Q1 2021 Leading Specialists in Disaster Restoration Management - Texas Standpoint Total Restoration Management Nature is incredibly powerful and deeply inspiring for some people. However, that power can very quickly turn and become an unmitigated and highly dangerous threat to people’s way of life. With climate change and global warming leading to a vast increase in the number of natural disasters happening all over the world, there is an increasing need for humanity to both solve these issues, but also be prepared for restoration in the aftermath. That is where Standpoint Total Restoration Management comes into the picture. Find out more about the work this Texas-based firm does, and how it rebuilds lives when it can seem that all hope is lost. Also in this issue: Sealing Sustainable Success Architekturbüro Dr Englhardt Working Creatively To Build On The Latest Global Trends Saudi Architects
BUILD Q1 2020 2 Welcome to the Q1 issue of BUILD Magazine. As always, we endeavour to be your source for all the latest news and features from across the global construction and property industries. Another year done and finished and put aside. It’s been a while since I’ve decidedly been glad to put a year behind me, and I know I’m not alone in that sentiment. But, anyway – 2020 is over. While the uncertainty lingers on, we’ve come out the other side with lessons learned. It’s now time to look ahead at what the next twelve months will bring to the table. The theme for this issue is sustainability, and how it is impacting various sub-sectors within the greater construction, design and architecture industries. Here, we’ve spotlighted the work of companies of all sizes who are using sustainability as a tool for creativity. After all, it shouldn’t be considered a crutch. There are ways to create extraordinary things utilising sustainability as inspiration. We take a deep dive on all of that and more. All in all, the team here at BUILD magazine sincerely hope that you enjoy reading this issue. We’ll see you in a couple of months! Have a great beginning to 2021. Laura Brookes, Senior Editor Phone: +44 (0) 203 920 0082 Email: [email protected] Website: www.build-review.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
Q1 2020 BUILD 3 4. News 6. Standpoint Total Restoration Management Leading Specialists in Disaster Restoration Management - Texas 8. Working Creatively To Build On The Latest Global Trends 10. Tackling Global Challenges Through Design 11. Benefits Of Being A Small Business In Challenging Times 12. Always Providing Their Best 13. Award-Winning Company Eyes Up Residential Market 14. Securing Construction Excellence 15. Burning Bright 16. Adding Value To Clients 17. The Pride of Portugal 18. Achieving Excellence in Innovation 19. Positive Social Impact 20 Success for Spring Building Consultancy 21. A Contemporary Success Story! 22. Daring Dome Designs 23. Ready and Waiting 24. Technology Is The Cornerstone For Success 26. Sealed Success 27. House of Your Dreams 28. Breaking Tradition 29. Sustainable Properties 30. Exciting And Stimulating Spaces 31. Journey to Success! 32. Marrying Culture and Creativity Into Art 33. Elegant And Sophisticated Designs 34. Water-Based Wonder of Architecture 35. Innovative And Sustainable Architecture 36. Sealing Sustainable Success 38. Paddy Jayawardena Best Eco-Friendly Building Materials Manufacturer 2020 - Antipodes 39. Bringing European Influenced Designs To The Middle East 40. How To Make A House A Home With Sustainable Products 41. Circular Architecture 42. Winners listings Contents
BUILD Q1 2020 News or anyone thinking of sprucing up their home decor, one of the most common considerations is if it will add value to the property. Providing expert guidance, Hitachi Personal Finance has looked at the most effective home improvements you can make on a low budget, for less than £100. 1. Painting a room - £71 Nothing brightens up a room more than a fresh lick of paint and this is something that can easily be done yourself. Rather than paying for a professional decorator, why not invest in some brushes, rollers and have a bit of fun picking the colour you want for a room. To cover the cost of a main room, such as a lounge, kitchen or bathroom, paint will cost around £711 and will give your living space a much fresher look. If you are someone who monitors internal décor trends, choosing the right colour at the right time could even add more than £1,400 in value to your home if you came to selling2. 2. Kitchen spruce ups - £60 They often say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but a fullscale kitchen refurb is not always necessary, and can prove very costly. It can be easy and cheap to make just a couple of subtle changes to change the whole complexion of the room. Adding or swapping a glass hob splash back can cost as little as £603, whilst tiling a wall could be just what you need to reinvigorate your kitchen area. The cost depends on the type of tile and size of your kitchen, but the average kitchen tiling will set you back just £35 per square metre4. 3. New curtains and blinds – £50-£90 Old drapes in your window frames can make a room feel stale and dull, so replacing those with something more vibrant and colourful can really make a difference. Providing you have had them installed previously, just replacing curtains or roll up blinds won’t cost as much as you think. Home interior retailers sell a range of good quality curtains for between £50-£905 that can totally transform the feel of a room. Bang for your buck! Five home improvements you can make for under £100 Most of us have spent more time in our homes in recent months than ever before, so it comes as no surprise Brits are seeking to make home improvements, with Google searches for DIY once again on the increase during the latest lockdown. F 4. Decluttering - free A really simple way to improve the feel of your entire home is organising and decluttering from top to bottom. Excess belongings are commonplace in a lot of households and can often be forgotten for long periods, leading to even the most spacious properties feeling cramped and messy. Taking the time to go through each room, organising items to keep and collecting ones you want to recycle or donate to charity, will free up storage space that you can then make good use of. And, of course, this will cost you virtually nothing and if