News
1 Upland Park
Riach Architects succeeded in winning a planning appeal to construct 3 new houses on a prominent and highly constrained site in North Oxford.
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31 Charlbury Road
Riach Architect's have secured a landmark planning appeal victory within the North Oxford Victorian Suburb Conservation Area.
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Grantham House
Riach Architects appointed to act as architects and lead consultants on the development of Grantham House.
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Cowley Road Regeneration [14th September 2011]
After two years of detailed planning and design, construction has now begun on a site next to Cowley Road's Manzil Way Gardens.
Riach Architects have carefully redesigned the area, providing new student accommodation, a police station, public toilets, Parks Department storage and retail and office units; all of which will look out onto Manzil Way Gardens and the Cowley Road. This is a welcome investment for an important site at the heart of the vibrant and diverse East Oxford community.
The project is due for completion in August 2012, in time for the start of the University year.
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Curtain up at The Playhouse - Riach Perform Quick-Time Refurb [12th August 2011]
Riach Architects have today successfully achieved the requirements of a complex and unforgiving programme to complete a front-of-house refurbishment of The Oxford Playhouse whilst avoiding'Alarms and Excursions'.
The Grade II Listed theatre appointed Riach approximately six weeks ago to manage and design the refurbishment of the basement cloakrooms on a very fast track basis.
The Playhouse had a limited opportunity to carry out the work as it could only practically and financially be closed for refurbishment for a maximum of one month.
Ably supported by the considerable efforts and construction skills of G Dighton and Sons and Box Clever, Riach Architects succeeded in meeting the tight deadline, allowing The Playhouse to open its doors on time on Monday for its next show - 'Alarms and Excursions' - both aspects of construction, project management and contract administration the practice and supporting cast had to manage as part of the project work!
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Architect in the House [12th June 2011]
A joint initiative: RIBA and Shelter
Riach Architects are supporting Architect in the House for the sixth year running. Architect in the House is an innovative scheme run by Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity, and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). They match homeowners with local RIBA chartered architects who give up an hour of their time for a design consultation. In exchange, the homeowner makes a suggested donation of £40 to Shelter. Over the past 14 years Architect in the House has raised over £1.1million for Shelter and the UK's homeless.
Whether it’s inspiration for a study, an extra bedroom, or just better living space you need, an architect can offer creativity and professional advice that will help bring your ideas to life.
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Riach Raise the Bar for North Oxford Eco Homes [2nd April 2011]
Riach Architects have successfully regenerated a redundant site in Islip Road to create some of Oxford’s first houses to achieve the coveted Level 4 of The Code for Sustainable Homes.
The scheme presents a strong architectural solution to the challenges set by the demands on modern housing and are nearing completion.
The Code for Sustainable Homes uses a wide criteria to assess the efficiency of new homes in terms of their design and construction. (The houses are then rated between 1 and 6, with Level 6 being a Zero Carbon home).
Sustainable principles have been incorporated into the design of the buildings from the outset and make use of sites’ south facing orientation to provide the houses with natural daylight and heat. Innovative, modern building materials and methods have been combined throughout to give the houses a high thermal mass, which reduces the artificial heating demands of the properties.
Ground source heat pumps, heat recovery ventilation and solar panels are all utilised to create a highly energy efficient scheme. The thermal performance of the houses will achieve an improvement of over 40% compared to current Building Regulations.
The three houses were successfully negotiated through Planning in a sensitive, compact area and designed to respect the neighbouring properties in close proximity.
Following the completion of this scheme the practice have been engaged to develop further similar sites - watch this space for details.
One of the houses is already on the market at a guide price of £695,000.
For more information on buying one of these houses, contact agents Scott Fraser 01865 759500 or visit scottfraser.co.uk
Oxford times article | Scott Fraser sales details
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Riach are helping to raise £100,000 for local Macmillan Cancer Support [17th Feb 2011]
Riach Architects are dusting off their running shoes to complete the Neolithic Marathon in support of the Macmillan 100+ Club.
