Sustainability is a core value at the heart of a:b:i:r architects approach to good design. We aspire to create architecture that is sensitive to its locality and the planet.
This is approached in four fundamental ways
ORIENTATION AND LAYOUT to maximise sunlight and views and control heat gain and cooling
PASSIVE DESIGN to control ventilation, heat gain and cooling
MATERIALS to respond to and be rooted in the locality, to improve efficiency and to reduce transport costs.
SYSTEMS using technologies as appropriate to the site to reduce carbon emissions and fuel bills
All the directors are members of the Green Register of Construction Professionals and have won awards for sustainable projects including eco home of the year 2007.
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a:b:i:r architects believe passionately in creating a high quality, sustainable architecture.
We are a dynamic and forward looking architectural practice founded on the equality of our architectural ambitions to deliver responsible, design led architecture that is part of its local community.
Simon Atkins, Olli Blair, Giles Ings and Matthew Richardson have over 65 years experience in the architectural design and construction industry, 30 years of which have been as professionally qualified chartered (RIBA) and registered (ARB) architects and they have won many awards for their architecture.
The directors wide ranging experience in numerous industry sectors including housing, medical, community, education, domestic and retail, allied with experience and expertise in the UK, Europe and the Middle East gives a:b:i:r architects a wide breath and depth of knowledge in thier field.
a:b:i:r architects are:
- an RIBA Chartered Practice
- ISO9001 accredited
- A member of Brighton & Hove ProHelp
- Members of The Green Register of Construction Professionals
a:b:i:r architects also contribute significantly to
- Local Authority DESIGN REVIEW PANELS across the South East
- RIBA South Region and RIBA SUSSEX BRANCH
- TEACHING RIBA accredited courses at local architecture schools
- judging of local and national architectural awards
a:b:i:r architects believe passionately in creating a high quality, sustainable architecture.
High quality environmentally responsible design is a core value at a : b : i : r architects.
For us good design means:
CONTEXTUALLY APPROPRIATE responding to the site and locality, the brief, the client and the local community to create a sense of place
INNOVATIVE AND IMAGINATIVE in layout of spaces, relationship of inside and outside spaces, materiality and interpretation of client and community needs
SUSTAINABLE both in terms of materials, specification and the long term appropriateness of a building on a site.
SIMON ATKINS RIBA BA (Hons), Dip Arch
Employment
2009 a:b:i:r architects, Hove – director
2001- 2009 drp architects, Brighton –director from 2006-2009 Key Projects
Listed Film Studios, Windsor – refurbishment of large grade II listed building and 8 new build executive ecohouses 2008 – ongoing
Eco house, Bedfordshire - new build eco house for private client 2008 - ongoing
Whichelo Place – award winning eco house for private client 2005-2007
Ursa Court, Brighton - £3M contract for 33 affordable & shared ownership units in Brighton for Southern Hosing 2003 - 2007 Other
Mid Sussex District Council Design Panel Member
IT Manager
Member of the Green Register of Construction Professionals
OLLI BLAIR RIBA BA (Hons), Dip Arch
Employment
2009 a:b:i:r architects, Hove – director
2001- 2009 drp architects, Brighton – director from 2006-2009
1997-2001 Kevin Thornton Associates, Brighton Key Projects
New GP Surgery, East Sussex - 9 GP practice with pharmacy and 6 affordable flats - 2008 - ongoing
Old Steine - refurbishment of empty council builiding to provide learning skills centre for BHCC 2009 - ongoing
Phase One, Brighton - £2.5M refurbishment of 4 Regency townhouses for William Sutton
HA, BHT & BHCC 2003-2007 Other
Professional Practice Lecturer (University of Brighton)
Chairman of the RIBA Sussex Branch
Mid Sussex District Council Design Panel Member
Quality Manager
Member of the Green Register of Construction Professionals
GILES INGS RIBA BA (Hons), Dip Arch
Employment
2009 a:b:i:r architects, Hove – director
1995- 2009 drp architects, Brighton – partner from 1996; director from 2006-2009 Key Projects
Boscombe Beach Huts - 4 wheelcahir accessible beach huts for Boscombe beach front 2009-2010
The Brighton Bandstand - £950K refurbishment of iconic grade II listed structure for
BHCC 2008-2009
Wellend Villas - £9M contract fo 126 affordable and shared ownership flats on the site of the former Endeavor garage for Southern Housing 2003-2008 Other