donating unused items to charity it will help others and the environment too. 5. Sprucing up your front door - £80 Make sure you don’t forget about the exterior of your home, as improvements on the outside can really add value to your property. Sanding down and re-painting your front door will help alleviate any looks of tiredness from the outside and will certainly add kerb appeal. Although this sounds like a big job, the average cost of the paint and tools required to take this project on are attainable at just £80.6 Vincent Reboul, Managing Director at Hitachi Capital Consumer Finance, commented: “The start of the year is often a time of reflection, and this applies to our homes as well as our careers and personal lives. The lockdown means even more of us will be looking to take on home improvements in the coming months. “Although a lot of DIY jobs can be quite large and costly projects, there are certainly tweaks and changes we can be making ourselves to have similar benefits without forking out huge sums of money. “We hope this guide inspires homeowners looking to try their hand at a few upgrades to give their house a fresh feel for 2021.” For more information on the home improvements you can make on a budget, visit: https://www.hitachipersonalfinance.co.uk/ latest-posts/homeimprovements/make-the-most-of-your-homeimprovement-budget/
iving the rural lifestyle whilst enjoying the benefits of an urban location is the dream for many London homebuyers, and there is no better place to be able to experience this than in the Royal Borough of Greenwich – coined as one of London’s original rural-urban villages[1]. Steeped in history and rich in culture, this leafy south-east corner of the capital is host to some of London’s best modern attractions, green spaces, a charming sense of community, plus being only five miles away from central London is enticing more homebuyers than ever. Located within this desirable Royal borough is Peabody’s latest collection of stylish homes at Valley House, Charlton. Offered with both Shared Ownership and London Help to Buy, purchasers can take an affordable step onto the property ladder within one of the capital’s most capitivating locations. Comprising a unique selection of one, two and three bedroom apartments and duplexes, Valley House offers the ideal place to call home – whether it is a first property purchase or seeking more space for a growing family there is something sure to tick the boxes of many home hunters. Located within Zone 3 close to the River Thames, around 20 minutes walk from Greenwich and the popular riverside setting of Blackheath, buyers have everything this exciting area has to offer on their doorstep, and currently undergoing a stunning program of regeneration that will see 5,000 new homes, new amenities, schools and a riverbus pier, residents will also be able to take advantage of everything that is to come. Andrew Peglau, Assistant Director of Marketing at Peabody comments: “Our homes at Valley House offer a fantastic opportunity for London buyers to invest in their future. Not only does Greenwich already offer a huge selection of amenities and attractions, but the planned program of regeneration is set to transform the local area of Charlton into a dynamic quarter of south-east London – and those who choose to own a property at Valley House will be in the ideal position to invest early and witness this amazing transformation for themselves.” Whatever the mood, Greenwich is known for being a tourists dream and is a truly great location for an abundance of activities whether travelling by foot, bike or train. The historical venues of the worlds largest National Maritime Museum, the record-breaking clipper known as The Cutty Sark to the amazing green open space of Greenwich Park where one of London’s most iconic views can be admired from the Prime Meridian and L Greenwich Homebuyers get on the Ladder in London’s Original Urban Village also visit the Royal Observatory. The vibrant Greenwich Market is just over a mile from Valley House and is a showcase of the very best of London’s local designers, traders, fresh produce and tasty street food all under one roof. If a spot of retail therapy and a meal out is the order of the day, Valley House is located directly opposite Greenwich Shopping Park, which is home to a range of amenities including Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s, PureGym and Homesense. Further afield is the the Greenwich Peninsula, where residents will find London’s iconic entertainment venue The O2 Arena, providing a range of entertainment all year-round as well as a selection of bars and restaurants. For fun-loving thrill seekers there is the Oxygen Freejumping Trampoline Park, take a full throttle speedboat tour along the River Thames from the North Greenwich Pier or fly across the river in an Emirates Air Line cable car. Occupying a striking curved building, each property at Valley House has been designed with a high quality specification, featuring a stylish bespoke open plan kitchen complete with integerated appliances, Silestone worktops and glass splashbacks. Layouts have been given thoughtful consideration, and provide the perfect balance of bright, airy space and elegant comfort, with the benefit of all apartments having access to a private balcony. A selection of apartments come with private parking, and there is also secure cycle storage for all residents. Additionally, the development further benefits from an onsite play area and beautiful landscaped gardens. Commuters are well catered for at Valley House. Less than a five-minute walk away from Charlton train station, which provides residents with direct access to London Bridge, London St Pancras and Rainham (Kent). North Greenwich Station can be reached in just 10 minutes by bike and provides underground services to Canary Wharf, Stratford, Waterloo and Bond Street. For those who fancy taking a more scenic route, the nearby River Bus at North Greenwich Pier stops at Canary Wharf, Tower Pier and Westminster. Prices start from £93,750 for a 25% in a one bedroom Shared Ownership apartment. There is also a selection of homes at Valley House available to purchase with London Help to Buy with prices starting from £532,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. For further information and to book a virtual tour please visit www.peabodysales.co.uk.
