Welcome To Leeds Society of Architects

Fourth time lucky for doomed CASPAR site?

Carey Jones Architects has become the latest practice to submit plans to replace the derelict CASPAR pre-fab housing scheme in Leeds

The original development, designed by Levitt Bernstein and completed in 2000, was evacuated four years ago, after the discovery of ‘potentially catastrophic structural problems’.

Leeds-based practice Architecture2B then had two attempts at drawing up replacements plans – the final scheme for the North Street site winning approval in December in 2007. These proposals were scuppered when project backers Life Homes went into administration.

The Manor Property Group has snapped up the plot and asked Carey Jones to draw up plans for 600 new student apartments. The £30 million Manor Point scheme features a 35-storey tower block and, if approved, could be ‘ready for letting’ by the beginning of the 2012 academic year.

Commercial law firm Lupton Fawcett and residential property agents Titchmarsh & Co secured the site for Manor from the administrators of Life Homes.

Chris Waterhouse, director in the property services group at Lupton Fawcett, said: ‘The land has been acquired from the administrators/funders of Life Homes, which had intended to redevelop the site of the original CASPAR (City Centre Apartments for Single People at Affordable Rents) scheme that was built over nine years ago by a Japanese company, but was subsequently evacuated after fears it could collapse in high winds.
‘The acquisition by Manor will enable these dangerous and dilapidated buildings to finally be demolished and replaced by a scheme which will transform the area for the better, subject to planning permission.’

Factfile
Levitt Bernstein’s original 46-home building was hailed as a ‘pioneering’ exemplar of affordable housing when first built (AJ 10.08.00), but has been empty since being evacuated after high winds in 2005.??An investigation by Arup revealed an ‘identifiable chance‘ that the £3 million, timber-framed building could collapse in strong winds, which meant none of the tenants were ever allowed back into the Kajima-built flats.

Credit
Architects journal - link

posted on: Tuesday 07th February 2012
(0) Comments

Go-ahead for Carey Jones hotel

The Casa hotel, for Bradbury Hall Developments, is just outside the town centre and features a 100-bedroom hotel, with banqueting suite, conference rooms, restaurants and bars, and exterior landscaping. The building’s top two floors will provide 1,500sq m of office space.

Mike Harris, director at Carey Jones, said: “Working with forward-thinking local developers has allowed us to create a striking building, with strong sculptural form.”

 Source : www.bdonline.co.uk

posted on: Tuesday 07th February 2012
(0) Comments

Carey Jones bucks the trend

AWARD-winning Leeds architecture and interior design practice, careyjones, believes it is bucking market trends by announcing plans to expand across the Pennines.

The firm is opening a new North West office in Manchester's Northern Quarter.

It will add the Manchester office to its existing ones in Leeds, London and New York from September 1.

Director Simon Clarke will move across the Pennines to head the
ADVERTISEMENT
new office.

He said: "This may seem a bold move in the current economic climate but opening a studio in Manchester is part of a tempered and natural progression for careyjones which we have been planning for some time.

"Based upon our existing client and project base across the North West we already have very solid foundations in place which we can develop much more effectively if we are based in the region."

The new studio is located in Royal Mills on Redhill Street.

Mr Clarke continued: "Working with clients such as Ask, Langtree and Town Centre Securities allows us to maximise and develop our design approach as we all share the same commitment to high quality design and sustainability.

Positive

"As a practice we feel we are in a very positive position to successfully open our fourth studio in one of the country's most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities.

"There will be a team of designers working to manage existing projects as well as developing a number of high profile schemes that we currently have in the pipeline."

The firm specialises in architectural services and interior design and has achieved national recognition for design work from organisations including the British Council for Offices, RIBA (The Royal Institute of British Architects), RICS (The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and the Civic Trust.

In Leeds alone it has designed around 70 buildings, ranging from a health centre and a bingo hall to large developments in the city centre including TheQuays, Clarence Dock and the award-winning The Gateway, on East Street.

The practice was established in 1987 and now employs around 150 staff.

It is reponsible for more than 150 buildings in total with a combined value of over £1bn and has received more than 30 architectural awards.

posted on: Tuesday 07th February 2012
(0) Comments