Together, 100 companies in Oxfordshire could raise £100,000 which could fund a Macmillan nurse for two years and we at Riach Architects think that's a very worthy challenge!
Tom and Andy, the practice's star runners, are embarking on the 26.2 mile run across the Wiltshire countryside on Sunday 1st May 2011 - not long to go lads! We will, of course be there waiting at the finish line to buy them a few pints of lemonade.
Please help us to reach our target, by giving anything you can, and enabling us to help fund the essential services provided by Macmillan Cancer Support.
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Christ Church Cathedral School Restored to Pre-War Elegance [1st Feb 2011]
Riach Architects have completed work to install new cast iron railings at Christ Church Cathedral School returning the frontage to its original elegance and, in turn, creating a safer playground for the children.
Like many other houses and schools across Oxford, the Victorian railings had been removed to supply metal during World War II. After research and consultation with the Oxford City Council Conservation Team, Riach Architects have ensured the restored railings and brick boundary walls positively contribute to the Conservation Area of Central Oxford and return the Cathedral School frontage to its former glory.
Oxford times article | Oxford Preservation Trust article
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Design for Oxford University Rugby Football Club [10th Dec 2010]
Riach Architects, working with Primary Sponsorship Ltd, have developed preliminary design proposals for a range of new facilities for Oxford University Rugby Football Club to include a purpose-built gym and indoor training centre, student accommodation and a conference facility, bar and shop.
The proposals have been prepared in order to enable fund raising and to identify how the clients brief could be implemented on the site.
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Oxford Preservation Trust award Riach Conservation Plaque for 'Exemplary Work' [5th Nov '10]
The Oxford Preservation Trust has awarded a Building Conservation Award and plaque to Riach Architects for their 'exemplary work' to the conservation of the former Ivydene.
The Trust's aim is to preserve and enhance the historic city of Oxford and it's green setting and runs the annual Environmental Award scheme in recognition of projects making a significant contribution to the conservation and improvement of the built and natural environment of Oxford.
This unlisted Victorian gothic detached house by architect G. T. Sessions dates from 1884. Its importance locally was demonstrated by the concerns raised when plans to demolish it came forward. Whilst unsuccessful, these resulted in it remaining empty and boarded up for many years. The new owner, Lucy Properties, has undertaken extensive renovations and repairs, creating a number of individual apartments. The exemplary work in restoring the front facade and replacing the traditional railings restores it to its former glory. It is hoped that it will act as a much needed catalyst in the Iffley Road Conservation Area.
Professor Malcolm Airs, Chairman of the Oxford Preservation Trust Awards Panel said "We are delighted by the wide range of projects and the standard of the entries for the Conservation category. The Awards are the Trust’s way of acknowledging the contribution that they make to Oxford".
Oxford Times article 25th Nov 2010
Riach also collected a Commendation for Donnington Doorstep Family Centre under their Community Projects award category. A spokesman for the Trust said "This is the first year for this category and it has attracted a pleasing and very varied nature of projects".
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Riach Architects complete Gloucester Recycling Depot [8th July 2010]
Gloucester City Council’s Waste Recycling Depot was formally opened yesterday by the Mayor of Gloucester. Riach Architects were appointed in 2007 to work with neighbouring Gloucester City Council and site operators, Enterprise Plc to create a new purpose-built facility. The development provides facilities for the collection, sorting, bailing and processing of waste from the City of Gloucester together with administration offices, fleet maintenance facilities for over 70 vehicles and staff welfare facilites.
The practice used the expertise gained over 30 years of business park and process design to enable the new development to be shoe-horned into the existing infrastructure.
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New Life Breathed into 16th Century Barn [25th Mar '10]
Riach Architects have, this week, completed the final touches to a Grade II Listed barn, enabling the clients to move into the beautiful and sensitively restored 16th Century building.
Located behind historic Thame High Street, the project involved restoration and extension of the dilapidated barn. This involved the careful repair of the existing oak and elm frame and the use of high quality traditional materials to create a sensitive and appropriate addition to this Conservation Area.