BUILD Q1 2021 6 Aug20613 BUILD Construction & Engineering Awards 2020 8 Aug20613 Leading Specialists in Disaster Restoration Management - Texas ust one year ago, on the 20th of October 2019, the Dallas Cowboys were playing against the New Orleans Saints in a hotly anticipated NFL matchup. Many residents in Dallas, Texas, were keenly watching the game and hoping for a good result. As per usual, the game was peppered with adverts and weather updates, warning North Texas of storms that would be hitting the area, which was not out of the normal for the time of year and the region. However, later on in the game, a chilling new weather update was broadcasted by a local meteorologist who warned of tornado that was on the ground in Dallas. Though the football game was being played in Louisiana, and therefore back on again in mere seconds, residents of Dallas had lost all interest in the game. Suddenly, they were thrust into a dangerous position where their very lives were at risk. At the heart of the area that was at risk was Mr Paul Reyes and his wife. Together, the pair frantically changed the channels to see if any other stations were covering the impending storm. Meteorologists and weathermen of all stations were warning those in the affected areas to take shelter, and wait for the storm to pass. A tornado was ripping through the heart of North Dallas, close to where Mr Reyes and his wife were living at the time. As the family sheltered in place, along with their beloved pets, the blaring of the tornado sirens could be heard above all else. Nestled in the coat closet, the family waited for ten minutes that felt more like an eternity. When at last the sirens silenced, Mr Reyes and the family made their way outside to assess the damage. But for a few tree limbs scattered across the yard, Mr Reyes’ family home was relatively unscathed. Others, however, were not so lucky. Fortunately, no lives were lost during the EF-3 monster tornado that left a trail of destruction on that fateful night in North Dallas. Despite only being on the ground for approximately fifteen minutes, the tornado whipped up winds of more than 140 mph, and it tore a path up to three quarters of a mile wide through one of the wealthiest and most densely populated areas of the city of Dallas. This was the strongest twister to hit the city in more than forty years, and it wrecked countless schools, churches, businesses, and homes. After analysis and surveying the damage done, it would eventually go down in history as one of the costliest tornados in Texas history, with more than two billion dollars’ worth of property damage done. Nature is incredibly powerful and deeply inspiring for some people. However, that power can very quickly turn and become an unmitigated and highly dangerous threat to people’s way of life. With climate change and global warming leading to a vast increase in the number of natural disasters happening all over the world, there is an increasing need for humanity to both solve these issues, but also be prepared for restoration in the aftermath. That is where Standpoint Total Restoration Management comes into the picture. Find out more about the work this Texas-based firm does, and how it rebuilds lives when it can seem that all hope is lost. J Mr Reyes had a sleepless night on October 20th 2019, knowing that many of his friends and neighbours in the area had not escaped the tornado with the same luck that he had. However, he was in a position to be able to help them. As the serving President of a company known as Standpoint Construction, Mr Reyes knew that the next few weeks in the aftermath of the tornado would be around-the-clock work. The morning after the night before, Standpoint’s phones were ringing off the hook with people asking for help with digging out, cutting, and removing downed trees, tarping roofs, boarding up windows, assessing damage, and recommending what the next steps might be. Outside of dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters, Standpoint Construction is a firm that embodies and typifies the ideals of quality, timeliness, and efficiency within the construction and engineering worlds. They form the centre of all the construction projects that the firm undertakes. Its approach to every project is collaborative and comprehensive, and Standpoint understands the importance of staying on schedule and within budget. Since being founded, Standpoint has gained a remarkable amount of experience when it comes to designing, building, remodelling, restoring, and maintaining both residential and commercial properties. It has experience working with big corporations, but the firm is not corporate. Instead, it is a local expert that is wholly committed to excellence for every single clients. From a single room, to a multi-family luxury complex; Standpoint can bring any vision to life. Mr Paul Reyes himself also delivers on every single core principle that makes up the mission and focus of everyone at Standpoint. He brings an extensive wealth of leadership experience in operations, government affairs, investment transactions, complex business acquisitions, intellectual property, and risk management. Prior to joining up with the team at Standpoint, Mr Reyes was of counsel at Matheson Keys DafferKordzik Law firm, and has served as EVP and Chief Legal Officers of Associa, one of the nation’s largest property management companies. Mr Reyes also holds a degree from Tampa University, a juris doctorate degree from Tulane University, and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. As an amateur boxer, Mr Reyes trains in his spare time for wherever his next fight may come from, and is always prepared to fight for his clients in a professional sense.