Chair of Brighton and Hove BCP ProHelp
Board Member of Education Business Partnership
Affiliate member of National Register of Access Consultants
Chair of Mid Sussex District Council Design Panel
Chair of Mid Sussex District Council Design Awards
Sussex Heritage Trust Award Judge
Member of the Green Register of Construction Professionals
MATTHEW RICHARDSON RIBA BA (Hons), Dip Arch
Employment
2009 a:b:i:r architects, Hove – director
2003- 2009 drp architects, Brighton – partner from 2003; director from 2006-2009
2002-2003 Matthew Richardson Architects, Brighton - principal
2002-1996 drp architects, Brighton Key Projects
George Williams House – £5.1 new build hostel for homeless & vulnerable for
Downland Housing Association, BHCC & YMCA 2005-2009 Other
RIBA Executive Committee (within the South East area)
Immediate past Chairman of RIBA Sussex Branch
RIBA SE Regional Champion for Students
Professional Practice Tutor at the University of Brighton
Lewes District Council Design Panel Member
Chair of Eastbourne Borough Council Design Panel
RIBA Awards judging panel
Quality Manager
Member of the Green Register of Construction Professionals
a:b:i:r architects hosted a full house screening of The Age of Stuipd on behalf of the RIBA Sussex Branch on Friday 13th November 2009
'The Age of Stupid' is the documentary from the Director of 'McLibel' and the Producer of the Oscar-winning 'One Day in September'. This enormously ambitious drama-documentary-animation hybrid stars Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite as an old man living in the devastated world of 2055, watching 'archive' footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change while we had the chance?
The toll by 2100 (source The Observer 4th October 2009)
■ The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecast in 2007 that sea levels would rise by 20cm to 60cm by 2100 thanks to global warming caused by man-made carbon-dioxide emissions. This is now thought to be an underestimate, however, with most scientific bodies warning that sea levels could rise by a metre or even higher. Major inundations of vulnerable regions such as Bangladesh would ensue.
■ The planet will be hotter by 3C by 2100, most scientists now expect, though rises of 4.5C to 5C could be experienced. Deserts will spread and heatwaves will become more prevalent. Ice-caps will melt and cyclones are also likely to be triggered.
■ Weather patterns across the globe will become more unstable, numbers of devastating storms will increase dramatically while snow will disappear from all but the highest mountains.
George Williams House
2010 Sussex Heritage Trust Awards Highly Commended
2010 International Green Apple Award for the Built Environment - Silver
2010 Shortlisted for RIBA Awards
2010 Shortlisted for RICS Awards
Boscombe Beach Huts (with AEREA)
2009 Winning entry in international competition
PREVIOUS AWARDS
Won by the directors of a : b : i : r architects
Regency House Project, Brighton
2008 International Green Apple Award for the Built Environment - Silver
2008 Sussex Heritage Trust Award
Whichelo Place, Brighton
2007 International Green Apple Award for the Built Environment - Silver
2007 Best Eco House – Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine
2007 Best Eco House – Norwich & Peterborough
2008 Sussex Heritage Trust Award
Shortlisted for RIBA Ibstock Downland Award 2008
RECENTLY PUBLISHED
Projects that have been published in print and online:
Practice Profile
a:b:i:r architects profiled in The Architects Journal 4th June 2010
Article on a:b:i:r architect's triple shortlisting for the 2010 RIBA Downland prize in The Argus 7th September 2010
Regency House Project
Richard Rowland's Book on The Regency Project : The Regency Project Hardback copies of the book are available through a : b : i : r architects for 15GBP
The Bandstand featured on a Meridian News article on 27th June 2009
Whichelo Place featured in a piece on sustainability on the BBC Politics Show (South East) 21st June 2009
12th June 2009 edition of Have I Got News For You aired a clip of former Housing Minister Caroline Flint with one of the directors of a : b : i : r architects discussing the Ideal Home Show Eco House. The full clip and an interview on sustainability were originally aired on Channel 4 News in April 2008
Cover's Yard, Lewes Road, Brighton
23rd August 2010
Brighton affordable housing scheme granted planning permission after 51/2 years
atkins : blair : ings : richardson : architects is the trading name of abir architects ltd, registered office 12-13 ship street, brighton, east sussex, bn1 1ad company no: 06877117