NISSI BEACH VILLAS, CYPRUS

Nissi Beach Villas Cyprus

Austin-Smith:Lord designed a number of high specification villas for Fastro Developments and SolTerra on the last beach-fronted site in Ayia Napa. Located to the East end of Nissi Beach the site has stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. As the brief called for exclusive properties, privacy was central to the development of the designs.

The decision was made at the start of the project to organise each plot around a pool and sheltered gardens, with an essentially L-shaped floor plan, the orientation of which was established through solar studies to achieve maximum daylight for the private external spaces as well as the main outlook from the principal reception and bedrooms. The villa forms a protective barrier for the private external space, with its external façade evolving into a thick curved concrete wall, reflecting traditional local structures and forming a distinctive street presence.

LOCATION: CYPRUS

CLIENT: FASTRO DEVELOPMENTS

VALUE: NOT DISCLOSED

SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: RESIDENTIAL

LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD

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STORE STREET MANCHESTER

Store Street Manchester

Construction of this elegant, crystalline 35-storey tower and its companion seven-storey block would make a dramatic statement about Manchester’s economic and environmental renewal.

We achieved planning permission for the development, which will create 384 apartments and 2,000m2 of commercial space in the former industrial hinterland around Piccadilly Station.

Both buildings will be wrapped in sheer glass skins that allow each apartment to enjoy a fully glazed timber-clad balcony. This buffer space provides tempered natural ventilation and reduces heat gains and losses – simple, low-technology, passive measures that reduce the carbon footprint of the development.

LOCATION: MANCHESTER

CLIENT: TIME AND TIDE LTD

VALUE: £50M

COMPLETION: PLANNING 2007
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: RESIDENTIAL

LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
STRUCTURES: WSP
SERVICES: FABER MAUNSELL (AECOM)
COST CONSULTANT: THOMAS & ADAMSON

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SUNNYSIDE HOUSE, BRIDGEND

Design of a supportive palliative care environment for those in Ayrshire with life-limiting illness

Sunnyside House, Bridgend

The Sunnyside House project seeks to address an urgent need for affordable housing in Bridgend by providing 65 high-quality, sustainable homes for social rent in close proximity to the town centre. The Site provides an opportunity for a landmark building to accentuate the corner of Sunnyside Road and Angel Street; providing a key wayfinding marker for the adjacent Sunnyside Health Centre and the Sunnyside Wellness Village and continue the ongoing regeneration of the local area.

All homes are to be designed to the latest Welsh Government Development Quality Requirements (WGDQR 2021). In doing so, the homes will target RNIB Visibly Better and Secure by Design Gold standards. The buildings will target an EPC A rating and will be designed to Lifetime Homes Standards.

LOCATION: BRIDGEND

CLIENT: LINC CYMRU

VALUE: £8.5M

COMPLETION: ONGOING
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: RESIDENTIAL
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD

STRUCTURES: JUBB
SERVICES: DRAC CONSULTING
COST CONSULTANT: EXPEDITE

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AYRSHIRE HOSPICE

Design of a supportive palliative care environment for those in Ayrshire with life-limiting illness

Ayrshire Hospice

Having been involved in early feasibility work to ascertain whether The Ayrshire Hospice could be redeveloped at its existing site close to Ayr Town Centre, Austin-Smith:Lord subsequently won a competitive tender and interview procurement process with Turner & Townsend as Lead Advisor under the Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) Framework to develop the new facility at 35-37 Racecourse Rd and the Hospices’ adjacent site at 15 Ronaldshaw Park.

The existing 20 bedded Inpatient Unit to the rear of the existing listed property at No.35 Racecourse Road will be replaced with a modern compliant inpatient unit comprising 12 single en-suite patient rooms and family areas.

