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rixonarchitects

Multi Award winning Cirencester based Architects

Our tips for buying a refurb project... * ��Ho Our tips for buying a refurb project...
* ��How does the kitchen look? If it’s tired it’s likely a project!
* ��Has it been priced with ‘opportunity value’? Is the cost per square foot high for the area?
* ��If it’s a project and the cost per square foot is comparable with a finished house, it’ll be difficult to get its value to ‘wash its face’
* Try to understand what you could do under Permitted Development - this will help you understand whether your ‘hard line’ requirements could be met, without having to ask the planners for permission!
* ��Check if there are plumbed in radiators in the agents photos... if not, it’s likely a project!
* ��Check the bedroom sizes - also the restricted headroom areas...
* ��What areas aren’t the photos showing?? There’s normally a clue in there!
* ��Conservatories can often provide a design opportunity - to replace them as part of a wider extension project
* ��What are the windows like? Is there visible or smell of damp?
* ��Are there broken tiles on the roof? Might be a clue the roof needs attention, which can be expensive, but if you’re planning a project this may be done anyway
* ��Can you phase the project? If there’s an annexe, that could be done first, or last depending on need!

If you’re not sure what potential there might be, or struggle to visualise, we’d recommend getting a viewing with an Architect - paying for a few hours time can really help inform whether to go for it, or not!

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#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors
Our tips for buying a heritage project: * Is it li Our tips for buying a heritage project:
* Is it listed? If so, opportunities may be controlled by the planners, in which case; big changes will need consent internally and externally...
* Is it in a conservation area? Has it’s pros and cons and may restrict what extensions you could do in the future
* Commission a really comprehensive survey, from someone local who really understands the local vernacular - they’ll be able to identify big ticket problems.

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This is the busy time of year for people looking t This is the busy time of year for people looking to move home, so whether you're looking for a new build property, heritage or refurb; this week we wanted to share with you our tips for finding a project!

Here are some of our tips when buying a new build project...
* Is the garden overlooked? Is there a way to prevent it with (gentle) planting?
* Is it near a main road? Check the map!
* Check the planning consent (if there is one) for any hidden costs or complications. 
* What’s next door? Is there undeveloped land which might get built on in the future?
* Has it been priced with 'opportunity value'? Is the cost per square foot high for the area?
* Which way does the garden face? What is the connection like between the kitchen and the sun facing part of the garden??
* Check the bedroom sizes - also the restricted headroom areas...

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#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors
This is often the busiest time of year for prepari This is often the busiest time of year for preparing and submitting Planning Applications. Various projects are having their bat surveys carried out - a planning application pre-requisite for many of our projects. Requirements for Planning Applications are so wide ranging these days, it can take a long time to pull together and coordinate all the various consultant reports prior to submission - very rewarding once they’ve been submitted.

Finally, having got a few projects on site during the unusually dry spring, they are now progressing at pace as Contractors make hay while the sun shines. We are now working on various detail design packs for projects looking to start on site early next year!

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We’re really excited about plans to show off the We’re really excited about plans to show off the building - it’s looking like we’re going to be involved in the Cirencester History Festival in October - watch this space, we’ve got some pretty fun stuff planned. 

In commissioned work, we’ve received a few more Listed Building and Planning Consents, following collaborative working with Local Authorities, which is always pleasing. 

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Another frantic month! Pleased to report we have h Another frantic month! Pleased to report we have had a super busy month here at RA.

We’ve now settled into our new offices at Old Station Works @oldstationworks in Cirencester. The building seems willing and eager to step into the twenty first century, we’re fully embracing the industrial aesthetic and even have full fibre internet installed to the building.

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Not far in the future is bi-directional charging w Not far in the future is bi-directional charging with electric cars, that’s when things get really interesting with electricity - then we’ll be looking much more to software to bring these technologies together intelligently.

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We work by the fabric first principle - most of th We work by the fabric first principle - most of the energy used by a building is in its use, not its construction. So, as far as reasonable we design the building so that it requires less energy in use. This means an efficient building envelope - insulation and air tightness in floors, walls and roofs. It also means harnessing the sun where we can in the design - orientation, room uses, surrounding landscaping. 

Only then do we consider integrating renewable energy sources into the mix. Solar is the obvious go-to - provided there is largely south facing roof or land, without overshadowing. The further you veer away from this basic rule, the more the efficiency drops, and the less useful the panels are. The other obvious go-to, is air source heat pumps, often combined with batteries.

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It’s been a while since we talked about sustaina It’s been a while since we talked about sustainability on here, so we thought we’d give a little insight into how we work with sustainability on our projects.

We always say to clients at the start of any project, we will do what we can for sustainability as a matter of course in any project. It’s vital we consider form the start of the project, and it’s normally only us who will volunteer a strategy up front and as the project progresses. We also explain we will seek their approval for any proposals which are disproportionately expensive to implement. So, from the outset of any project, be that a new build low carbon home or an old and wonky listed building. 

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It’s the first time the building has been occupi It’s the first time the building has been occupied for over 30 years - possibly over 40 years, so we’re super excited and proud to be giving it a new lease of life. 

