There is something odd happening amongst the architectural fraternity, all my contemporaries have either retired, moved away or both. Is this a reflection on the planning system? We all know that the current planning system is not fit for purpose, but we struggle on.
Apart from achieving validation of a planning application in Somerset, no mean feat, this week has been challenging for additional reasons. The current weather has created significant challenges and the office experiences high demands, not only to fulfil work deadlines but also to ensure that projects remain within budget and to the same high standard as expected of Angel Architecture.
What I call my management style, I take on work and am always surprised when it gets done in a timely fashion.
This month has been all about finishing off existing projects and starting new ones and in some cases revisiting projects which were built during the pandemic with a view to starting another phase of development to satisfy three criteria, sustainability, multi-generational living and climate change.
This week has been full of variety, one pre-app submitted, more surveying, two new enquiries, two site visits and meetings to check progress with Building Control and contractors. A good outcome.
It is so hard for architecture students to find work in their year out. In the old days it was a case of who you knew and you could easily get a placement.
Two applications were submitted for listed building consent at the beginning of 2025 which is the monthly average for the practice. The next two are currently in the production line.
This week the practice has been awarded one new project and another is moving into a new phase of detailed design. On the downside site visits have been curtailed by extensive flooding and when I did actually get to site I was surveying in Siberian weather conditions.
A wide range of activities took place this week with visits to new and existing projects, and en route two Grade I listed parish churches.
This week was spent surveying, in the fog, and doing some detective work which is quite normal for determining the history of buildings.