Q1 2021 BUILD 7 Construction & Engineering Awards 2020 BUILD 9 Q1 2021 BUILD 7
BUILD Q1 2021 8 Oct20615 rom uber tech to sustainable homes, these are some of the latest trends forcing architects to go back to the drawing board in an ever-changing world. As a global design company, Saudi Architects knows only too well the emerging changes that are growing in popularity and is quick to respond. The Riyadh-based business, which has expertise at both managing and delivering complete integrated design along with project and construction management services, has nearly 30 years of experience with the Al-Khobar Wavefront and Umalmelh Airport among its lengthy portfolio. Abdullah Alabdulkareem, President and CEO of Saudi Architects, says it’s important to keep up with the changing way that people want to live: “As architects, trends play an important role in our design work. “Our modern lives impact the design of our homes, and this has created some unique trends in architecture and design.” One of the main trends, adds Mr Alabdulkareem, is how openplan spaces have gone mainstream: “Open-plan spaces are all about connectivity and interaction. To us, this is an exciting trend, as it shows a desire of people to be more connected to their family and friends. “They want clever storage too. Never has the phrase ‘a place for everything, and everything in its place’ been so true than now. It has become especially important as the average family burdens themselves with increasing amounts of stuff. “Alongside that are having charging stations throughout the home - areas where devices can be stored, charged and used. While uber tech means you can use a thumbprint to operate your entire security system along with advances like self-sterilising door handles or programmable kitchen cupboards. “There’s no limit to the amount of uber-tech that can be installed in a home these days.” Working Creatively To Build On The Latest Global Trends Saudi Architects has won numerous awards for the creativity and expertise of its talented teams. Company founder Abdullah Alabdulkareem talks about the top trends in design and the ethos behind creating such a world-class business. F A versatile company, Saudi Architects is responsible for creating a wide range of buildings - home offices and interiors to office blocks; villas to palaces; mosques to museums. When designing homes with clients, the CEO notes that multiple master suites have become more popular. This is especially true when more than one generation is living under the same roof or friends are sharing a house, so they can afford to live in the most desirable area. Also proving a favourite with many clients are off-the-shelf plans because people often prefer to rely on a tried-and-tested plan that can be chosen from a book but tweaked to suit their unique needs, he adds. Saudi Architects’ drive to combine creativity with attention to detail has seen them continue to innovate to meet a growing trend for quiet spaces around the home, which impacts on both bathroom and exterior design. “Freestanding baths are popular because people are designing their bathrooms to be quiet, relaxing spaces. It’s a haven from ENG. Mohammed A. Alabdulkareem our Executive VP – COO.
9 Q1 2021 BUILD the hustle-bustle of daily life and the bath is a huge part of that,” explains Mr Alabdulkareem. “Quiet spaces can often be inserted into tricky corners as a way to “fill out” unoccupied space in a complex plan. They may include complex architectural elements like enormous skylights, internal courtyards and indoor gardens. “Tricked-out sheds, rec rooms and man caves are popular too. Many clients use these rooms to let their creativity run free, as they are often a space to be enjoyed by family and close friends. As spaces for clients to indulge in their chosen hobbies, man caves often include architectural challenges.” Sustainability has grown higher on the agenda over the past ten years and is one of the key requests in design. That is reflected in technology being installed in homes to create sustainable environments. With all these trends in play, Saudi Architects has a collaborative structure that inspires its many talented employees to feel both challenged and nurtured into coming up with new ideas. The company is organised with six design groups, which each work under a senior partner on specific projects. “To undertake consistently some of the biggest projects needs depth of resources,” adds Mr Alabdulkareem. “Creativity and personal service are best nurtured by the compact group where small is beautiful. “Each group has a rich cross-section of projects both large and small. This diversity is good for creativity, innovation and motivation. The tight-knit nature of the groups also ensures personal service and close contact between the design team and the client - from first meetings to the hand-over of the finished building. “As part of this process, key members of the design team will move with the project to the building site, wherever that is in the world, until the project is completed.” Reviewing all the details through each design phase is a special internal Design Board, that has been set up in the spirit of “challenging and being challenged” with the power to initiate design as well as review it. That helps Saudi Architects maintain its renowned reputation for highly skilled project design and excellence in engineering design. It’s a reputation that has been bolstered by numerous awards since it was founded in 1992 to cover everything from worldclass professional architecture and interior design to urban planning, construction management and progressive infrastructure engineering. Recent honours include from The Arabian Property Awards, Build 2020 Design and Build Awards and listed in the top 10 Best APAC Architect Companies in 2020 by SwiftnLift magazine. At the heart of this success is the employees, according to Mr Alabdulkareem, along with the ability to be flexible and quickly respond to changes: “Many unexpected events can occur that impact a project schedule - a construction permit comes in late, a client pushes back the approval process, and so on. “It’s imperative to remain flexible to account for the unexpected.” “Then there is employee involvement and participation,” adds the CEO, “which plays such a big role in our company. “Our training and development teams give employees, and in turn this company, a competitive edge through learning and skill-building. “Employee involvement is the direct participation of staff in activities that help the business fulfil its mission and attain its goals. More importantly, it is getting the employees involved in the management and decision-making processes of the business.” Company: Saudi Architects Name: Abdullah Alabdulkareem Website: www.saudiarc.com Q1 2021 BUILD 9
