Robin Nicholas

Basement Lightwells Much of the success of our portfolio of basement extension projects has been derived from the design of the basement lightwell.  Here the lightwell links the basement to the garden and fills the largest basement room with natural light and provides natural ventilation.  The basement lightwell is also an opportunity to use glass[...]

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Working as community architects Shape Architecture attended the soft opening of their recently completed community centre in Colchester organised by their Client Level Best. Located in a prominent corner site in the heart of Colchester, the building had undergone various commercial and residential functions over the years and had been poorly developed and added to[…]

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Basement Architects Our recent blog described how our basement extension in Hove created a Duplex flat and transformed the property.  A relatively small basement project but with a significant impact.  Whilst this project has been on site on site we have been developing designs for a larger basement extension in Fulham.  This project has planning[...]

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Basement project in Hove to create a duplex flat Working as architects in Hove, Shape Architecture has completed its transformation of a single storey flat into a duplex in Third Avenue Hove.  This project is a true transformation that sees the adaption of a below ground storage space into habitable accommodation and the linking of[...]

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Sustainable Insulation Sustainable insulation should not contain harmful chemicals.  It should be made from natural or recycled materials and should itself be recyclable.  By way of an example Sheep’s wool is an excellent and well-established natural insulation and Newspaper is an excellent and well-established recycled insulation.  Below we set out a range of sustainable insulation[...]

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Feature Stairs to a Basement Extension Our Fulham basement extension in St Maur Road has planning permission and we are now finalising the technical drawings set prior to going out to tender.  This period of the project looks at every part of the building design and involves us working closely with other consultants, such as[...]

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New Terrace in Brighton This project in the Hanover area of Brighton sees a terrace added to an upper floor of an existing terraced house.  Whilst a number of other properties in the area have had similar terraces added over time, very few of them have planning permission.  Our client chose Shape Architecture because of[...]

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Energy Efficient Upgrade of an Existing Building Our Community project in Colchester is now nearing completion.  In terms of the energy upgrade of an existing building it has explored many different approaches, all of which can be applied to existing solid masonry buildings of any size or type.  The existing building has been both extended[...]

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Transformation of an apartment with mezzanine floor This project in First Avenue, Hove presents an interesting challenge.  Our clients, having just moved down from London, bought a flat with a dramatic mezzanine level and much else to commend it.  Their feeling however was that the full potential of the flat had not been fully exploited[...]

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A design for a Swimming Pond and Garden room in Hove Shape Architecture has designed many garden rooms over the last 16 years in London and Brighton.  We are presently starting on concept ideas for a garden room to a house near Hove Park which is of particular interest as the brief also asks for[...]

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Transform Your Home in 2023   As the New Year begins Shape Architecture has achieved two new planning permissions in our first weeks back.  One in Fulham and the other in Eastbourne.  Both a basis for the transformation of a home in 2023.  Our planning permission in Fulham is for a light filled wrap around[…]

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Review of 2022 and the Shape of 2023    2022 was another very busy year for Shape Architecture.  Our sixteenth year as an RIBA Chartered Practice.  The range pf projects continued to demonstrate our commitment to a diversity of project type and size across London and Brighton and throughout the Southeast.    We undertook projects throughout[…]

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Colchester City, Community Centre Update Shape Architecture continues to transform buildings creating light filled, contemporary spaces.  This is never more the case than at our community project in Colchester, now nearing completion. Here a series of dilapidated buildings variously used as an indoor market and much else besides are being replaced with a community centre[…]

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Stair Design   Stairs are very often a feature of our work from those in small projects to ones in larger houses and community projects.  As distinct elements within a building, they are creative, elegant, and sculptural and serve to bring light into spaces and glimpses of others.  We use a variety of materials ranging[…]

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Extensions in Hanover, Brighton    Shape Architecture continues to transform properties in the Hanover Area of Brighton.  We are presently working on a number of such projects, including two in Southampton Street.  The properties in Hanover have much potential and all benefit from extensions and the bringing in of natural light.  We have re-worked various[…]

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Clear Communication using Computer Models   Shape Architecture builds computer models for all of our projects no matter what the size or type.  This is by far the best way to communicate clearly with our Clients and so achieve the best design.  We start with building a 3D model of the existing property and include[…]

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Duplex Flat in Hove   Do you have under-used basement room or below ground storage.  This was the case at our project in Third Avenue in Hove where our client’s Ground floor flat sat over a rarely used storage zone. We have linked these two spaces and created an impressive Duplex flat that has transformed[…]

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Wrap Around Extensions   Shape Architecture continues to transform properties with a variety of extensions, many of which are wrap around extensions.  Here we highlight two current such projects.  One has just received planning permission in Brighton and one is about to be submitted for planning in Fulham.     Our Brighton extension has been[…]

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