closely reflects the original arrangement whilst responding to the brief, which requires a flexible outdoor exhibition space.

The Castle Museum – Concourse, Cafe & Museum Shop

This is one of a series of projects we have worked on at York’s Castle Museum.

The museum shop has been relocated and refreshed and a brand new cafe introduced. Changes have also been made to the circulation spaces linking with the Debtors Prison wing and visitor facilities have also been improved.

The cafe had previously been located at first floor level, making access for some visitors difficult. The new cafe is much more accessible, looking on to Clifford’s Tower. The popular sweet shop has been retained, with the museum shop relocated and fully re-fitted.

The concept for the fit-out of the shop and cafe areas was developed by Gelder Harvey Architects with client York Museums Trust. The design was completed and installed by Concept Display Systems.

Elsewhere, the project has brought about improvements to the way visitor flow through the concourse into the display areas. Former toilets have been removed to reinstate an impressively vaulted ‘cell’ which now provides the link between the concourse and the Debtors Prison. Stores and corridor space have become new facilities in lieu. Meanwhile, ‘back of house’, new meeting space and stores have been created.