Hewitt Studios recently achieved a draft allocation of 511 houses in response to a call for sites made by the City of York Council as part of their new Local Plan process.
Acting on behalf of the Moor Lane Partnership (a consortium of local landowners) and in collaboration with the City of York Council, we formulated a proposal for a sustainable new urban extension which will ultimately support up to 1000 units of much-needed family housing, together with essential community facilities and extensive areas of public open space.
The 350 acre development is located near Askham Bog, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. Our proposals seek to protect and enhance this unique habitat through a series of carefully considered hydrological measures, which include the introduction of a transitional water body (LAGG) and the establishment of a hydrological protection zone (HPZ) designed to benefit the Bog in the long term. Askham Bog is owned and managed by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
A development partner is currently being sought for the project, with further representations to be made to the City of York Council over the coming months.
An illustrative masterplan pack can be downloaded here
Hewitt Studios were invited to contribute a 'dream project' for a full-page feature in May's edition of FX magazine.
The feature is titled 'If Only...' and the brief suggested that we imagine a concept that’s free of practical constraints (e.g. budget, deadlines, etc.)
Our submission asks 'If Only... the old Severn Road Bridge could be transformed into a sustainable research station'.
Read all about it the latest issue or online.
Our Arts Space for Hereford College of Art is featured in the latest issue of AJ Specification.
You should be able to preview it online via this link.
Following an invited competition, Hewitt Studios have been appointed to prepare a feasibility study for the redevelopment of Freshford Village Memorial Hall.
We have embarked on a three-phase programme of community consultation to establish a preferred approach to the project. We are also helping to develop an innovative business model, supported by both public and private sectors, to ensure a sustainable future for what should be an exemplar community facility.
The construction of our Code 5 Eco-Housing at Ralph Allen Yard in Combe Down has now reached roof level.
This is the far-reaching view from the higher of the two terraces - the eagle-eyed among you may even be able to spot a white horse...
Our Arts Space for Hereford College of Art is featured in this month's Legnoarchitettura - the Italian architecture magazine.
This latest edition focuses on laminated timber, featuring projects by the likes of Renzo Piano and K2S Architects Ltd.
Our innovative 'twisted trestle' structure is the subject of a 10-page in-depth article.
A digital preview is available on the Legnoarchitettura website - Bellisimo!
Members of Hewitt Studios team recently designed this eco-friendly show stand for independent bicycle company Freshtripe.
Displayed at the Bespoked Handmade Bicycle Show in Bristol this weekend, the stand was constructed from FSC-certified Oriented Strand Board (OSB), sustainably sourced from FinnForest. Graphics were applied to give the stand the appearance of a giant packing crate!
The stand is fully demountable and will be re-used at next month's Spin Urban Cycle Show in London.
Pop along if you can...
We are pleased to report that our Arts Space for Hereford College of Art received a Commendation in the national Civic Trust Awards yesterday.
The awards are given to projects that make a significant contribution to the quality and appearance of the built environment. Commendation level schemes demonstrate a good standard of architecture or design, sustainability, inclusive design and provide a positive social, cultural, environmental or economic benefit to the local community.
The Judges said of the HCA Arts Space: 'The use of natural materials (including locally derived woods) in the construction of the building, the choice of modern practical furniture by young designers, excellent moveable displays and lighting have all helped to create a first-class environment for students and the community.'
The ceremony was hosted by a lively George Clarke in Cardiff City Hall - many thanks to the organisers for the welcome accolade and a great evening in good company!
Photo courtesy of Civic Trust Awards & Sally Uphill Photography.
We recently held the final community consultation for our Code 6 Eco-House near Wells, in Somerset. It was extremely well attended, having been widely publicised in the local media.
This was the last in an extensive series of engagements which have sought to shape the project in line with community desires and expectations. As a result of sessions undertaken last year the project was made even more energy efficient (from Code 5 to 6), reduced in area, nestled further into the site/hillside, softened in form (reflecting the undulating curves of the surrounding hills) and more extensively landscaped.
Saturday's session provided the opportunity to show the Theale and Wedmore community the results of their input over the last 12 months.
We are pleased to report that the response was overwhelming positive, with ALL recorded written comments demonstrating support for the scheme.
The planning application will be submitted shortly.
The extensive piling and substructure works are now complete on our Limpley Stoke Eco House.
We were on site earlier today to inspect sample panels for the in-situ concrete walls, when the view (and cold) literally took our breath away!
This is going to be a very special place upon completion...
Hewitt Studios Arts Space for Hereford College of Art is featured in this month's Tasarim magazine - a sister publication of the well known FRAME magazine, but hailing (rather more exotically) from Istanbul!
Napoleon Bonaparte was once quoted as saying ‚ “If the world was a single country, Istanbul would be its capital.”
Hopefully, this means we are at the centre of the international design debate... (cough)
As part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations Hereford Civic Society invited nominations for Hereford’s best buildings and projects created in Herefordshire in the past 60 years. These are all 'places that have contributed to life in the county, its architecture and made it a better place to live'.
We are please to report that a couple of Hewitt Studios projects made it into the top 6, in the form of our recent work for the Herefordshire College of Technology and Hereford College of Arts.
The full list of projects can be found in this supplement, which includes the views and comments of Alan Brooks, the author of the newly published Herefordshire Pevsner Herefordshire Pevsner.
Thanks to all those who voted.