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Riach Designs Carbon Neutral Home for Summertown Stars [22nd January 2010]
Riach Architects have worked closely with Summertown Stars Football Club to develop and agree a detailed brief leading to the evolving design for a new football pavilion.
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Riach's Creative Partnership builds Children's Outdoor Reading Room [8th December 2009]
Riach Architects won a Creative Partnerships competition to work with Great Horwood Primary School students to develop a design for an outdoor learning space within the school grounds. The finished structure was officially opened by the school last month.
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Environmental Award for Riach's Wharf House Pub [6th Oct 2009]
The Oxford Preservation Trust has today awarded an Environmental Award and plaque to Riach Architects for their 'enlightened approach' to the conservation of the former Wharf House pub.
The Trust's aim is to preserve and enhance the historic city of Oxford and it's green setting and runs the annual Environmental Award scheme in recognition of projects making a significant contribution to the conservation and improvement of the built and natural environment of Oxford.
Riach also collected an Environmental Award for Poet's Corner, and Commendations for The Buttery on Broad Street and Lime Tree Mews. See full details
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Win for Riach at RIBA [29th Sept 2009]
The winners of the RIBA Downland Prize 2009 were announced at RIBA’s Headquarters on Tuesday 22nd September.
Riach Architects were winners of the Housing award for a second year running, having won the same award for their project in the Iffley Fields Conservation area last year.
The Downland Prize is awarded to architects who are based in the South or South East RIBA Regions, for projects anywhere in the UK of under £1million total cost. The Prize celebrates the added value that an architect can bring to a relatively small project. Run by RIBA South East and RIBA South since 1998, the Downland Prize is sponsored this year by Ibstock, which has sponsored the Prize since its inception; and by the Rooflight Company.
The clients, W Lucy & Co, were particularly interested in improving the sustainable aspects of the building, aiming to achieve an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating [now Sustainable Homes Code 3]. They also wanted the architects to improve the design and overall sensitivity to its location, whilst creating six flats (three one-bedroom and three two-bedroom) over two storeys, including use of the roof space.
The new design replicates the properties of the street; and increases neighbourliness and security. The construction features high levels of insulation, low energy lighting and solar water heating for the upper flats.
The building was conceived as a simple, traditional arrangement of three staggered volumes. The volume respects the Victorian scale and massing of its surroundings. The materials and traditional: details create a logical, functional simplicity and give the building its crisp, contemporary air.
Downland Prize jury comments ‘The understated nature of this project enables it to blend successfully into the local vernacular, whilst retaining a contemporary style. It sits subtly between a graveyard and the gardens of a row of terraced houses, as if it has been there for some time. It is surrounded by large housing developments: the difference in quality of design is striking.’ See full details
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Riach Architects Save Historic Ivydene [22nd Sept 2009]
Ivydene, a large Victorian house which has been encased in unsightly scaffolding and ruin for almost a decade has finally been returned to its former glory yesterday. Situated in a prime location on the Iffley Road, Ivydene was built by the renowned Architect G.T. Sessions in 1884 but in recent years has been widely considered a blight to the Conservation area.
Riach Architects were instructed by client, W. Lucy and Co., to resolve the future of the building and after negotiations with local Planning and Conservation Officers gained consent for the extensive alteration and refurbishment of the property to create nine apartments.
Whilst the high quality accommodation is designed to meet the requirements of modern day life and Eco/energy efficiency, the facade has been sensitively restored and enhanced by repairing much of its original features, incorporating new timber sash windows and repairing the unique natural stone detailing.
A two-storey side extension serves to compliment the historic facade through similar architectural detailing and the purpose-built rear extension makes full use of contemporary building materials.
Douglas Riach, Principal of Riach Architects, says ’It is envisaged that the completed works and continued evolution of Ivydene will act as a catalyst for the much needed restoration of many properties within the Conservation area before this diverse mix of architectural styles falls into disrepair and is forever lost.’ See full details
