Waitrose Store Abingdon
This scheme was undertaken when a partner in a previous Practice, Farrell and Clark.
The brief was to incorporate a 2300 m² (25,000 ft²) retail foodstore on a very constricted town centre conservation area site in Abingdon Oxfordshire. The foodstore, with its associated warehousing and offices, occupies the site of the old MG car plant, and the town's former railway station, and is immediately opposite the Vale of White Horse District Council offices. The site was zoned as an area of Urban Regeneration, having remained largely derelict for a number of years.
The Local Authority design brief required a high quality building to form a key role in the redevelopment of a substantial part of the town centre, and to bring the bonus of a large scale foodstore right in the heart of the town, yet accessible to a wide area of population.
The design was conceived as being essentially domestic in scale, with extensive use of traditional hand-made bricks and plain clay tiles. External columns are clad in stone or hand-made brick specials. The scale and bulk of what is a large town centre building is reduced by extensive use of exposed gables, both in timber and steel, which break down the mass of the roof area, and also by variations in height of the various elements of the building.
The design and construction of the foodstore proved an instant success with the occupiers, the public, and the Local Authority, so much so that, a year after its completion in 1992, it received a Civic Trust Award.
The quality and nature of the distinctive design is such that it will not date, will retain its appearance for a considerable period of time, and has been so successful that an extension to the retail floorspace has recently been added.
Reading
Conversion of 1600 m² (17,000 ft²) of office space to 14 flats.
Winchester
A development of four townhouses on a mature city centre site in the city of Winchester for a local developer, Redminster Properties Limited. The design draws on local influences, which, combined with contemporary detailing, brings this traditional formal housing type into the modern age. Materials used reflect those locally available, and have been selected to ensure this development, whilst modern in feel, sits easily in its historical site.
The houses are generously proportioned in plan and section. The classic concept of the drawing room at first floor has been adopted, which with its 2.7 m ceiling height offers bright, spacious accommodation; first floor roof terraces leading from these rooms further enhance the feeling of space and light. The modern mood is reinforced by blonde wood flooring and joinery, and the selective use of glass block glazing for natural daylighting without loss of privacy.
We also acted as Party Wall Surveyor on this project, involving negotiations with four adjoining owners and their surveyors, preparation of schedule of condition for each property, and final Party Wall Awards.
The same methodology which we applied throughout its sphere of services has been brought to bear on this, with the emphasis on buildability, clear communication and the realisation of our client's commercial objectives.
Hendrick Avenue
Private house extension and major refurbishment.
Lymington
A commercial and residential development in the heart of the Lymington Conservation area, incorporating 450 m² of commercial/ retail floorspace with 14 No 1 and 2 bed flats above.
Bolnore Village
A project of detailed construction and Building Regulations drawings for a large scale residential development by David Wilson Homes in Bolnore Village.
Totton
Construction of 9 houses, 4 flats and 6 business units.
Oxford
An individual detached private house designed on sustainable ecological principles. This house incorporates ground source heat pump technology, rainwater harvesting and solar collectors contained within the roof finish.
Arnewood Court, Sway
Refurbishment and reconstruction of a listed 19th century mass concrete former stables/laundry to form a 3700 ft² dwelling.
About us
McCurdy Russell Ltd. Architects, an RIBA Chartered Practice, were established in early 2007 by Patrick Russell AA Dip RIBA who has been a partner in private practice for over 25 years.
The Practice has a substantial depth of detailed design and construction experience acquired over many years, including commercial, retail, industrial and residential projects of up to £ 26,000,000 in value, with an extensive client list drawn from the commercial and private sectors.
We are committed to providing a detailed range of Professional Services, including Masterplanning, Architecture and Interior Design, and to taking pride, care and not least enjoyment, in all the projects we undertake. We employ a dedicated workforce which also takes great pleasure and satisfaction from providing a practical, professional, service.
Quality and sustainability in design, combined with functional, operational and energy efficiency are key factors in our approach.
Tesco/ Cineworld Leigh
A major Town Centre redevelopment for Salmon Harvester Properties Limited comprising an 11,500 m2 Tesco Extra store, 7 screen Cineworld cinema, 4 food retail units, a Petrol filling station and 800 car parking spaces in Spinning Jenny Way Leigh, adjacent to the Town Centre.
Construction has just commenced on site in Leigh, where Planning Consent was granted by Wigan Council last year for this multi million pound scheme.
The Tesco store is one of their earliest ‘Environmental Format’ stores, with a glulam timber structural frame and larch timber cladding, exposed services and an enclosing envelope with very high thermal performance.
The 7 screen Cineworld cinema has a capacity of 1306 people and incorporates significant acoustic separation and performance in both the internal and external fabric of the building.
Dovecot
A major remodelling and refurbishment of an existing residential barn conversion in Church Stowe Northamptonshire. The project included the installation of a new glass and steel mezzanine floor in a Grade II listed dovecot to form additional living space and complete re-modelling of the entrance hall kitchen and dining room.
Kirkfield Grassington
An individual, timber framed, stone faced, 3 bed private house in the Yorkshire Dales National Park for which we recently received Planning Consent from the National Park Authority.
This eco-house incorporates solar panels for domestic hot water, photo-voltaic cells to power the ground source heat pumps for central heating and sheep’s wool insulation in the wall cavities and roof space.
Neg Earth Ltd
A 5,200 m2 lighting rehearsal studio space in Concord Rd. Acton W. London
We were commissioned in 2009 to find a site in W London for a rehearsal studio project for NegEarth Limited, a company specialising in stage lighting installations for rock concerts, stage shows, and events. A number of sites were evaluated and the site in Concord Rd eventually selected.
The building is a highly bespoke structure, with the rehearsal studio roof designed to take point loads from lighting rigs of 5 tonnes on a 1.5m grid across the entire roof area measuring 45m x 32m, at a height of 18m above floor level. Access within the roof void is designed to facilitate the rigging of lighting installations entirely without the need for harnesses. The external fabric is designed to a very high standard of acoustic and thermal performance to minimise any environmental impact and significantly reduce heating costs for the large studio volume.
In addition to the studio space there are 6 no. ‘band rooms’ / changing rooms, production offices, conference rooms and a catering facility capable of seating 40 people.
There are dock loading facilities to accommodate 6 no articulated vehicles permitting direct access to the studio space for the loading and unloading of equipment. In addition there is 1,500m2 of ancillary storage space.
The conference rooms, with their fully glazed external walls, are shaded by means of powder coated aluminium ‘brise soleils’ to reduce solar gain on the South and West elevations. The studio space is heated by underfloor heating coils powered by roof mounted air source heat pumps.
How to contact us
Studios D+E
The Lion Brewery
St Thomas Street
Oxford
OX1 1JG
United Kingdom
t 01865 202021
eXstudio@mccurdyrussell.com
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