Studio.
Services.
Studio.
We provide a wide range of services varying from large scale masterplanning to highly detailed construction drawings, interior design and digital media. Although as Architects our primary focus is building design, we believe good design is multi-disciplinary; we have been comissioned to design furniture, artworks, interactive maps, CGI video flythroughs, photorealistic visualization artworks and websites.
Equally, at Wilson Paul we have no 'set' project scale - we undertake jobs of all shapes and sizes. Whilst we frequently undertake major multi-million pound projects, we often create designs for one-off bespoke homes or alterations to transform your existing house into your dream home. We apply exactly the same creativity & attention to detail to each and every project we undertake. Ours is a pragmatic, 'real-world' approach - and we work with you to get the very best scheme regardless of budget.
At Wilson Paul we spend time to listen carefully to our clients’ needs and requirements. We then set about interpreting your requirements and ambitions and strive to produce buildings that will exceed your expectations. Regardless of the size, complexity or timelines involved, we are fully committed to realising our projects on time and on budget.
For information on our Architectural approach & practice ethos please see our Studio page
A typical architectural service could (but not exclusively) include the following:
• Development of the brief – working with our clients in order to fully understand their requirements and translate these into a clear communicable brief that can be used as a blueprint to develop further all the way to a finished building.
• Feasibility studies - looking at existing buildings or sites, and proposing and reviewing options for development. This can also be offered as a standalone service, to help you gauge the viability of a project before committing to take the project forward to design stage.
• Design an inspiring building or interior for client feedback – we will usually provide various options at the start of a project.
• Planning applications/applications for listed building consent – developing designs, preparing drawings and design and access statements, commissioning and collating additional reports and supporting documentation as required and making applications to the local authority for planning permission and/or listed building consent. This can also be offered as a standalone service.
• Working drawings and specifications – preparing full construction documentation including coordination with other consultants (structural engineer, M&E services engineer etc)
•Building Regulations – preparing drawings, specifications and reports and making applications for building control approval
• Tender package – producing a fully comprehensive and detailed set of construction information and schedules/specifications etc in enough detail to obtain a fixed price for the works from contractors
• Procurement – advising on the best procurements route for the building works, preparing and compiling tender documents as required – all hand in hand with the Quantity Surveyor (QS).
• Contract administration/site inspection – acting as contract administrator under a traditional form of building contract and inspecting works on site to ensure compliance with drawings and specifications through to completion of works on site or operating under a design and build or construction management form of contract.
We can tailor our services to the exact requirements of a particular client and will therefore always discuss a prospective project in detail before making a comprehensive proposal of the services we could provide.
Studio.
Architectural
Studio.
Planning & Masterplanning
At Wilson Paul we are not just Architects - we are also Chartered Town Planners.
This is how we give you and your project another unique edge when it comes to obtaining Statutory Consents and considering feasibility for challenging sites or major/national developments. We have a dedicated Chartered Town Planner within the office with over 30 years of Planning experience gained both from working as a Planner for Local Authorities and in private practice; all of our Planning Applications, Conservation Area consents and applications for Listed Building consents are assessed by our in-house Planner before being submitted for application.
Our expertise as Town Planners enables us to have a comprehensive knowledge of UK Planning policy and guidelines - all of which we can deploy to assist your project in gaining the necessary consents required. This intimate knowledge allows us to quickly and efficiently ascertain & identify the viability of design options, appropriate size of development, possible restrictions on development and indeed the general viability of a project. This knowlege also helps us have a strong prior understanding of what statutory bodies are looking for in proposed developments for specific site types and uses; our Architects then use this information to inform their initial design proposals for your project. For an initial fee we are able to produce standalone feasbility studies to help you gauge the viability of a project, including possible future development options and their restrictions.