BUILD Q1 2021 10 Nov20705 t the core of Demirchelie there is a significant focus on projects that serve as a reflection of our time, current technology, and culture. Elaheh approaches each project in a speculative manner, with a process that promotes thinking, writing, and making while employing various digital technologies to advance the conceptual exploration of ideas. Like many of her peers, she has embraced a symbiosis with technology, utilising its benefits alongside more traditional efforts to deliver the best possible end product. The driving factor behind Demirchelie’s work is to highlight, examine and promote solutions to the world’s more pressing societal issues. She believes - wholeheartedly- that it’s an architect’s responsibility to contribute to these issues through innovative design. Within this ideology, the studio tackles significant global challenges such as the shortage of housing in urban areas, global waste production, and the severe increase of plastics in our oceans. The practice focuses on these broader issues through the lens of architecture, product design, and creative direction while collaborating with like-minded individuals and entities. Within this realm, the studio’s core research projects include multifamily and micro-housing in urban cities, AI in interior design, the future of retail, and fashion waste issues. These core research projects form new start-ups or contribute to existing start-ups and established companies by sharing information in an open platform to tackle larger global issues. In 2020, Demirchelie launched LEONOEL, a sustainable fashion brand in San Francisco, following a two-year research study on fashion waste issues. Equally, Elaheh is highly skilled at branding and market positioning companies and projects in the built environment. She has completed several award-winning architecture and creative projects through working with clients dedicated to the highest levels of craftsmanship and creativity. Here, she also makes efforts to collaborate with makers, artists, designers, and craftsmen to push the boundaries of design in each project she endeavours to undertake. However, with all of the above in mind, it would be remiss to gloss over the “living experience” of Elaheh’s work. Calm and serenity is in the essence of the spaces created, magnified by the rawness and purity of their material and design intent. All in all, the firm’s architecture projects are recognized for their Tackling Global Challenges Through Design More than anything, Elaheh Demirchelie, award-winning architect and founder of multidisciplinary design studio Demirchelie LLC, believes in the power of design in tackling global issues. Based in San Francisco, with a new office in Miami, the practice has built a reputation through its sustainable projects and a multidisciplinary approach, grounded in research and crafted with excellence in design. A clean aesthetic, where everything has a formal and a functional purpose, manipulated to establish a balanced anatomy of forms. In developing interior design projects, the entire process is shaped by merging Demirchelie’s expertise with the clients’ intuition to guide each project to a unique destination informed by the projects’ requirements. Small details are discussed early on to denounce a broader sensibility to the underlying character of each space. That underlying character is then mangled into elements from decor to furniture to hint at the bigger design expression bringing the entire project together in a cohesive tone. In 2018, Demirchelie designed a 160-unit affordable multifamily housing project in San Francisco, which contains micro studios and one-bedroom units to tackle the problem of housing in the city and served to open a new dialogue towards a more sustainable future. This future, in Demirchelie’s eyes, includes people of all echelons in society – not just those at the top of it. Ultimately, the firm has forged an impressive portfolio comprised entirely of memorable spaces that captivate the senses and cultivate social inclusion by merging powerful creative direction and branding strategies with an impeccable architecture and design approach. Elaheh Demirchelie received a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology. After directing several firms as Chief Creative Officer and Creative Director in the A&D industry, she started her own practice, Demirchelie, in San Francisco. DEMIRCHELIE Address: San Francisco, California, United States Website: https://www.demirchelie.com/
11 Q1 2021 BUILD Oct20663 irst came a recession, then the uncertainty of Brexit and now the Coronavirus pandemic. Like most small businesses, Annan Interiors is doing its best to steer calmly through the rough seas of recent years and is using its size to its advantage. Despite the tumultuous times, the business based in Enniskillen in County Fermanagh has used its niche high end market, wide range of clients and company size to good effect. At the heart of Annan Interiors’ success is its reputation to create high quality, enduring interiors that have earned it awards, like Interior Designer of the Year at the Ulster Tatler Awards 2019. Clients praise the business for its “attention to detail” and “creating timeless projects that will look as good in decades to come”. And according to Principal Gordon Annan, that’s down to its small-scale, enabling staff to give a personal service. “I’ve always remembered E.F. Schumacher’s book Small is Beautiful - a study of economics as if people mattered,” recalls interior designer Gordon. “That was on my first year reading list as a design student. “My clients are buying into the experience of my eye, in predicting the overall impact of any scheme. “Our company culture is personal, bespoke and we listen first. So, we will stay small