Clearly, closer to home means less CO2 emitted in travel and shipping as well. But specifying locally was of prime importance to this project in particular. And virtually everything has been made bespoke for the development.
Source of information: http://www.building.co.uk
Furthermore, Simpson’s Kengate works in Shepperton made the pre-cast terrazzo for the back staircases. “We are one of the few manufacturers who do this in the UK. We get by on smaller orders like this,” says Gill. “We can’t sustain the larger ones.” He doesn’t blame people who don’t go down the local path, though: “British craftsmanship is good but it tends to be a bit more expensive. An architect should not specify British if the quality is compromised and you don’t get value for money.
“But [if you go British] you can always go to a factory to meet with someone. If you go abroad you lose a bit of control and you put your trust in someone you can’t see.”
Control was even more important when Make came to design the chairs for the foyer. When it presented its first design to High Wycombe furniture maker, Davison Highley, it discovered it was for an impossible object. It wanted a tent chair but the manufacturer advised that it would have to be a timber-framed. So Make and Davison worked together in order to produce something that was equivalent to the original concept.
“If they had sent their drawings to the Far East, they would have got something that was reminiscent, but didn’t have the nuances of the detail that we were able to produce,” says sales director, Tim Armitt. Instead, Make, an hour’s train ride away, were able to meet regularly with the team through several different prototypes. And not just the designers.
“They met the cutter and upholsterer and the frame builders who were involved in making the special angles. They met with the seamstresses who had to make the long, pointed terminuses – it was a big team effort – they bought into that hands on approach. “We could all stand round the chair and say, ‘do this and do that,’” says Armitt. What’s more the job came in under budget. “People think that when you have a bespoke service from the UK, it will be ridiculous money,” Armitt says. “But we make new designs but we know they work because the components are things that we have tried and tested and they are price comparable. If you don’t reinvent the wheel you don’t break the bank.”
Working with British manufacturers allowed Make to create the triangular door handles and toilet roll holders (from architectural ironmonger, izé) and the accessible lifts (Elan, Dartford) with proper recessed handles rather than the ugly bars that Lomas detested. The kick plates on the doors are triangular (using less metal) as are the windows. As a result, they are friendlier looking than your average access point.
Furthermore, Simpson’s Kengate works in Shepperton made the pre-cast terrazzo for the back staircases. “We are one of the few manufacturers who do this in the UK. We get by on smaller orders like this,” says Gill. “We can’t sustain the larger ones.” He doesn’t blame people who don’t go down the local path, though: “British craftsmanship is good but it tends to be a bit more expensive. An architect should not specify British if the quality is compromised and you don’t get value for money.
“But [if you go British] you can always go to a factory to meet with someone. If you go abroad you lose a bit of control and you put your trust in someone you can’t see.”
Control was even more important when Make came to design the chairs for the foyer. When it presented its first design to High Wycombe furniture maker, Davison Highley, it discovered it was for an impossible object. It wanted a tent chair but the manufacturer advised that it would have to be a timber-framed. So Make and Davison worked together in order to produce something that was equivalent to the original concept.
“If they had sent their drawings to the Far East, they would have got something that was reminiscent, but didn’t have the nuances of the detail that we were able to produce,” says sales director, Tim Armitt. Instead, Make, an hour’s train ride away, were able to meet regularly with the team through several different prototypes. And not just the designers.
“They met the cutter and upholsterer and the frame builders who were involved in making the special angles. They met with the seamstresses who had to make the long, pointed terminuses – it was a big team effort – they bought into that hands on approach. “We could all stand round the chair and say, ‘do this and do that,’” says Armitt. What’s more the job came in under budget. “People think that when you have a bespoke service from the UK, it will be ridiculous money,” Armitt says. “But we make new designs but we know they work because the components are things that we have tried and tested and they are price comparable. If you don’t reinvent the wheel you don’t break the bank.”
Working with British manufacturers allowed Make to create the triangular door handles and toilet roll holders (from architectural ironmonger, izé) and the accessible lifts (Elan, Dartford) with proper recessed handles rather than the ugly bars that Lomas detested. The kick plates on the doors are triangular (using less metal) as are the windows. As a result, they are friendlier looking than your average access point.
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