acanthus ferguson mann

Breaking news

afm — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:50:22 +0000

Bristol city council says yes to Elizabeth Shaw Chocolate Factory housing scheme! ThisIsBristol.co.uk

2009 Civic Trust Award for AFM!

afm — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:12:46 +0000

Griff Rhys Jones announces yet another Award for our Royal William Yard scheme for Urban Splash with high praise for the standard of contemporary conversion, whilst staying in line with English Heritage’s rigorous requirements on the Grade 1 listed Clarence and Brewhouse buildings. “...this development contributes to the fabric of Plymouth as a whole by preserving a set of most striking and historically rich and significant set of buildings”. We congratulate all involved, and in particular a client with the vision and courage to take on this remarkable project. civictrustawards.org.uk

In the Spirit

afm — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:57:52 +0000

Our Bristol project for star developers Urban Splash, Lakeshore, has been hailed by English Heritage as one of the 20 best schemes in the country involving historic buildings, in their new publication “Construction Conservation in Practice”. It was described as “having an exemplary understanding of the site and worked in the spirit of the original scheme”.

Clifton Conservation Area victory!

afm — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:05:35 +0000

We are rightly proud to have gained planning permission on an important site in Clifton, in full view of Clifton Suspension Bridge. Located at the end of Sion Hill the site had been an empty bomb-damaged area since the war and we are the first to have succeeded in delivering a viable scheme that the planners could fully back. A small but active minority of local objectors had called the scheme ‘too contemporary’ but its high quality design and the overall benefits to the area meant it was passed with a large majority by the planning committee.

Award for Island

afm — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:53:07 +0000

The practice is proud to announce that Knightstone Island has won the national Redevelopment Category (five star award) in the Daily Mail Property Awards 2008. This project delivered 78 apartments and commercial space within new and listed grade 2 buildings. The island is located on the River Severn estuary and is connected to the Weston-super-Mare foreshore by a causeway.

Chris takes to the stage

afm — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:01:36 +0000

Chris Balme has added the Theatre Royal Bristol Trust to our prestigious list of Grade 1 listed building owner clients. He has been appointed as Consulting Architect to the Theatre Royal at this turning point in the Bristol Old Vic’s fortunes. We are delighted to be associated with this iconic Bristol institution’s revival – one of the oldest and finest theatres in the country.

Turning the Tide for Weston’s Grand Pier

afm — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:27:32 +0000

AFM are one of the 6 contenders for the the rejuvenation of Weston-Super-Mare’s Grand Pier. Our proposal, which combines the notion of the Promenade with that of the Fun Palace takes visitors to an Upper Deck which will simulate the ocean cruise. The translucent pavilion will glow at night and has a wavy skin that is an accurate representation of Weston’s tides, the second largest in the world. For more information on the Grand Pier competition entry, see the Arts and Leisure section within the Projects pages of our website. Link to movie Link to animation

New Apartment proves Less IS More!

afm — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:31:19 +0000

The new show apartment in Urban Splash’s Lakeshore development was opened this week. Commanding stunning lakeside views it is the epitome of the Mies van der Rohe maxim that ‘Less is More’ and that God is in the detail. Furnished with architect designed furniture it gives new life to what was Europe’s most cutting edge corporate HQ, while maintaining the elegant simplicity that was its essence.

Secret garden?

afm — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:08:18 +0000

The Royal Horticultural Society’s Rosemoor Gardens, which includes our RIBA Award winning visitor centre building, was the only South West nomination by Independent on Sunday readers in their Secret Britain series. In truth it is not all that secret with visitor numbers around 120,000 a year, being more than double those estimated when we were commissioned to design what was one of the most environmentally friendly buildings at the time. What can we say other than it is a beautiful place and we recommend a visit?

Bristol gets on its bike...

afm — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:28:30 +0000

..with new cycle homes. As described in the Times in an article on 08.08.08. The piece talks about the Chocolate Factory development by Acanthus Ferguson Mann, at Greenbank which includes 47 "cycle homes". Bristol has been recently named as Englands first "cycling city" by the Tranport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, in a campaign to encourage cycling inspired by the popularity of bikes in Dutch cities.

