Spaces To Live

A good architect will be able to do more than just draw your plans on a computer or decide what room goes where. The best architects will be able to see the potential where others don’t. They will consider every part of the design, applying creative and impartial thinking to a project, exploring how you live and what you want the spaces to feel like. Who doesn’t want to get the most for their money? A good architect will help you make clever decisions that’ll help you achieve the end result you want on budget. Efficient floor plans, cost-effective material selections and a collaborative design process will all help avoid costly changes during construction. In the long term an architect can save you money on utilities by designing a high performing house through expert material selection and meeting leading industry standards.

We are a friendly team of architects motivated by great design and the difference this makes to the lives of people that occupy our buildings. We pride ourselves on our ingenuity in maximising value and identifying the small things that will make the difference to your project. We are inspired by contemporary design, the context and materiality of a place, and in dissolving the boundaries between inside and outside. We do this by manipulating daylight, extending space and framing views.

We strive to find imaginative, inspirational design solutions that are of our time but rooted in the history and context of a place. We love engaging with our clients to find a shared vision and develop a narrative that is conceived in its context and achieves the brief. Our unique buildings reflect the clients we work with and the people we design for. We are interested in architecture and contemporary interventions that reflects our culture and time and particularly enjoy renewing, extending and refurbishing buildings. This is integral to our practice’s ethos in protecting resources and reducing our impact on the natural environment.

Yes! We are an RIBA Chartered Practice and listed on the Architects Registration Board ARBregister. RIBA Chartered architects are subject to a statutory code of practice and have professional indemnity insurance. RIBA chartered practices are committed to life long learning, equality, ethical business practices and improving the environment. The practice director is also a RIBA Client Adviser. RIBA Client Advisers are selected by the RIBA for their all-round design experience, business knowledge and track-record of delivering results in construction projects.

This is dependent on many varying factors, including whether you are extending, renovating, converting or building a new home. There are also a number of different elements that will effect the outcome of cost, including varying site conditions, the age and existing condition of your property, history of the site, and more. It is common to quote square metre rates and whilst this is a good starting point, the overall project spend has to consider: the specification of interior finishes and fixtures, which could double the cost of your project from a house of standard specification abnormal site conditions – ground conditions, site access, drainage, tree roots etc. legal and professional fees (including the cost of borrowing) and surveys renewable energy investment We have a wealth of experience from our varied projects completed over the last 10 years, so please feel free to contact us and we will be able to help you build a picture of the likely cost for your project. There are also some great online resources and we’d recommend visiting the Home Building and Renovating website, which is a great place to start.

We have a 100% approval rate of planning applications in Dorset and Hampshire and have built great relationships with the planning officers as a result. Our great record of successful applications means we understand how to approach the process, but as with every project, the process differs from scheme to scheme.

We don’t ask for a lot of information, we prefer to gather the details of the project upon meeting with you and discussing the project, but ask that you have the following information to give us an idea: Your name Your preferred telephone/mobile number Email address Postcode of your project’s site Type of project (extension, loft conversion, new build, refurbishment) We then get in touch within 2 business days to discuss and arrange a meeting, then we can establish a brief and so forth. To better help your understanding of the construction process, we have put together a short guide about the planning process, you can download that above for free. We have also written a blog post about self building your own home, just click this link to view that.

Yes! As we mentioned above, we have a very successful planning approval rate, including a recent housing project in the New Forest National Park. If you would like to know more about this particular project, give us a call or email as we respect the client’s wish to keep the project offline.

