2018 Architecture Awards

Build 2018 Architecture Awards 118 ith a small team, Alice Poole Architects aims to offer its clients the expertise and experience of a large firm combined with the communicative, collaborative approach that comes from being able to offer a personalised service. Specialising in renovating and rejuvenating listed buildings, Alice believes that her team’s client focused approach is what has helped it to achieve the success it enjoys currently. “At Alice Poole Architects, the bulk of our projects are domestic and involve Listed Buildings or properties in Conservation Areas. Work on these buildings is challenging as client aspirations can conflict with planning limitations. As a company, we believe that historic buildings can be altered to accommodate the life style and aspirations of the owners who now inhabit the buildings if reasonable flexibility and imagination is shown by all parties. “Additionally, although we do carry out projects abroad and in other parts of the country the majority of our projects are in walking distance of the office which is beneficial as we are able to monitor the work closely. We can also carry out more projects, as no time is lost in travelling. This is especially important, as we understand the constraints that our clients are under and aim to provide them with prompt service that allows them to complete on time and on budget.” Being based in Bedford Park offers the firm many benefits, as not only is it a central location, but it is also an area of particular architectural significance, as it is known as the first garden suburb. The area’s houses were built at the end of the 19th century and many were designed by Norman Shaw in a style known as Queen Anne Revival. Currently, the firm’s latest projects in the region are working on several listed buildings in London, including the full refurbishment of a Grade II Listed house where the team has designed a studio extension with Best Full-Service Architecture Practice - South England Alice Poole Architects is a specialised architecture practice based in Bedford Park, London. We spoke to founder Alice to learn more about the work the firm undertakes and how her team aims to offer every client an exceptional standard of service. W AR180135 Company: Alice Poole Architects Contact: Alice Poole Address: 6 Woodstock Road, Bedford Park, London, W4 1UE, UK Phone: 020 8742 8800 Email: [email protected] Web site: alicepoole.co.uk basement under. The studio will be a kitchen/dining room and is designed to complement the style of the original architect, Voysey. Work is about to commence on the construction of a contemporary orangery type extension to a Georgian mansion. A strip of glazing on both the vertical and horizontal planes, acts as a separation from the existing house and the new extension features contemporary glazing in the roof and walls to act as a contrast to the original house which has small paned sash windows typical of the Georgian era. Outside London, Alice Poole Architects have just finished the conversion of a stable block in East Anglia and construction is now about to commence on a large country house in Bosham, West Sussex. As she looks to the future, Alice is keen to emphasise and how she and her team are keen to raise her firm’s profile, without jeopardising the personal touch which its clients have come to expect. “Moving forward, at Alice Poole Architects we are looking to raise our profile and have done this by entering competitions. In 2017 Old Yard House, a small house in Bedford Park, seemed to capture the imagination of the architectural world and it was short listed for an AJ Award. We are also trying to raise our profile by publishing projects in various magazines and journals, which we hope will help our clients and industry peers to find out more about us and drive even greater engagement over the coming years.”