LOCATION: AYR

CLIENT: AYRSHIRE HOSPICE

VALUE: £13M

COMPLETION: SCHEDULED 2024
SERVICE: CONSERVATION, ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: HEALTHCARE
CONTRACTOR: MCLAUGHLIN + HARVEY

STRUCTURES: STRUER
SERVICES: ATELIER TEN
COST CONSULTANT: TURNER & TOWNSEND

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FITZALAN HIGH SCHOOL, CARDIFF

A key brief objective was that the design of the new school should provide flexible and adaptable spaces to teach and learn the New Progressive Curriculum

Fitzalan High School, Cardiff

Austin-Smith:Lord were appointed as part of Kier’s winning team to design the School to RIBA Stage 4 after a mini competition based on Stage 1 information issued by Cardiff Council. The Design Team have worked closely with Cardiff City Council and their advisors, as well as the School, throughout the project.

The brief called for the provision of a replacement new 11-18 high school at 10FE including 350 post 16 places to address “D” condition categorisation and “D” categorised sufficiency issues in the local area. This project represents a significant new facility for the pupils, staff and local community.

The new Fitzalan High School is built in the same area facing the catchment area that it serves. The site selected is close to the existing Fitzalan High School site, located on the other side of Lawrenny Avenue, Cardiff.

A key brief objective was that the design of the new school should provide flexible and adaptable spaces to teach and learn the New Progressive Curriculum. Our designs are supportive in delivering these principles and supporting the changing role of the teacher as a facilitator of learning.

We feel that ASL totally understood our vision and passion for our school and what we wanted the new school to enable us to be. They have captured our demands for an inspirational environment that also allows us to deliver the curriculum in the bespoke responsive way that ensures our pupils will be successful. We cannot be constrained by typical classrooms and traditional methods and the A-S:L team have grasped that as a concept and designed an amazing facility that will allow for the flexibility and innovation that we are so keen to continue.
Jo Kemp, Assistant Headteacher, Fitzalan School

LOCATION: CARDIFF

CLIENT: CARDIFF CITY COUNCIL

VALUE: £40M

COMPLETION: 2023
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: EDUCATION
CONTRACTOR: KIER

LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
STRUCTURES: JUBB
SERVICES: AECOM
COST CONSULTANT: MACE

THE BLUECOAT, LIVERPOOL (LANDSCAPE)

RIBA Award-winning arts centre

The Bluecoat, Liverpool

The Bluecoat is the earliest surviving building in Liverpool city centre and the oldest arts space of its kind in the United Kingdom. Built in 1717 as a school for poor children, it became an arts centre in 1911, and hosted the first ever UK exhibition outside of London featuring works by Picasso, Matisse, Cézanne and Van Gogh.

Austin-Smith:Lord’s brief was to reposition the arts centre as the city’s new creative hub, restoring the historic fabric of the Grade I listed building, improving access and adding a new wing for an art gallery and multi-purpose performance space in time for the European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2008.

The new garden at the Bluecoat has opened the area up and is now used by all who visit. It is a social space, full of life.
Alastair Upton – Chief Executive, The Bluecoat

My god, but this is good
Opening words of the first review of the redevelopment of The Bluecoat, RIBA Journal, Editor

LOCATION: LIVERPOOL

CLIENT: THE BLUECOAT

VALUE: £12.5M

COMPLETION: 2008
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, MASTERPLANNING, URBAN DESIGN, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: ARTS & CULTURE
CONTRACTOR: KIER NORTH WEST

LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
STRUCTURES: TECHNIKER
SERVICES: ERNEST GRIFFITHS
COST CONSULTANT: GLEEDS

AWARDS:
2008 RIBA AWARD
2008 LIVERPOOL ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY AWARDS: SPORT, LEISURE, CULTURAL AND BEST LIVERPOOL BUILDING