This is dependent on many varying factors, including whether you are extending, renovating, converting or building a new home. There are also a number of different elements that will effect the outcome of cost, including varying site conditions, the age and existing condition of your property, history of the site, and more. It is common to quote square metre rates and whilst this is a good starting point, the overall project spend has to consider: the specification of interior finishes and fixtures, which could double the cost of your project from a house of standard specification abnormal site conditions – ground conditions, site access, drainage, tree roots etc. legal and professional fees (including the cost of borrowing) and surveys renewable energy investment We have a wealth of experience from our varied projects completed over the last 10 years, so please feel free to contact us and we will be able to help you build a picture of the likely cost for your project. There are also some great online resources and we’d recommend visiting the Home Building and Renovating website, which is a great place to start. https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/the-ultimate-build-cost-guide/

We pride ourselves on our planning success rate and have built a great relationship with the planning offices in Dorset and Hampshire. Our record of successful applications means we understand how to approach the process, but as with every project, the process differs from scheme to scheme. If you would like to know more about the planning process, we have put together a brief guide for you. You can download this above, or follow the link below.

An architect can see potential in every project where others may not. We pride ourselves on identifying small details that will make a difference to your project, and on getting planning permission first time around.

Yes! We have a very successful planning approval rate, including success in the green belt and the New Forest National Park. We were also awarded the Winner of the New Forest National Park Building Design Awards 2019 for Best Conservation to a listed farm house.

Footprint have proven experience and have been working with clients in the education sector ranging from £150,000 extensions to single primary schools, CIF bids and works for academies, masterplanning for multi academy trust, new SEN school provision, school expansion projects for councils up to circa £6m, refurbishing department areas in FE as well as multi million pound new build projects in a Technical Advisor capacity within London. We love to engage with staff and pupils and are currently delivering an ‘emerging technologies’ teaching unit over 3 terms for a school in London.

Yes, we currently have a live ESFA funded alternative provision school due to for completion in Summer 2019. We have completed a bespoke autism specific learning environment for post 16 pupils with Asperger’s Syndrome / Higher Functioning Autism, a replacement classroom building for supporting young people with a comprehensive range of special education needs and disabilities, and a 60 place primary school campus designed to cater for children with autism spectrum conditions (ASC).

We have worked with a variety of stakeholders and councils on some of our community and education projects. These include Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Poole, Wiltshire, as well as some boroughs within London.

The best office design layouts create a sense of collaboration and creativity by designing in large, open plan spaces. Don’t create a physical barrier with desks or partitions but remember everyone is unique and works differently, so its important to design an office that allows multiple working styles. Please view our workplace/office projects for more information and be sure to read our blog about how you can achieve great office design, here. Also, please do get in touch to discuss your project!

Colour is such an easy and inexpensive way to transform a space. Paint the walls, add come coloured chairs and some contemporary desks. Yellow makes us feel optimistic and is a great choice for high energy, creative spaces although too much can make you feel angry. Red boosts heart rate and can keep night workers alert whereas green promotes harmony whilst boosting creativity. Blue is calming and encourages a sense of trust, communication and efficiency. You can view how colours have a positive impact on a space on our recent LUSH office refurbishment project, here.

Yes, we have worked with many community groups and charitable organisations. Our project experience varies from a community centre project for Poole Communities Trust, a garden centre centred around the use of therapeutic horticulture, new housing for ex-service veterans and their families for Bournemouth War Memorial Homes, and a new gym and improvements to leisure facilities for BH Live.

What's the process of hiring an architect for a community project? It is key that you define your brief prior to meeting an architect. You will want to ensure the company sits well with your ethos and values and it is key that you meet them. You will be working closely and will form a close working relationship with your architect, so this is vital. You could employ an architect initially to assist you with your brief and a feasibility study for your project or engage them for the whole process. You can demonstrate to all stakeholders that you have selected the right architects for your project by tendering for architectural services. The criteria of your decision making could include the architectural fees, and quality of the practice based on their completed projects, added value, referees and experience of the key personnel.

Yes, we approach every project with the same enthusiasm and commitment. Our smallest project to date had a build cost of circa £135,000.00, extending to over £2m for a community centre. We have worked on some projects at very early stages where our work has been instrumental in the fundraising process and we know organisations that can help you with this process.

We have worked with a variety of stakeholders and councils on some of our community and education projects. These include Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Poole, Wiltshire, as well as some boroughs within London.