Approach

Artists impressions

Sketch models

CAD drawings

Photo-realistic models

Physical models

Concept diagrams

Pencil renderings

CAD renderings

The practice has constantly maintained its founding ethos, which is based on:-

• Gaining detailed understanding of the needs of the building users and community
• Creative and imaginative but well-grounded design solutions - aiming to be neither ivory-towered nor hum-drum
• Recognition of environmental responsibilities, and perception of sustainable building methods as positive opportunities
• Rigorous and regularly updated understanding of building technologies, leading to robust buildings

Through the appointment of committed and experienced staff and an ongoing programme of professional development the practice has been able to establish a well-balanced and productive team which is able to respond to complex problems.

Changing patterns of procurement for buildings over recent years have in some areas resulted in a move away from traditional architect-led methods in favour of design-and-build, contractor/client partnering and so on. Grainge Architects have positively embraced this and now work regularly within all procurement routes - hence in some cases our direct employer might be a contractor rather than the client. But irrespective of this we have always maintained our key ethos which puts the end user client and community at the heart of the decision-making process.

A scan through our featured projects or gallery page will reveal a diversity of solutions rather than a fixed practice style. This is deliberate, and based on the idea that every project should be a very specific response to a particular brief, reflecting both the needs and the tastes of the client rather than the ego of the designer, and while individual directors or staff designers may have recognisable approaches the practice as a whole can invariably find a sympathetic designer/client match. The directors like to encourage the creativity and technical development of their staff, but at the same time keep a close involvement in all projects - avoiding the purely 'figurehead' role. For this reason we have consciously aimed to control the size of the practice - for many years staff numbers have been held within the range of 12 to 18 - small enough to allow the directors to maintain this important level of involvement in every scale of project but large enough to handle the largest which typically will occur within the region.