Conservation Architecture: Wilson Paul have many decades of conservation experience, frequently working with the Local Authority, Historic Scotland and various conservation trusts in the refurbishment and alteration of Listed Buildings. Indeed some of our building designs have now achieved Listed Building status themselves! You will see from the projects on this site that we take great care in respecting the integrity of existing historic buildings, whilst ensuring their future viability remains intact with a considered adaption to contemporary uses. In these cases we believe less truly is more, and we strive for the lightest touch possible on the existing building whilst meeting contemporary regulatory standards.
Specialist & Additional Services
• Design for Social Distancing (inc. furniture planning & wayfinding strategies)
• Large scale masterplanning proposals & National Major Projects
• Campus Masterplanning for Educational Institutions
• Campus facility assessments & reports
• New build Schools and buildings for University clients.
• Design for specialist academic facilities
• Classroom Teaching Strategy proposals
• Laboratory design
• Refurbishment proposals for University clients
• Design for specialist IT Facilities
• Design & planning strategy for the incorporation of specialist plant equipment
• Care Home design
• Design for Dementia
• Housing with Care facilities
• Specialist Care facilities (including specialist care facilities for Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome)
• Infrastructure design
• Aeronautical specialist projects
• Design for public street furniture
• Fit out and refurbishment projects for the hospitality sector
• Licensing plans
• Offices and retail experience deign
• Placemaking
• Disabled adaptations
• Design for historic buildings and conservation architecture.
Studio.
Interior design
In our view there should be no distinction between ‘interior’ or ‘exterior’ architecture – we believe that truly successful buildings should fully integrated; they are designed from the inside out. In our building designs we always endeavour to consider both the structural and construction elements simultaneously with the nature of the internal volumes.
We like our projects to read as a comprehensive whole, often allowing architectural elements and materiality of the building envelope to be read within the internal spaces and using a careful positioning of glazed elements to achieve powerful spatial characteristics.
We see the interiors of buildings being as important as the exteriors. Great interior design enhances great architecture and also transforms existing buildings - whether they are historic conversions or more modern developments.
We believe that interiors should be both functional and inspiring and we apply this philosophy to all our projects from remodelled, extended spaces to new-build ones.
We find that creative use of colour, texture and different material and surface treatments all combine to produce a unique internal environment that can either provide harmony or surprise due to unexpected or unconventional combination of materials or colour.
Every aspect of an interior is very carefully designed from wall and floor finishes, bespoke joinery, built-in furniture, lighting design, to kitchen and bathroom specifications. We interpret our clients’ tastes and ambitions to produce interiors that exceed their expectations.
We particularly enjoy the challenge of ‘unlocking’ an existing compromised internal layout to produce a naturally flowing and light interior that can transform the way we work, live or play.
Visual
• Visualizations:
We are experienced at producing high quality digital and watercolour/pantone visualizations. From artwork quality high definition photorealistic images to 3d block models, we can produce anything visually to assist your project.
Often in the early stages of the design process we will translate our sketches into a quick ‘mock-up’ 3d model in order to help us shape the evolution of the design. Most commissions where we are appointed to complete a building design we will do this. We will then share images from this 3d model with you to ensure we are creating exactly what you want from the project. Usually, if we are to obtain planning permission we will produce high quality visuals to support your application. This is something that many Architects will not do as a matter of course. If you have commissioned us for a full service we will also 3d model the interior spaces for you – inviting your feedback throughout the process.
• High end photorealistic visualizations.
We have produced a number of very high quality 3d artworks for high profile projects. We find that these type of images are very effective for example where a bid for public/private funding is being made to support your project, or in gaining support from board members. Being able to clearly and accurately demonstrate the added value of the proposed buildings and spaces captures imaginations, inspires enthusiasm and converts the project to tangible reality. Unfortunately we can't put all of these images on the website, but we can supply you with a large selection on request.
• Hand sketches & watercolour renderings.
Architects at James Paul Associates produce sketches on a daily basis – these rough ‘scribbles’ are how we develop design ideas and record our thoughts. We also produce large presentation sketches, sometimes for planning application drawings or community groups.
