Rescuing Fort Road Hotel Margate

Adding to our growing protfolio of work on the Isle of Thanet, Fleet Architects are working with the new owners of the Fort Road Hotel in Margate to explorer returning the prominent building adjacent to the Turner Contemporary to its former use, a hotel.   Details are yet to be investigated but the works will secure the long term future of the building, reputedly frequented by JMW Turner himself, which was previously threatened with demolition.  The building was sold at auction by the Clive Emson auction house and sits within the Margate Conservation Area and is of great value and significence to the townscape and local folklore.

The new owners are keen to work with local interest groups in developing the most appropriate plan which will provide employment in high quality hospitality and catering and seek to use local construction trades in addition to protecting a much loved local property from the bulldozers.

(More to follow)

Giz a SIP?

The second phase of Fleet’s redevelopment of a Grade II listed property in central Ramsgate is soon to gather pace. Having rectified extremely challenging ground conditions we spent a sunny day setting out the sole plates for the SIP (Structural Insulated Panels) envelope – a fast track construction system of pre-cut panels that slot together like a card model.

This is an exciting part of the programme – having worked with SIPs a number of times – we know that the building will now rapidly rise to reveal its final form in a matter of days. The weather tight envelope will allow numerous trades to operate simultaneously, condensing the construction period significantly.

Work starts on the interim studio flats for St Jospeh’s Hospice

Working with St Joseph’s Hospice and contractor Hollmark, Fleet have deisgned the interm use of an unsused former nurses accomodation block into studio apartmetns with shared kitchens.

The project will be completed in the next 3 months and primarily provide accomodation to hospice staff and key workers in the local key worker community.

Fleet and YOU & ME secure planning permission for Historic Hat Factory

Fleet Architects and YOU & ME are thrilled to have obtained planning permission for the conversion of an historic hat factory in Luton’s Hat District for Luton Culture to house works spaces alongside A1 and A3 uses.

More information here: https://www.fleetarchitects.co.uk/fleet-y-o-u-m-e-win-hathouse-commission/

Project page to follow.

Positive Pre-Application ‘Truly Affordable’ Housing

The Fleet proposals for ‘truly-affordable housing’ with Client St Joseph’s Hospice were well received during the pre-application process with the London Borough of Hackney.

The Client plans to retain ownership of the properties which will be let significantly below market rates to staff of the hospice and other key workers in the Hackney and local community.

Nigel Harding, CEO of St Joseph’s, acknowledges the mission which led to the establishment of the Mare Street Institution in 1901 with goals of helping the sick and the poor of Hackney and sees a future role for the Hospice in helping to provide decent affordable homes as complementary to the original goals.

A full planning application is proposed in summer 2018.

Brewery Tap Ideas

Fleet were invited to submit initial ideas for the redesign of an existing brewery tap for a Hackney Based brewer in partnership with their new investors.

The Fleet proposal sought to challenge the expected repurposed industry detritus of kegs for seating, scaffold boards and palettes found you will often encounter around the craft ale scene.  Instead the design focussed on the brewing kit and how, in conjunction with the railway arches, a semi-industrial aesthetic could be maintained without the expected tropes.

The next layer of the ideas suggested that, where the customer came into contact with the space be it the bar, banquette seating or toilets, the design aimed for more luxurious notes with materials including deep glazed tiles, velvet and marble mooted.  One expression of this conceptually was a re-assembled beer keller table featuring a terrazzo table top (image).

Pecha Kucha event to launch the Hat District Exhibition

Jaime Bishop of Fleet Architects took part in a pecha kucha style event hosted by Luton Culture to launch their Hat District exhibition running from the 28th of February for one week. The Fleet Architects and YOU&ME team are designing two of the refurbished Hat Factories within the new cultural quarter, the Hat Works, including maker spaces, galleries and studios and the Hat House, the flagship project housing a restaurant, gallery and large offices aimed at fledgling creative industries.

Event videos to follow.

Recruitment – Part 1 Architectural Assistants

Fleet are currently seeking to appoint Part 1 Architectural Assistants for 2018-19 to join us in our Hackney based studio.

The role requires excellent modelling skills, digital and hand drawn presentations capability.

Please send a hard copy CV and work samples at A4 size to:

Recruitment

Fleet Architects

The Five Points Warehouse, 61 Mare Street

Hackney

E8 4RG

Fleet is a London Living Wage and Equal Opportunities Employer.

Fleet and YOU&ME win Hat Works Competition

The Fleet and YOU&ME team have won a second project with Arts Charity Luton Culture to add to the ongoing Hat House scheme which was recently submitted for planning. The new project, entitled Hat Works, will provide studios and workshops within Luton’s oldest surviving Hat Factory and will act as the threshold to a suite of buildings supporting the creative industries within Luton’s Hat District. The Hat Works will open in 2019 alongside the Hat House which will provide accommodation for fledgling businesses graduating from the smaller studio spaces also operated by Luton Culture.

Recruitment

Recruitment

Fleet are currently seeking to appoint a newly qualified RIBA Part 3/ARB or experienced Part 2 Architectural Assistant.

The role requires excellent all round communication skills and previous experience of job running and project management.

Please send a hard copy CV and work samples at A4 size to:

Recruitment

Fleet Architects

The Five Points Warehouse, 61 Mare Street

Hackney

E8 4RG

Fleet is a London Living Wage and Equal Opportunities Employer.