and handpick our projects.” Gordon set up the business after graduating from Belfast College of Art & Design and works with just two trusted long-time members of staff. There’s software specialist and technician Allen McKenzie and Mary Murphy, who handles all the admin and day to day running of the business. The trio have built up the company’s strong reputation, built around Gordon’s flair for a very purist design that attracts clients from across Ireland. While new build houses is its specialty, Annan Interiors hasn’t restricted its client base either, with a wide range of customers from home-owners to major commerce. “On one hand, we have done an airport and shopping centre, while at the other end of the scale, a child’s bedroom,” adds Benefits Of Being A Small Business In Challenging Times With Brexit and Covid, the bijou award-winning Annan Interiors in Northern Ireland knows only too well the challenges small businesses face. We speak to its Principal, Gordon Annan, on maintaining a strong client base in unprecedented times. F Gordon. “We have designed total interiors and supplied the products to everything from optician practices to food processing factory offices, canteen and reception spaces too. “We start much earlier than the standard offer out there, beginning with lighting design. This ratifies the space plan, which forces clients, in a healthy way, to examine their room use before moving on to sanitaryware and tiling specification, right through to soft furnishing.” Lighting, furniture and fabrics are carefully selected so they maintain the company’s prowess for high quality. They often work with nominated architects and use the architect’s drawings to super-impose space planning proposals, including computer generated lighting schematics for whole-house overviews. “Our product offer is commensurate with the modernity, purist and restrained flavour of our design work,” explains Gordon. “We don’t follow high fashion or transient trends. We are founded on an ethos of simplicity and quality in design, and the products we offer exist in our collection so that we have greater control over the outcomes of our schemes. “In addition to this, we get repeat clients time and time again who budget for what can be comparatively expensive schemes.” Maintaining returning customers has helped the company respond to many challenges and Gordon is optimistic that the business’ ethos and model will maintain its success in years to come. “Our business model has been challenged, at first by the internet and its widespread availability of products and design ‘advice‘ then the recession and now Brexit, since we source in mainland Europe,” explains Gordon. “However, our market is a niche one and at this high-end level, whilst limited in numbers, it is strong.” Company: Annan Interiors Ltd Name: Gordon Annan Website: www.annaninteriors.com
BUILD Q1 2021 12 nitially established in 2010 as a building company, shortly after Core Fusion began to gain more experience in home improvements and ss a result, it decided to open a skip hire division. To begin, Leila provides a brief overview of the firm and offers more insight into some of its specialisms. “As a local skip hire company, we pride ourselves in keeping the business in the family. At all times we aim to build a good working relationship with all of our customers. Although we are comfortable with the services we provide, it’s important to never stop learning and continually explore new possibilities. Using new and more durable materials, while learning new techniques can be highly advantageous. Typically, we specialise in skip hire as well as waste management, ensuring waste is treated, recycled and disposed of with the environment in mind.” Operating in the waste management industry can be a challenging experience, however as Leila goes on to explain, pricing and the firm’s ability to quickly react to changing circumstances have been key factors behind its success. “To help distinguish ourselves from the crowd, we can offer mini skip hire and larger skips at a competitive price and deliver these at short notice. If we can keep the service in house, we can deliver great quality at a lower price and with no delays, making our customers happy and relaxed. Confident in our level of service, we won’t ever claim to be better than others. True success doesn’t come from bringing others down, instead it’s achieved by simply doing your best at all times.” Regarding the internal culture in place, much of the firm’s success can be attributed to the efforts of its team members. “The team have a great attitude towards each other, and any work undertaken” Leila highlights. “Naturally, the entire team work closely together, stepping up where appropriate to support each other. With our friendly approach across the company, our staff are also comfortable talking to us and are able to discuss any personal or professional issues with us. Over the last few years, our staff retention rate has been excellent which indicates what a good place Core Fusion is to work at.” Despite the recent outbreak of COVID-19, the firm has still managed to prosper during these difficult and uncertain times as Leila points out. Always Providing Their Best Located in Colchester, Core Fusion Limited is a local skip hire company run by a dedicated husband and wife team. Following its well-deserved success in the Recycling & Waste Management Awards 2020, we got in touch with Leila Music-Dicker to find out more about one of the best SME waste management businesses in South East England today. I “With our waste transfer station opening in February 2020, due to the first national lockdown being imposed a month later, we had very little time to adjust to new operational procedures. With many waste streams shutting down, our team worked very hard to remain open and ensure that our staff as well as our customers were kept safe at all times. Having to adapt our ways, we introduced contactless deliveries and collections, and our site was COVID-19 assessed. “Furthermore, we recognised the need to help our local residents as well as raise money for a charity which was accessed by many new residents. Due to shielding our local council suspended collection of garden waste, and with many residents spending more and more time in their gardens, we