Services

DESIGN & STRATEGY

The success of our projects at delivering high quality spaces which fulfil our client’s ambitions, stem from a period of open correspondence with you. We will assist you in establishing and developing your core project objectives, as well as clarifying a strategy together of how to achieve these aims.

Throughout this period, we firstly focus on understanding how you live, in order to develop the way spaces relate to one another. We then bring this together into a coherent composition in order to create a unique and personal home. We pride ourselves on our ability to produce beautiful, high quality classical and contemporary residential homes. This is reflected in our designs, where the two feature seamlessly alongside or independently from one another, as dictated by the context of the project and the client’s brief.

Over this stage we can:

Explain the overall design and construction processes and establish how your property can be enhanced.
Prepare concept / sketch designs to explore the new ways of living that can be created through the development of your home.
Produce 3D models and drawings to enable you to visualise your project.
Develop the project brief to allow us to provide you with fixed fees for our involvement.
Leverage our extensive network of construction professionals as required

PLANNING

Obtaining the relevant planning and listed building consents are a core milestone for most projects and often add considerable value to buildings. We have an excellent track record of securing contentious planning and listed building consents. Our success comes not only from an understanding of policy but also by communicating clearly the sensitive design responses to the surrounding context

During the planning stages we can:

Advise our clients on the best strategies to help projects avoid planning delays and maximise the chances of ambitious approvals.
Produce the entirety of the planning application documents.
Manage the submission and monitor the ongoing planning application process.
Work alongside and managing specialist planning and heritage consultants when necessary.
Protect your interests by using our experience to establish the best outcomes.

We have successfully secured consents with planning authorities across the country.

By engaging in early dialogue with planning and conservation officers on your application, maintaining a proactive and communicative approach throughout the planning process, we help you navigate one of a project’s essential steps as smoothly as possible.

LISTED BUILDINGS & HERITAGE

Owing to the UK’s rich architectural heritage, we often undertake renovations of listed buildings and within conservation areas. The architectural charms, scenic settings and grandeur of these homes, impress many of our clients, and we have refined an expertise over several decades securing ambitious yet sensitive listed building consents.

At the heart of every heritage project lies a delicate balance between conservation and modernisation. Our aim is to enhance the rich historical features and proportions that draw people towards listed buildings, while making them comfortable, adaptable, and reflective of how you want to live today.

Achieving this requires us to articulate the design changes and their impact on a building. Establishing which aspects are likely to be considered historically sensitive and integrate them into our design responses has allowed us to achieve our clients briefs fully whilst obtaining support from conservation departments.

When working on Heritage Assets we can:

Undertake appraisals of the building’s history, construction, and significance.
Develop design solutions that enhance and reinterpret historic features while introducing new life into the building.
Prepare Heritage Impact Assessments and manage Listed Building applications.
Advocate for your project in discussions with planning and conservation officers.
Coordinate with a trusted network of heritage consultants and craftspeople to deliver exceptional results.

INTERIOR DESIGN

Interior space planning and developing an understanding of how our clients live is integral to our design process. To reinforce this, feature lighting, interior architecture and furniture are considered as core elements of the project from the beginning, ensuring the architecture is designed around you.

Whether we are working in a contemporary or traditional style, our designs create timeless, well-proportioned and well-lit interiors. We can be involved in the design of bespoke fitted joinery, through to the selection of doorknobs and tiling, which create the tactile components and details of a scheme which make your house your home.

Our familiarity with interiors also means we are happy and well placed to work closely alongside your separately appointed interior designers if required and is a role we are particularly comfortable and confident in managing.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Our team pride themselves on being proactive throughout a project, guiding you through the often complex decisions of a construction project, simplifying the process.

Throughout your project we can:

Empower you with sufficient knowledge of the costs and time involved in undertaking a project, enabling you to proceed confidently.
Act as a liaison between you and local authorities in order to streamline the process, whilst keeping you fully informed.
Contact consultants for quotes and advise you of any necessary appointments in order to build a project team, ensuring progress continues as smoothly as possible.
Provide comprehensive construction information in order to allow for competitive costing during the tender process.
Retain an overview of the project issues and aims. Our professional eye for detail will ensure the design intent is not lost during the construction phase.

Our communicative and proactive approach fosters collaborative and productive working relationships throughout the project.

CONSTRUCTION

Alex Tart Architects are experienced at acting as the lead designer, preparing tender & construction drawings which describe the building in technical detail. Throughout the detailed design and construction we:

Provide comprehensive construction information in order to allow for competitive costing during the tender process.
Manage and co-ordinate the appointed consultants, to produce a pack of construction information which will enable a contractor to build your home.
Ensure the design is fully compliant with all building regulations.
Work in close correspondence with the contractor, responding to on site queries and maintaining the design integrity throughout the construction process.
Make regular visits to the construction site during the works, to monitor the quality of finish to your home.

Our understanding of construction detailing in conjunction with a high level project overview is key to maintaining that the design intent envisaged on day one, is delivered onto site.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainable design is an essential aspect of all construction and residential projects are an exciting opportunity for clients to take control of their own emissions. We are experienced and passionate about achieving sustainable solutions for properties that are in keeping with our client’s sustainability ambitions.

The reasons that you may wish to implement sustainable strategies in your home are varied. For some of our clients a desire to minimise their own impact and

protect the environment is a central consideration. For others more practical considerations such futureproofing their homes where possible and reduced running costs can be key drivers.

We can explore the options most suitable to your project with you and will include the consideration of the following:

Installing high-quality insulation
Producing on site renewable energy
Installing low carbon heating systems
Solar control and shading strategies.
Making conscientious material selection choices
Utilising building management systems

With the cost of energy having risen exponentially over recent years, the installation of sustainable strategies on a project can provide long term cost savings over the course of the building’s life, as well as contributing more broadly towards a positive shift your property’s environmental impact.