Masterplanning
Working with complex sites to restore purpose, honour heritage and guide long-term investment
Complex sites often develop gradually over decades, and without a strategic overview they tend to lose a sense of identity. Over time, you may recognise that buildings function less effectively, but it’s difficult to know what to change or where to start. Engaging with the masterplan process helps our clients to move forward with confidence.
Alongside addressing any immediate issues, we can set innovative solutions within a wider context, solving larger scale problems such as: site zoning, circulation, entrance to and access around the site, new construction and redevelopment of existing buildings. We also get to know our clients as deeply as their architectural challenges. Once we understand the vision at the heart of what you do, we can respond with designs that resonate with purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Masterplanning and strategic thinking is a principle we apply to every project we work on. From the smallest residential house extension to the largest estate or housing development we believe it is important to look at the bigger picture rather than any design challenge in isolation. We have worked on too many projects where there was no strategic planning and well-intentioned development has proved short-sighted, inhibiting or hindering other development and often leading to abortive costs that could have been avoided with a more structured approach.
Actually, from the smallest project to the largest project we adopt a masterplan approach to every project we work on, even the smallest projects. This is because we have seen too many buildings and sites developed in a piecemeal way, with no strategic development plan and we want to ensure that, to the best of our ability, the advice we give our clients allows for further development in the future.
We have worked with schools, churches, universities, theological colleges, residential conferencing centres, residential outdoor pursuits centres and many other private estates but every client is unique, each has different objectives, requirements, needs and aspirations and the context is likely to be different.
Whether or not we have worked with an organisation similar to yours, we will make no assumptions and will engage with the same level of rigour and analysis we apply to any masterplan design exercise. You are the experts in your field, we bring architectural expertise and partner with you to explore the shortcomings of your site and buildings and the opportunities they afford to serve your current and future needs.
The scope and methodology of the masterplan design exercise will be agreed and documented before we begin. We recommend appointing a project board from your organisation with whom we will collaborate and work closely with throughout the whole exercise, a team of 3 – 6 key people.
The process typically begins with careful analysis and investigation, listening and asking lots of questions. We have a range of useful tools and processes to help us gather the right information and hear from the people who use the site and to understand the needs going forward. This process is insightful and often reveals some surprises even for those who have been part of the organisation for decades.
This information is combined and overlaid with other research and analysis to compile a comprehensive assessment of the existing situation that we report back and test with the project board to make sure its stands up to scrutiny. This becomes the basis for the design process where we work with the project team to explore possibilities and creative responses to the needs and shortcomings of the site and buildings, identifying opportunities and design options. This too is tested with the project board and, as appropriate, at key stages with wider management and decision-makers.
The findings and strategic opportunities are presented back to the senior leadership team of the organisation for discussion and feedback, usually as a screen presentation and detailed printed summary report.
Contact us for more information about what to expect
Depending on the context, we have a network of consultants, specialists and suppliers who can contribute to the masterplan appraisal and design process. We can advise on the need for other consultants as part of our early discussions and before we are appointed
This varies and depends on many different factors but generally between 2 and 6 months would be a reasonable assumption
We will present a summary of our findings and proposals, usually by means of a screen presentation to a senior management or leadership team and to a wider audience for consultation as appropriate. We also provide a printed report setting out the findings and proposals
Feeling excited about your site’s potential, or daunted by its complexity? Get in touch for
more information, and to discuss how masterplanning could serve your organisation’s goals.
