Lessons in life, and design, are best learnt when enjoying a pint. At least, that’s what the team agreed when we got to embark on a long-overdue project visit to Stroud Brewery at the beginning of May. Austin Design Works helped Stroud Brewery gain planning permission for their new home way back in 2017 and thought it was about time to see how the building measures up to our original designs.

For many companies planning to develop or improve a site, landscape design is a finishing touch to a building project. However, involving a landscape architect from the very beginning can be transformative for a project.

If you’ve worked with us at all in the last year or so, chances are that we’ve mentioned the 2030 Climate Challenge. At least, we hope that’s the case because we’re really making an effort to bring the topic of how we’re addressing the climate crisis into every conversation we have!

We all love a barn. And the transformations can be really exciting, taking quite some vision to imagine what might become of, frankly, pretty shoddy beginnings.

Since we moved into The Old Warehouse in 2005 it has seen plenty of changes, transformed initially from a gallery and studio to our office space and flat. But this is a 125-year-old industrial building at heart; what needs to happen to make it energy-efficient, how much would that cost, and should we improve or move?

Complex projects such as Paragraph 80, Green Belt replacement dwellings and those within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or Conservation Area require a coordinated approach to planning.

We are proud to have sponsored and taken part in the retrofit event that took place in Stroud in early September, attracting a huge number of people interested in improving the energy efficiency of their homes, including our local MP Siobhan Baillie.

A healthy building is more than just how it works and how energy efficient it is. We also need to make sure that a building has a positive impact on our mental health and social wellbeing.

We are proud to be taking part in the first Stroud Retrofit Fair taking place on 11th September at the Stroud Sub Rooms.

My first impression on entering the garden was a feeling of wonder at just how much everything had grown - a bit like seeing a child after a long absence and wondering how tall they have become.

Chloe enjoys taking on the challenge of updating historic buildings for modern use without the loss of their unique qualities and charm.

Fitting study into the week while working full-time can be challenging!

Designing for 10% Biodiversity Net Gain is soon to become compulsory to all development proposals.

Striking the balance right between what is needed by the Conservation Officer and the business is always a balancing act.

We are now able to offer this independent, low energy design service to our clients.