Chocolate Delight!

afm — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:31:53 +0000

Bristol Urban Design Forum delighted by AFM’s Greenbank Chocolate Factory scheme: “This is a fascinating and to some extent experimental scheme and the panel was unanimous in supporting it.....There is little to question or criticise in this well considered and elegantly constructed proposal. We were interested to see the new house type for cyclists and the way in which the scheme turns its back on the road network to address the cycle path. Not only does this demonstrate a different set of priorities but also helps to improve the security on this stretch of the route.”

Barry stunned by new Library!

afm — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:39:09 +0000

What better reward could we ask for than recent comments from the Library’s users? ‘Sensational!’ ‘A joy’ ‘Focal point for the community’ ‘pleased with accessibility’ ‘Excellent combination of old and new’ ‘Excellent use of colour and space’ ‘One of the best libraries I have visited’ .... And ‘stunning’

Healing one of Clifton’s scars

afm — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:49:05 +0000

We have been commissioned by Bristol based Birakos Developments to build on a longstanding vacant site in the Clifton Conservation Area. This will complete the missing East end of Sion Hill with the development of seven new flats designed to respect the scale and materials of the existing elegant terraces. This is about to enter the consultation and planning process.

Boring but Important...

afm — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:47:50 +0000

Boreholes for Britain’s biggest residential use of ground source heat pumps are to start at Urban Splash’s Lakeshore scheme next month helping to make it one of the most energy efficient regeneration schemes so far.

Beautifully appointed bat house!

afm — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:45:40 +0000

Our latest completed building is a beautifully built stone bat house for a private client in an area of outstanding natural beauty. It doubles as a folly in the landscape and at current occupation costs over £50k per bat. Think of it as a great little stone mason’s job creation scheme!

St James Priory, Bristol

afm — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:51:39 +0000

Our heritage section, led by Chris Balme, has won the commission against strong national competition to take this Heritage Lottery funded scheme – for which we were instrumental in acquiring this funding – through to completion.

By George!

afm — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:56:12 +0000

Our Chairman George Ferguson has been commissioned by the Bristol Evening Post to write a regular Saturday column – as you might imagine this is far ranging with subjects so far including barriers to access, the loss of community pubs and environmentally friendly funerals!

Chocolate Factory Victory

afm — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:47:00 +0000

We have built on our reputation for regeneration with imagination by helping to save the Elizabeth Shaw Chocolate Factory from demolition by supporting the local community with a creative alternative that keeps all the principal buildings to make a vibrant mixed use scheme.

Bristol’s historic centre

afm — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:57:49 +0000

AFM have been retained by Bristol based developer Deeley Freed to work with architects Aukett Fitzroy Robinson on the masterplanning and design of the St Mary le Port quarter of the old. This project has the prospect of replacing the lost quarter of the city with appropriately scaled buildings and public realm and greatly improving the setting of the adjacent Castle Park.

Paintworks wins award

afm — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 19:18:38 +0000

Paintworks, the popular development of a former trading estate into a new mixed use creative quarter, has won a Bristol Civic Society Award.

Desert Island Rocks!

afm — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:49:29 +0000

Knightstone Island in Weston-super-Mare is now occupied. Opened by HM the Queen in July 2007.

The Queen opens Knightstone Island

afm — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:00:00 +0000

Despite heavy rain a large crowd turned out to watch the Queen formally open Knighstone Island in Weston Super Mare, the redevelopment of an island site embracing the repair and conversion of four Grade II Listed buildings, along with two new buildings and major public realm works.

Double at Housing Design Awards

afm — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:00:00 +0000

Two of the practice’s schemes were recognised at this year’s Housing Design Awards. The Cargo at Millbay in Plymouth was shortlisted and made it to the Exhibition of Excellence whilst Lakeshore, for Urban Splash, walked off with a Project Award.

Opening of Barry Town Hall & Library

afm — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 09:00:00 +0000

Won through competition, this new state-of the-art library facility has just been completed on site, together with the refurbishment of the Town Hall and the creation of a public square and park.

Clevedon Baptist Church opens

afm — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 09:00:00 +0000

The new church for worship and community use in the centre of Clevedon was formally opened. Arranged over three floors, the accommodation includes a fan-shaped auditorium for 350 people.