Listen | Create | Adapt | Deliver
COW architecture provide comprehensive and informative advice from the earliest stages of a project and right through to completion. Our professional team have years of experience within the industry and will work closely with you, believing the design process is a collaborative effort in achieving good quality yet cost-effective design.
At COW architecture we care about delivering a first-class service to our clients and strive to achieve buildings of the highest quality, focusing on promoting a better way of living through good design. If you are looking to add value to your home with innovative architectural designs, contact us today and a member of our team will get back to you to organise a free design consultation.
Our services are designed to suit the needs of private clients and developers, whether you need a consultation to help you understand simply what’s achievable or help throughout your whole project. Please look through our sample projects or follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see live updates on projects currently on site and nearing completion.
Design Consultation
We start every project the same way with a free face to face design consultation, where we come out to see you at home or on the site and discuss your aspirations for the project. We carry out a detailed site analysis to discover ways to unlock hidden potential, such as sight line corridors, unseen high-level views, and initial orientation options to maximise the amount of sunlight.
We look for potential problems or areas of the site which will need careful design consideration, such as tree root protection zones, services, proximity to a listed building or neighbouring boundary. We research a site to uncover its history to see if this can be woven into the new design. We will work directly with you to create a bespoke design plan tailored to your specific needs.
We will sit down together to produce a design brief, detailing all of your ‘must haves’, your desires and offer our own initial ideas. We will then use design brief document to start our design journey together. This is an enjoyable and exciting part of the project for all involved as this shapes how the project is going to develop.
Planning Applications
As we develop the project in close communication with you, we work through the various work stages. At the end of the Detail Proposals stage, we prepare and submit your application for Planning Permission. This is usually undertaken electronically.
We then closely monitor the progress of the application and work with the local planning department as required to provide the best chances of success for the application. During this stage we recommend you start speaking to contractors and start to look at obtaining initial estimates for your project. This in turn will assist in informing the development of the proposals.
Building Regulations
Once we have positive news regarding your planning permission, we can work our way through the Building Regulations work stage culminating in the preparation and submission of an application for Building Regulations Approval.
This will likely require the appointment of a Structural Engineer and possibly other consultants. We co-ordinate and collate all of the information required for the Building Regulations submission including technical drawings, details, energy calculations and so on. We then work through any additional requests made by Building Control and coordinate with the structural engineers and any other consultants.
Works On Site
We can be involved as much or as little as you require once the project starts on site. We can regularly attend the works to monitor progress and quality or tailor our service to provide a lesser level of input, dealing with only specific requests as and when required.
Historic Buildings
At COW architecture we take pride in offering innovative building conversions, incorporating as much of the original fabric as possible. Repurposing a historic building, rather than knocking it down, can have many design advantages, creating exciting and unusual spaces. Our team have extensive experience working within The Lake District World Heritage Site, Conservation Areas and on various Listed Buildings. We have an excellent track record when it comes to obtaining Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent to alter and extend Listed Buildings, even Listed Buildings in prominent positions on the shores of Windermere.