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    HomeTHE BLUECOAT, LIVERPOOL (LANDSCAPE)Store Street Manchester Construction of this elegant, crystalline 35-storey tower and its companion seven-storey block would make a dramatic statement about Manchester’s economic and environmental renewal. We achieved planning permission for the development, which will create 384 apartments and 2,000m2 of commercial space in the former industrial hinterland around Piccadilly Station. Both buildings will be wrapped in sheer glass skins that allow each apartment to enjoy a fully glazed timber-clad balcony. This buffer space provides tempered natural ventilation and reduces heat gains and losses – simple, low-technology, passive measures that reduce the carbon footprint of the development. LOCATION: MANCHESTERCLIENT: TIME AND TIDE LTDVALUE: £50M COMPLETION: PLANNING 2007 SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE SECTOR: RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD STRUCTURES: WSP SERVICES: FABER MAUNSELL (AECOM) COST CONSULTANT: THOMAS & ADAMSON DATASHEET
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  • NISSI BEACH VILLAS, CYPRUS
    HomeTHE BLUECOAT, LIVERPOOL (LANDSCAPE)Nissi Beach Villas Cyprus Austin-Smith:Lord designed a number of high specification villas for Fastro Developments and SolTerra on the last beach-fronted site in Ayia Napa. Located to the East end of Nissi Beach the site has stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. As the brief called for exclusive properties, privacy was central to the development of the designs. The decision was made at the start of the project to organise each plot around a pool and sheltered gardens, with an essentially L-shaped floor plan, the orientation of which was established through solar studies to achieve maximum daylight for the private external spaces as well as the main outlook from the principal reception and bedrooms. The villa forms a protective barrier for the private external space, with its external façade evolving into a thick curved concrete wall, reflecting traditional local structures and forming a distinctive street presence. LOCATION: CYPRUSCLIENT: FASTRO DEVELOPMENTSVALUE: NOT DISCLOSED SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPE SECTOR: RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD DATASHEET
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PARK HILL, SHEFFIELD

Landscape Design for Phase 2 of the iconic Park Hill development

Park Hill, Sheffield

Austin-Smith:Lord were appointed by Urban Splash in 2016 to design and deliver the Landscape Design for Phase 2 of the Park Hill project, working closely with London based architects Mikhail Riches.

Built between 1957 and 1961 by Sheffield City Council to replace slum terraces, Park Hill is one of the most ambitious and iconic developments of its type, famous for its ‘streets in the sky’. The building covers an area of 17 acres and contained around 1,000 flats. In total the whole estate covers 32 acres.

Phase 2 is the continuation of Urban Splash’s redevelopment of the estate which began in 2007, following decades of decline. It will provide 200 new homes and around 2,000m2 of mixed use commercial space, including offices, retail and cafes.

Much of the original iconic landscape infrastructure is still present and in redeveloping the landscape a light touch will be employed, respecting and working with existing terrace levels and retaining as much of the original retaining wall infrastructure as possible, stripping away the tired 1980s and 90s interventions.

The scheme includes comprehensive Public Realm improvements, creation of shared surface access routes, reorganising car parking, and the creation of a resident’s courtyard garden.

CGI Image Credit: Urban Splash / Uniform

LOCATION: SHEFFIELD

CLIENT: URBAN SPLASH

VALUE: LANDSCAPE £1.2M

COMPLETION: ONGOING
SERVICE: LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: RESIDENTIAL
CONTRACTOR: URBAN SPLASH

LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
STRUCTURES: CIVIC ENGINEERS
SERVICES: BEECHFIELD CONSULTING ENGINEERS LTD
COST CONSULTANT: BROADFIELD PROJECT MANAGEMENT

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SUNNYSIDE WELLNESS VILLAGE

Integrating Wellness into the design of this sustainable, mixed-use development

Sunnyside Wellness Village

Austin-Smith:Lord is delighted at having been appointed by Linc Cymru Housing Association to work with them and their project partners Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, ARCH and Bridgend Council, on the exciting proposals for the Bridgend Wellness Village project.

The brief is innovative and forward looking in its aim of providing a vibrant, multi-generational community focussed on integrating Wellness into the design of the sustainable mixed use development.

