BUILD Q2 2019

99 Q2 2019 BUILD ounded in 2001, Urban Innovations is an architectural and urban design consultancy company run by Adri- an Stewart and Stephen Adams, which operates from offices in the heart of Belfast City Centre. The practice concentrates on both commercial and residential projects across the UK and Ireland specialising in urban design, master-plan regeneration, renewal, planning, and building design services. The firm provides these to a select range of top quality clients who need confidential advice and creative thinking ap- plied to their projects. Adrian begins by informing us of the areas that Urban Innovations specialises within, as well as touching on what enables the firm to be the success that it is today. “Urban Innovations provide early feasibility advice and assistance in site assembly for complex projects, as well as full architectur- al services for schemes ranging in scale from small residential projects right up to major city centre developments. The breadth of service which we provide encompasses keen commercial awareness. We focus on achieving innovative solutions that deliv- er design excellence and meet market requirements.” “Here at Urban Innovations, we are a design focused practice but also cognisant that value for money should be delivered to clients of both large and small-scale developments.” Speaking of clients, the team at Urban Innovations rely on word of mouth referrals, and have gained new clients, particularly for planning and small scale residential schemes, on this basis. Adri- an goes into further detail about the clients that the firm serves. “On the construction side of our business, our clients tend to be developers of large scale mixed use schemes. We also provide bespoke architectural services for clients of one-off houses. The Summers’ House is a perfect example of the latter. We worked closely with our client and could see there was an opportunity to design a house that responded to their needs, as well as taking advantage of the amazing scenery that surrounds the site. For example, one of the bedrooms has a partially glazed roof that allows the occupants to enjoy views of the hills and forest to the east, the night sky and the lake to the west. This was something the client bought into from an early stage. It is a unique feature that they were very pleased with” Jan19027 Balancing Design Quality with Market Requirements Urban Innovations is an architectural and urban design consultancy company based in Belfast. Following their recent success in BUILD’s Design and Build Awards 2019, we profiled the firm and caught up with Adrian Stewart who provided us with a detailed insight into the secrets behind their remarkable accomplishments over the years. F It is no secret that behind every successful company is a dedicated team of individuals who work tirelessly to ensure that they achieve the firm’s overall mission. When discussing the internal culture at the firm, Adrian is keen to highlight the fundamental role the wider group play in the overall success of Urban Innovations. “Our team is crucial to our success. We have an enthusiastic group of hard working and committed professionals here at Urban Innovations. This provides reassurance to our clients that the level of service they are used to is consistently delivered.” Bringing the interview to a close, Adrian signs off by reflecting on the challenges which occur within the industry in the future, but also touches on some of the exciting plans that the team at Urban Innovations have for 2019, especially following their re- cent success in BUILD’s Design and Build Awards 2019 where they were awarded the accolade Contemporary Private Build of the Year - Belfast - Summers’ House. “The changing regulatory environment both in the Republic of Ireland and in the UK (particularly in relation to fire safety) pre- sents a challenge. We, as part of the wider profession, are keen that Fire Safety Regulations are updated quickly and done so in a way that provides a clear and unambiguous way forward. “Looking to the future, we are very enthusiastic about contin- uing to provide design solutions for large city centre schemes that excite and inspire our clients and peers. In addition, we are keen to build upon their one-off housing portfolio.” Contact: Michelle Mallon Company: Urban Innovations Address: 7 James Street South, Belfast, BT2 8DN Telephone: 02890435060 Website: www.urbaninnovations.co.uk