had to ensure their mental health did not suffer during isolation. Naturally, this brought on issues with disposing their green waste legally and many residents were facing a forever growing pile of waste. As a result, in April, we offered a collection of garden waste for local residents and asked for donations for Colchester Food Bank. By not only helping with the disposing of waste we were also helping a charity which has seen an increase in people who required help due to COVID-19.” Bringing the interview to a close, Leila comments on the firm’s future prospects as we look ahead to 2021 and beyond. “Whilst exploring new possibilities to improve our service, our waste recycling and waste management business is on track for expansion. However, we understand the environmental problems our planet is facing and as a result, we will always work towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach.” Contact: Leila Music-Dicker Web: www.corefusion.co.uk Nov20446
13 Q1 2021 BUILD Oct20503 Award-Winning Company Eyes Up Residential Market Award-winning STAC Architecture has made a name for itself creating compelling and unique designs for leading companies in the hospitality industry. We speak to company Director Paul Thrush as the business prepares to advance its expertise into the residential sector. n a world where brands strive harder and harder to stand out from the crowd, “unique” and “one-off” are buzz words that alert their interest like bees to honey. That’s been particularly true for STAC Architecture, a Londonbased award-winning design practice with a culturally diverse collective of designers. In just over seven years, it has already built up an impressive client base boasting household brands from Nando’s to KV Hotels, Virgin Atlantic Airways and British Land on the back of its one-off designs. Dismissing the idea of a house style has worked in the company’s favour with its tailored, fresh hospitality ideas winning numerous Restaurant and Bar Design Awards, before it ventured into the Aviation Industry. Now the company is setting its sights on commercially-led and eco-friendly solutions for the residential sector. “We have been very fortunate to work with exciting and bold companies,” explains Paul Thrush, STAC Architecture Director. “We focus on the big picture and the core questions, challenging every assumption we have about a client and their brief in order to develop new, never before considered design solutions. “Over the next year, we will be working hard to bring several new ideas and concepts to the residential market that hopefully will be the start of a new, more eco-friendly way of approaching residential design and architecture. “We are hoping that our commercial experience can shed light on new ways of building environmentally sound structures in less time, for less cost and most importantly with less waste. We don’t have a house style, simply because each project and client is unique, resulting in tailored solutions that will be only ever be delivered once.” Nando’s is the company’s longest standing client with which it started gaining recognition on the awards circuit. On the back of those awards, STAC was spotted by Virgin Atlantic and invited to pitch against several other design companies for the opportunity to design and build its latest upper class lounge. “We presented something fresh, innovative and needless to say secured the commission,” adds South African-born Paul, who worked I alongside Francesco Draisci to design the DECODE exhibition for London’s renowned Victoria and Albert Museum in 2008. “At STAC Architecture, we are concept driven and through curious and playful experiment with material, form and fabrication, we push boundaries in the pursuit of truly unique designs. “We believe design is a powerful tool that can not only improve our daily lives but also has the power to get people thinking, invite debate and ultimately effect change. Simply put, our designs compel people to stop, look and engage with their surroundings.” In the STAC Architecture studio, you find a team from a range of design-related backgrounds and countries, which Paul says makes the company’s work “all the richer”. There’s in-house architect and interior specialists alongside those with an expertise in latest 3D technologies, artificial intelligence, virtual reality plus product and set design. “At STAC, we believe that all employees have an equal say in all things design related,” adds Paul. “It is through this flat design structure that we are able to encourage new ideas and allow innovation to bubble up through and become a reality.” Company: STAC Architecture Contact: Paul Thrush Website: www.stac-architecture.com
BUILD Q1 2021 14 Oct20454 he roles we offer are essential to the construction of large scale and complex projects. In a world where everyone has their own specific niche, the role of our company is to focus on project delivery, construction costs, quality of work and the value of each decision made. A good consultant can save a great deal of money throughout the length of a project, and the team at NNDEV Consultancy are well renowned for being some of the best. The NNDEV Consultancy team can offer value from project inception and ends with the final sign off. When a project starts, it’s not simply a case of handing over drawings and putting contracts out for tender. For many, a construction project is an investment, and the amount of investment can vary because construction is ever-changing. The construction industry is a sector fraught with delays and even the most experienced contractor cannot predict the unpredictable. The role we play is project inception to narrow down the variables of a project, and in doing so establish a project budget with elemental cost plans, with programmes and design information which will be used to report changes and variations in the anticipated costs. With this experienced construction official focusing on these specific tasks, clients can be sure of a project that is both safe and economical. Any decisions, additions or omissions that must be made, can be done while referring to and maintaining the initial budget planned. When contracts are put out to tender, the elemental cost plan can act as a guide to evaluate bids received, alongside reviewing the tender returns