The project includes a new Health Centre, general needs housing and potential future phase will include a new Register Office in addition to further homes. The positive impact of good design on health and wellbeing is actively integrated into the masterplan with the project forming part of a wider network of innovative Wellness facilities in South Wales. The scheme is designed using fabric first principles with MVHR to all housing units and connection to the Bridgend Local District Heating Network to achieve high levels of energy efficiency.

LOCATION: BRIDGEND

CLIENT: LINC CYMRU

VALUE: £17M

COMPLETION: 2025
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE, MASTERPLANNING
SECTOR: RESIDENTIAL, HEALTHCARE
CONTRACTOR: TBC

LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
STRUCTURES: JUBB
SERVICES: HOARE LEA
COST CONSULTANT: EXPEDITE PROJECT SERVICES

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STOBHILL HOSPITAL MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES

Landscape architects for public realm and secure external spaces for new units at Stobhill Hospital

Stobhill Hospital Mental Health Facilities

These new purpose designed Mental Health Facilities, on the Stobhill Hospital campus in north Glasgow, include therapeutic courtyards and gardens.

The gardens, and wider landscape setting for the new facility, were designed by Austin-Smith:Lord to assist in the treatment of mental health patients at Stobhill.

We were appointed by hub West Scotland for their partner, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, as landscape architects for the new facility. The scope included the delivery of design proposals for the external spaces (courtyards & gardens) for the new Acute Admission Unit (AAU) and Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care Unit (CCC). The building was designed by Keppie Design, and features internal patient courtyards, as a central part of the wider therapeutic facilities on site.

LOCATION: STOBHILL

CLIENT: NHS GG&C / HUB WEST SCOTLAND

VALUE: £11M

COMPLETION: 2020
SERVICE: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
SECTOR: HEALTHCARE
CONTRACTOR: BAM

LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
CIVILS + STRUCTURES: BAKER HICKS
SERVICES: RSP
COST CONSULTANT: ARMOUR

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MERTHYR TYDFIL LOWER HIGH STREET

Award-winning revitalisation of the area, with a new public square and integrated artwork

Merthyr Tydfil Lower High Street

The entrance to Merthyr Tydfil High Street was, by common consent, ill-defined, uninviting, traffic-choked and intimidating. Our challenge was to transform it into a café quarter; an open, welcoming community space that could serve as a focal point and allow people to come together, complementing our work in Merthyr to improve the River Taff Corridor.

We created a new square, making the public fundamental to the consultation process, so that not only would the result relate to, but be ‘owned by’ its users: vital for success. The walls blocking St Tydfil Church were replaced with a broad and visually arresting set of gently sloping steps – ideal for sitting. Vehicular access to the High Street was restricted.

Frontages were refurbished. Stunning paving brought a contemporary edge. The town’s history was referenced in bespoke bronze art: from street lamps and pavement panels to bollards and benches. Restaurants and cafes were designed and opened. The Lucy Thomas fountain, revealed and refurbished, turns a focus of vandalism into a focus of hope.

The new square has successfully hosted a continental market and an ‘Icetravaganza’ at Christmas, exactly the focus the Council were aiming for. The space thrives, people congregate, and the vandalism and graffiti, prevalent before, have all but ceased.

We are seeing an increased footfall, and this has done an awful lot to help us weather the recession and protect the town from its worst effects.

Rhian Prosser – Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre Manager

LOCATION: GLAMORGAN

CLIENT: MERTHYR TYDFIL CBC

VALUE: £1.8m

COMPLETION: 2010
SERVICE: LANDSCAPE, URBAN DESIGN, MASTERPLANNING
SECTOR: URBAN REGENERATION
CONTRACTOR: DYER & BUTLER

LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: AECOM
SERVICES: AECOM
COST CONSULTANT: GLEEDS

AWARDS:
2009 BCSC TOWN CENTRE ENVIRONMENT GOLD AWARD
2009 LGN STREET DESIGN AWARD, RUNNER UP
2009 RTPI REGENERATION NETWORK AWARD