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Community & Civic

Buildings a village actually uses

Village halls, community centres and cultural buildings — designed for committees, funders and long service lives.

Discuss a community project All services

Community buildings have a different client to a private house: a committee, often volunteers, usually working to funding deadlines and needing drawings that support a grant application as much as a planning one.

They also have to be cheap to run and easy to maintain for decades, by people who are not building professionals. That pushes decisions towards robust, simple construction and low running costs.

Our civic work includes village halls at Poringland and Stoke Holy Cross in South Norfolk, and a design for a Wind Energy Centre in East Norfolk.

How a community project runs

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Stage 1 — Preparation and Brief

Stage 1 is where we begin to understand your project. We are really interested in your project objectives and if you have a project budget. We often need to have a look at your property and assess the location and context before providing any advice. It’s important at this stage that we can clearly define your Project Brief, including spatial requirements.

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Stage 2 — Concept Design

Stage 2 is where the design of your project really comes to life. Initially, we observe and record project opportunities and constraints onto a Site Analysis drawing. This can include details of; site access, restrictions from neighbouring properties, overlooking, noise, sun-paths, levels, views, security, local planning policies and historic maps etc. This research can make all the difference resulting in a design that makes the most of the site for your needs, and that is favourable in obtaining planning permission. We also record and update your project brief and any project strategies for approval.

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Stage 3 — Spatial Coordination

Stage 3 is where the final concept design is formalised for planning approval or permitted development. The design evolves to include selected specifications and coordination with other consultants is carried out as required. A check review of Building Regulations at this stage ensures the design is compliant and ready to move forwards without significant changes. It’s important to develop and integrate the key features of a project at this stage, including strategies for sustainable design.

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Stage 4 — Technical Design

Stage 4 is when all the technical design for your project is prepared. This includes detailed drawings and specifications for a contractor to price. As lead designer we often recommend any relevant additional Consultant Contacts required at this stage and often help with obtaining quotes for their involvement. If they have not already been appointed, this can include Structural Engineers, M&E Engineers, Interior Designers and Landscape Architects etc. but is dependent on the project. When all required consultants are confirmed, we arrange Design Team Meetings to discuss and develop the Technical Design.

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Stage 5 — Manufacturing and Construction

Stage 5 is the manufacturing and construction stage of your project. Your preferred Contractor leads this stage to deliver your project on-site and your consultants provide support and guidance along the way.

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Stage 6 — Handover

Stage 6 is the Handover for your project. At this stage we can help with the creation of a Building Manual, including the preparation of As-Built Drawings. We like to have a de-brief with the Project Team at this stage to discuss Project Performance and any learnings to take forward.

Community and civic projects

Village Hall, Poringland
Hospitality & Leisure

Village Hall, Poringland

A contemporary Village Hall defined by clean lines, transparency, and natural materials. The design combines extensive glazing, horizontal timber cladding, and a curved…
Village Hall, Norwich
Civic & Commercial

Village Hall, Norwich

Design concept for a village hall in Norwich. Civic and community architecture.
Golf Club Outdoor Entertainment Area Renovation
Hospitality & Leisure

Golf Club Outdoor Entertainment Area Renovation

A beautifully transformed outdoor entertainment space featuring warm ambient lighting, timber accents, and elegant canopy sails. The renovation introduces a…
★★★★★
Danny is innovative and professional, creating a clever design to fit with our ideas and budget.
Nathan Hunt Client
★★★★★
Amazing professional service, designed exactly what we were looking for.
Jessica Stoner
★★★★★
Fantastic design and first class project management from Danny and the team.
Ian Phillips
★★★★★
Danny is a joy to work with! Very creative and professional, and always available on the end of a phone. The plans he did for us were way beyond our expectations and flew through pre-planning with the notoriously tricky Broads Authority. The design is exceptional - well within the brief, yet far…
Bridget Lawless

Community & Civic Buildings — Frequently Asked Questions

Can you produce drawings for a funding application?

Yes. Funders usually want to see a developed design and a cost picture, which generally means taking the project through concept design before the bid goes in.

Discuss a community project

Tell us about the site, the committee and any funding deadlines you are working to.

Our Other Services

Architectural Design New builds, extensions, conversions and listed buildings — designed around the site and taken through planning by people who do it every week → House Extensions Single and two-storey rear extensions, side returns, porches and wrap-arounds across Norfolk and Suffolk — designed to get consented → Loft Conversions Dormer, hip-to-gable and rooflight conversions — designed around head height, stair position and the structure you actually have → Barn & Agricultural Conversions Traditional barns, agricultural buildings and farm diversification — including conversions to holiday letting → Listed & Period Buildings Listed building consent, conservation areas and sensitive extensions to period property across Norfolk and Suffolk → New Build & Self Build Private houses, self-build projects and residential development — from site appraisal through planning to completion → Interior Design Residential, commercial, hospitality and leisure interiors — delivered across the UK, Lebanon and the UAE from our Norwich and Beirut studios → Hotel Interiors Guest rooms, reception lounges and public areas for hotel groups in the UK and the UAE → Restaurant & Bar Design Restaurants, bars and food and beverage spaces — designed around the operation as much as the look → Workplace Interiors Offices, reception spaces and workplace fit-out — planned around how the organisation actually works → Leisure & Fitness Design Fitness clubs, spas, golf and outdoor entertainment facilities → Hospitality & Leisure Design Hotels, restaurants, resorts and leisure facilities — architecture and interiors, in the UK and internationally → Workplace & Commercial Offices, reception spaces, commercial renovation and mixed-use schemes → Swimming & Reflection Pool Design Infinity pools, reflection pools and the shelters and entertainment structures that make them usable in a British climate → Planning Applications Householder, full and listed building applications — prepared, submitted and argued through to decision → Feasibility Studies A study that tests the capacity of a site and how realistic your objectives are, before a full design is commissioned → Our Fees How we price our work, what drives the figure, and the costs that sit outside the design fee → Project Management Tender, contractor selection and site support through construction to handover → Free Initial Consultation A complimentary first session to explore your ideas and understand the scope, design direction and feasibility of your project →
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