We find these are particularly useful for projects which have Listed status, are in rural locations, or have a large element of landscaping built into the design. Here, the softness of pantone markers and pencil renderings can be more appropriate to convey the feeling of a space – the light and shadow, tactility of materials and draw emphasis to particular spaces. We can produce these for your project, regardless of type or size, please contact us for examples.
• Mid end visualizations.
Our ‘mid’ end visualizations are still very high quality artworks – though they take us a period of days, rather than weeks to produce. As above, we will often complete these as a matter of course if we are appointed for a full service with you. However, if you have a project in mind (and have already had sketch designs produced by ourselves, another architect or yourself) and simply want to see what it would look like in reality, we can also do this for you if required. This may also help you if you would like additional support for your Planning Application.
Studio.
Media
Studio.
Graphic & animation
• Video Flythroughs:
We use advanced 3d modelling software as a design tool to help us shape the buildings massing, interior spaces and the user experience. We have produced a number of high quality video flythroughs for public buildings, education spaces and for residential developments. We find that these can be very effective in conveying the appropriateness of a proposed building to the Planning Authority and to give you a realistic idea of how the internal spaces feel. These video flythroughs can focus on either the external side of the proposed building – how well it fits into its context for example; or they can be an extremely powerful tool in conveying visitor experience for education, retail, commercial and licensed projects – they ensure the spaces are fully resolved from the outset, and can allow early discussions & agreement with building user groups.
• Graphic design:
We really can undertake all aspects of your project, from the design of the building, obtaining statutory consents, producing construction drawings, interior design, graphic design (for interior artworks) logo design/branding and even your website. We are experienced designers and a number of our staff are experienced in graphic design. We are commissioned by clients, often from the retail or licenced trade sectors, to undertake all aspects of their project from the start to delivery and beyond. This gives you the benefit of one point of contact for all works, the knowledge that all component elements of the scheme will be integrated together perfectly and that you will have a high level of support throughout. Please contact us for examples.
• Desktop Publishing & Video editing:
Our staff are experienced with desktop publishing and graphic design software such as Adobe In-Design and Corel packages. This means you can rest assured that we will produce attention grabbing, professionally designed reports and exhibition boards for PR purposes or Public Consultation. We believe good design is interdisciplinary.
Video editing. This is becoming increasingly useful for our Clients funding bid attempts, and for public consultations. We have invested in high end, very powerful IT equipment. This, coupled with our knowledge of video editing software enables us to produce professional project ‘movies’ which incorporate interviews with stakeholders, potential end users and real-life elements with computer generated imagery and flythroughs.
• Website Design.
We have undertaken a number of commissions for website designs, usually for our repeat clients. We find our services here can be particularly useful to our clients where a website is needed to provide information in order to muster public support/interest for a potential project, or where a developer is looking to showcase their current portfolio. With us having a prior knowledge of you, your projects and your business, we are able to provide you with an effective site in a relatively small timeframe that does exactly what you want it to. The sites we produce are usually smaller, high quality examples to showcase your company and projects.
Studio.
Specialist services
• Design for Social Distancing
• Large scale masterplanning proposals
• Major (national) Residential Projects
• Campus Masterplanning
• Campus facility assessments & reports
• New build Schools
• New build University accommodation
• Design for specialist academic facilities
• Classroom Teaching Strategy proposals
• Laboratory design
• Refurbishment for University clients
• Design for specialist IT Facilities
• Design & planning strategy for the incorporation of specialist plant equipment
• Care Home design
• Design for Dementia
• Housing with Care facilities
• Specialist Care facilities
• Infrastructure design
• Aeronautical specialist projects
• Design for public street furniture
• Fit out & refurbishment projects for
the Licensed & hospitality sectors
• Licensing plans
• Offices and retail experience deign
• Placemaking
• Disabled adaptations
• Design for historic buildings and conservation architecture.
