CREATE YOUR DREAM
Additional space, plenty of natural light and adequate storage are often at the top of a home-owner’s wish-list. Our team of qualified Architects invests time with you upfront, to get a detailed snapshot of your lifestyle, which ensures that we deliver a design tailored to you and your home.
NEW BUILD
We design future-proof, adaptable homes tailored to suit the needs of modern family living.
Maximised space and intuitive flow are at the heart of Lomas and Mitchell Architects design ethos. As an RIBA Chartered Practice, our priority is to make sure your new home will be somewhere you are happy to live, work and entertain; everything you dreamed it should be.
Building a new home can be very rewarding and provides the opportunity to create something stunning and energy-efficient, whether it’s brick, traditional stone, render or timber.
We like to take a fabric-first approach to any project, ensuring that the building fabric is well-insulated and air-tight, and that the ventilation is controlled throughout. In this way we can help you achieve the best balance between the cost of the project and the on-going cost of running your home.
INTERNAL
REMODELLING
Think about this – you may not need an extension to your property! You may be able to achieve your needs with the space you already have.
If the current layout of your home just isn’t working, your first instinct is often to extend in order to add more space. Moving a wall or combining rooms can transform your property, introducing light, space and an intuitive flow.
The experience and training of the Lomas and Mitchell Architects team enables us to see the bigger picture and visualise a design that flows well, maximises space and works for you and your budget.
We approach every design with an open mind and, after gaining a detailed, in-depth understanding of how you use your property, we will advise on whether internal remodelling or an extension seems the best approach.
EXTENSIONS
According to research published by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), more than half of the new homes being built today are not big enough to meet the needs of the people who buy them.
Furniture and soft furnishings are the finishing touches to an extension and are often considered once the building is constructed. Our experience has shown us the value of considering furniture layouts very early in the design stages. This makes sure that the furniture you wish to use will work well in the spaces provided.
Speak to our friendly, approachable team today on 01246 580405.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability means different things to different Clients, and at Lomas and Mitchell Architects, we like to spend time understanding just how ‘green’ you want your home to be. We encourage our Clients to spend their budget on the building fabric first, which has the most impact on energy bills; then we can look at additional elements such as PV panels to generate electricity or to heat water.
As we make our homes more energy efficient and air-tight, it is vital to consider how the building fabric is performing; get it wrong, and you create problems, such as over-heating in loft conversions or damp and mould growth on walls. Lomas and Mitchell Architects don’t just want your home to look great; we want it to be energy-efficient and healthy, too.
PASSIVHAUS
We believe that healthy design is at the core of good design for both building and landscapes. It is important to carefully consider both how buildings are designed and the choice of materials.
Passivhaus buildings provide a high level of occupant comfort whilst using very little energy for heating and cooling. They are built with meticulous attention to detail and rigorous design and construction according to principles developed by the Passivhaus Institute in Germany.
We have undergone Passivhaus Designer training, se we understand the principles involved and we can ensure that, working with an approved assessor, your home meets those very exacting standards.
THE PROCESS
Whether it’s a new build, extension or internal remodelling, there are three distinct phases to every project – scheme design (including obtaining Planning Approval), technical design (including obtaining Building Regulations approval) and construction, and the Lomas and Mitchell Architects team can be with you every step of the way until your dream is realised.
1. SCHEME DESIGN
Your project starts with the design – the creative bit. Our architects will come up with design ideas for your home.
We spend time with you, listening to what you want and looking at the location, orientation, views and anything else which might impact on the designs. Whether it’s a 2D drawing, 3D model or even a a 2B pencil and paper, we’ll make sure you can envisage how your dream home will look once it’s constructed.
If your project requires Planning Approval, we submit your project to the Local Authority and work with the Planning team to ensure the best outcome.
Most planning applications are decided within eight weeks of a valid application, unless they are unusually large or complex, in which case the time limit is extended to 13 weeks.
2.TECHNICAL DESIGN
Whilst not every property alteration needs Planning Permission, most do require Building Regulations Approval. We make it our business to keep up-to-date with changes to the Building Regulations.
Building Regulations which apply across England and Wales are set out in the Building Act 1984, whilst in Scotland, regulations are set out in the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. In Northern Ireland, the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 apply.
Lomas and Mitchell Architects have experience of working with Building Regulations across the UK.
3. CONSTRUCTION
As your project really starts to take shape, we can help you ensure that your chosen construction team follows the plans, and that work is carefully managed within agreed programmes, budgets and to the right quality, too.
Whether you need us to be on the end of the telephone, or to provide a full contract administration service, we can help with this important stage of a project. When we provide our full service, we get involved in the details – right down to the position of the light switches.
COMMERCIAL DESIGN
Good design not only makes the most of your commercial property but can add to your business ‘bottom line’. Think of your business premises as more than simply somewhere to house your staff; your working environment says something to your customers about your business ethos and our commercial clients have told us about the positive impact our architecture has had on their success.
Our approach is to combine inspirational concepts with practical building specifications. We underpin this with experienced consultation to add value at all levels of the development process.
We believe that taking a fabric-first approach can open the doors to costs savings in both construction and the ongoing operation of the building.
Above all, we create multi-functional buildings and workspaces which people are happy to work in and visit.
Get in touch with the Lomas and Mitchell Architects team today on 01246 580405 to discuss taking your commercial project forward.