In the fullness of time, we plan to have people in to look around… watch this space, and give us a follow here for updates on the restoration: @oldstationworks

#heritagearchitecture #historicalarchitecture #historicrestorations #listedbuilding #architecturephotography #archilovers #historicrestorations 

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While many people know the building as a local lan While many people know the building as a local landmark, believe it or not the Railway Station has never had a registered address! Most people know it as that slightly odd looking building in the middle of Old Station Car Park. So, after nearly 200 years, the building’s address is Old Station Works, Sheep Street, Cirencester!

#heritagearchitecture #historicalarchitecture #historicrestorations #listedbuilding #architecturephotography #archilovers #historicrestorations 

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#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors
We’ve moved! Those who read our recent posts wi We’ve moved!

Those who read our recent posts will know we have finally found our perfect and permanent home - the old Railway Station in Cirencester. 

It’s been a busy month - we’ve been busily prepping a corner of the Old Railway Station for us to move into, the beginnings of Rixon Architects HQ. We’ve been diagnosing and repairing leaks, installing new electrics, putting in new plumbing systems, lots of decoration and a mega amount of cleaning!! We will continue to restore the old building, but at least we’re in!! A big thank you and kudos to our wonderful photographer @adamcarterphoto for the very cool shots of the building at the start of our restoration journey! 

#heritagearchitecture #historicalarchitecture #historicrestorations #listedbuilding #architecturephotography #archilovers #historicrestorations 

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#cotswoldliving #thecotswolds #amazinghomes #architectureanddesign #cotswoldstyle #houseandgardenuk #homesandinteriors
Think about that strong south facing wall - Is the Think about that strong south facing wall - Is there a risk of overheating if large glazing is facing south? If so, you could consider overhangs - this both removes the midday summer sun and gives a great covered area from the rain.

Of course the consideration list is endless, but these few tricks can really help set the design on the right path when thought about at the start of a project.

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For an extension, consider factors like the sun pa For an extension, consider factors like the sun path - where will the sun rise and set? Could you add windows into the sides to maximise sun shadows throughout the day? 

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We have a lot of enquiries for smaller extensions We have a lot of enquiries for smaller extensions and refurbishments. While we aren’t set up for these projects these days, we always try to provide tips and tricks to consider when thinking about your project. So we thought we’d share a few here on IG.

The first point to consider is the existing layout of your property - it may be you can simply rename rooms, or move existing walls around. While this might not solve your design conundrum, it might more easily solve the extension, and maybe even reduce the size of it. 

Working with a smaller, more efficient footprint is also better for the environment - so much of the co2 output is from heating our spaces. It goes without saying that it also costs more to heat a bigger house! So when we’re looking at designs, we look at the floor plan as a whole to get it working optimally - making sure the flow is perfect, obviously!! 

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A fan of the design museum in London, Jonathan too A fan of the design museum in London, Jonathan took a visit to the inevitability excellent Tim Burton retrospective exhibition…

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....but that’s not very instagram friendly, so h ....but that’s not very instagram friendly, so here are some of Jonathan’s sketches from a recent Caribbean trip he has been reluctant to share!!

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RA Monthly Update! Now it’s public, we can say RA Monthly Update!

Now it’s public, we can say Jonathan has been busily paddling behind the scenes to secure the Old Railway Station - dealing either with legals, identifying necessary building repairs, managing logistics, or spying potential opportunities. Really pleased we can finally talk about it!

We’re really excited about getting moved into part of the building, and then taking our time methodically restoring it.

We have had a backlog of Planning Applications in recent months, which are now excitingly working their way through to Planning Approvals. We then move onto time intensive detailed design packs. This is when we get into the nitty gritty detail. The team grows as we introduce various consultants, manufacturers and suppliers to the project - and we then move to coordinating all of our various packages, so they all dovetail perfectly! It sounds easy, but coordinating is often more time consuming than the drawing work itself. We then use this pack for tendering to builders to gain construction prices. 

We’ve also had some lovely and super interesting new enquiries, which we’re looking forward to getting started on!!

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We’re going to be sharing the evolving story her We’re going to be sharing the evolving story here on Instagram - here’s the handle: @oldstationworks. Give us a ‘follow’ if you’re interested in seeing progress. We also have ideas on how we can welcome people back into the building - we’ve already heard some lovely stories of people boarding trains from here. 
We’re really excited to have visitors once it’s ready.
We really hope we can give the building the attention it deserves, and be responsible custodians.
We hope the town approves, but most importantly, and this might sound odd, but we hope the building approves. 
So here we go.

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Some have said it’s rather a strange building, i Some have said it’s rather a strange building, in the middle of a car park, on the edge of town. 
And we agree. 
That’s what we love about it. 
It has so many stories to tell already.
It’s an important building for the town - and the only one we have designed by Brunel.
Those of you who know the building will know it is a little tired.
It hasn’t been properly used for over forty years (no one seems quite sure when it was last used).
The roofs have been leaking since the last refurbishment in the 1950s.

Typically Brunel, it’s a hybrid building - part stone, part concrete, part steel frame, and part timber frame. 
It’s quite a complex little structure.

Cotswold District Council carried out critical emergency repairs last year, protecting it from total dereliction.
We have been working incredibly proactively with CDC since we first expressed our interest.
This collaboration has meant we have already begun rescuing and restoring the building. 
This is what we do as practice, it felt like we were perfect for this majestic old building.

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