The Ideas Workshop
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Just thought I’d start a thread that lists some ideas for new avenues of work for you people.
No. 1 — Internal Re-Design of Existing Small Industrial Units
Objectives — To optimise space & natural lighting, functional area arrangement, humanise worker circulation paths (e.g. no “maintenance gallery” steel stairs) and internal views, ventilation design, interior decor, washroom placement (often lunatic on existing units), . . .
Why Use Architect ? — Primarily for 3-D design skills.
Existing unit layouts show effects of ‘design by builder’ . . . .
Later improvised rearrangements by tenants are usually very crude, hurried and awkward.Benefits — More rentable unit for owner.
— More efficient/convenient/congenial/presentable workplace for tenant & staff.
— A new stream of revenue for architects.
Comments — Not glamourous work but there is a need for it, and plenty of it.
Successful redesigns would lead to more engagements from other unit owners looking to have an edge in a glutted market.. -
Good working knoweldge of this type of project could lead to significant opportunities in the UK for project work; many institutional landlords who often apply at least some of a dilapidations settlement towards making the units more marketable.
I am a very clear believer that those that can convert spartan former industrial into trade park spec on a budget will prosper with large demand opening up from e-commerce driven merchandisers etc.
Certainly wouldn’t buy that type of stock unless well into double digits but for those that inherited it through previous personel there are very clear angles.
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Actually I had the new Irish shoebox units in mind, not the old “Lion Works” type of places in UK . . .
Small Irish companies may have physical need for bigger premises than these yet cannot afford them.
And getting the most – functionally and evocatively – from a limited space really is an architect’s type of skill.
If it is all that simple then great – you get through the work fast and can charge acceptable fees.
If it is more challenging then remember that you can distribute the actual fees due from the first job (on a strictly per-hour-of-work-done basis) upon so many subsequent clients who will have very similar types of issues.I think that it is one of those avenues that will grow as both owners and tenants see the major difference that can be made by a bit of spatial design skill.
Architects already do this sort of thing all the time when revamping dwelling houses – which is clearly a more confined and constrained space, to say nothing of the planning aspects.
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