in relation to a Time Cost and Quality perspective. Securing Construction Excellence Construction is no easy task, with many different factors at play, having specialists involved can go a long way to making a significant difference in making the job easier. The team at NNDEV Consultancy Ltd work on projects to fulfil various roles such as; Architects & Planner, Structural Engineers, Professional Quantity Surveyors, Project Managers, Employers Agent’s and Contract Administrator’s to name a few. they have received the honour of being named Best Construction Consultancy Firm, UK, 2020 in BUILD’s Design and Build Awards for their excellent work in this field. T For the length of a project, the team at NNDEV Consultancy become an integral part of your organisation, acting as a link between the financial challenges, time challenges and the construction difficulties that may arise. Managing these camps leaves clients safe in the knowledge that they are always able to take a holistic view of things. It goes without saying that the team play an invaluable role in construction projects across the UK and have achieved major successes by ensuring that they are finished on time, on budget and to a high degree of quality. Since 2015, the team at NNDEV Consultancy have played a crucial role in the success of the UK’s construction industry, and has built a trustworthy reputation for excellence. This has led them to also opening an office in India and having presence in the USA. The India office emphasises on design performance: An amalgamation of program, organisation, analysis, innovation and form a calibration to each client’s aspirations and each project’s constraints. We have an Interdisciplinary practice with projects of various scales ranging from Architecture, Urban Design and Planning, Design Management, Interiors and Project Management. Our work expands to Pan India Projects in Different states such as Maharashtra, Gujrat, Delhi and many more. Now, the team stand apart as the partner of choice for many organisations. It’s no wonder that they’re in such high demand, now and for years to come. UK: Company: NNDEV Ltd Contact: Rikin Kerai Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0203 882 1289 Website: www.nndconsultancy.com India: Company: NNDEV Ltd & KSA Contact name: Kuwal Sanam Contact No.: +91 9004 8899 25 Website: www.kuwalsanamarchitekts.com Email: [email protected] Head Office: 305, MIEstate, MIDC, Andheri - 400093
15 Q1 2021 BUILD This will add to the line of vent-free fireplaces it already manufactures in the US, where the company is also the exclusive North America importer for three major high-end fireplace brands - Evonic Fires from the UK; Element4 from the Netherlands and Focus from France. Its close links with Focus means that European Home will be able to offer its North America customers Focus’ new gas version of its iconic Gyrofocus suspended fireplace when it becomes available this year. European Home has come a long since its beginnings in 1999 when Founder Holly Markham was inspired by the clean, modern and high-quality designs of fireplaces at a London trade show. Wanting to offer those looks and values in North America, Holly went on to launch the company. Over two decades later and the company thrives on an open and friendly culture that encourages employees to be innovative and contribute to this ambitious small business. There’s also a real passion and understanding of the benefits a fireplace can bring to a home. “Although fire is primal, when paired with technology, it can become kinetic art” explains Liz. And with so many contemporary indoor and outdoor fireplaces on the market - including linear, vertical, suspended and even see-through – it’s no wonder that technical advice by the staff has become an essential part of the European Home success story. Company name: European Home Name: Liz Lee Website: www.europeanhome.com Oct20218 Burning Bright With an emphasis on customer service and a selective approach to dealers, European Home explains how it has carved a reputation associated with quality. hile many industries have suffered during the Covid outbreak, European Home has seen an increase in business during lockdowns in North America as people have been inspired to invest more on their homes. Finally getting round to that long-awaited home improvement projects is a dream for many, but customers and dealers alike don’t always know what they want or what’s possible – and that’s an area European Home has made its forte. Building a reputation for the best customer service in the industry, the small family-run business distributing high quality gas, wood, and electric fireplaces across the US and Canada, goes so far as to only work with the best quality dealers and resellers. “Our Customer Service is the best in the industry,” says Liz Lee, Lead Product Coordinator at European Home. “We serve our clients from the beginning of a project all the way to completion. “We start with guidance on which model is best for the job, brochures, and marketing materials, then connect them to the best dealer in their area.” “We do not just sell to anyone either,” warns Liz. “Our dealers must be able to provide customers with the models and installation along with lifetime support of the fireplace. But we are also very respectful of our dealers, making sure they receive exclusivity to their areas.” The company demands that dealers it works with carry out annual recommended maintenance and repairs when needed and, in return, provides them with AIA training. Meanwhile, its troubleshooting team helps out dealers, architects, designers and homeowners over the phone, through skype and in person, on-site. That can be questions about the most suitable design and installing manuals to queries coming in years after the fireplace has been installed. “We want dealers, architects, and homeowners to be happy with our product and know that we will always stand behind it,” adds Liz. Beyond customer service, European Home is constantly working to stay ahead on design innovation and flame technology. So much so that the Massachusetts-based company is working on its own brand of vent-free fireplace with a propane fuel option, which should be available to customers this year. W
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