Simple Works

LifeLine Community Centre has received planning permission! ✨️ This project adapts and re-uses an inter-war warehouse on the Becontree Estate in Dagenham to be a community centre for LifeLine Church. LifeLine Church have deep roots in the area, having worked in Dagenham since their foundation in the mid-70s. Two local charities have been birthed from the work of the church, Community Resources and Lifeline Projects. Previously relying on rented and borrowed spaces, this project will be a great space to expand and develop activities with partners. We're working with Simple Works to conserve and adapt as much of the original building as possible, including the elegant metal trusses in the main warehouse and an unusual structure in one of the smaller buildings that ties the walls together. P3R Engineers Ltd and Max Fordham LLP have helped us create environmental and acoustic strategies to ensure the building can host gatherings while remaining passively ventilated. IKS CONSULTING LIMITED are doing a great job of helping make sure that the project is delivered in a timely and cost-effective fashion. We're looking forward to making this an incredible community asset that can serve the people of Dagenham for years to come.

Pleased to share that our public realm project in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, has been announced. We have been commissioned to design a public space specifically for teenage girls. A first for the UK. Working alongside a stellar team of Black Females In Architecture, Untitled Practice, Light Follows Behaviour , and Simple Works . Link to article in the Architects’ Journal https://lnkd.in/ebq6vK7f A collaborative approach has been embraced by our client London Legacy Development Corporation - the first local authority to adopt policy specifically for the safety and autonomy of women, girls, and gender diverse people. Empowerment of female voices such as Elevate along with teenage girls and young women local to the area has been a priority, evidenced through meaningful Co-Design sessions. An innovative approach to Co-Clienting was also developed with the input of Make Space for Girls and the Mayor of London GLA. It is a real privilege for Studio Gil to be a part of this exemplary project. Watch this space for further developments.

According to research from House Buyer Bureau, house prices are currently sitting at 8.8 times the average earnings, more than doubling since the 1970s. The research shows that the average house price throughout the 1970s sat at just £9,277, the equivalent of £68,493 today after adjusting for inflation. As it stands in the current market, homebuyers have never had a harder task looking to join the property ladder. So far this decade, the average house price has hit £286,489, 318% higher than the average seen throughout the 70s. And while the average earnings has also increased to £32,432, this marks just a 94% increase in earnings. So, here are Archio, we are proud to have been key contributors in Community Land Trust housing projects, which address the disparity between house prices and average salaries. The CLT homes are sold at affordable levels, with prices linked in perpetuity to average earnings in the area, therefore ensuring that people have economically sustainable, and socially beneficial housing options available to them. After the success of Citizen’s House in Lewisham, which completed in 2023, we are delighted to share that we have submitted plans for 16 more CLT homes with the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Commissioned by London CLT representing Greenwich Citizens Housing, we won the opportunity to design these homes through a public vote — a true testament to community empowerment! As highlighted in the recent Architects’ Journal article: “The new homes will be genuinely affordable, and they have been designed to contribute to the local area and to meet higher standards of sustainability.” We owe our thanks to all our collaborators and partners, including: The dedicated team at London CLT, Oliver Bulleid, Cheryl Scott, and Jawad Anjum All members of Greenwich Citizens Housing and Anthony Okereke Our amazing project team at Archio Ltd: Mellis Haward, Kyle Buchanan, Sophie Baldwin, Claire Fitzpatrick, João Garcia Sá, Will Hayter And all our incredible project partners: Simple Works (Structural & Civils), P3R Engineers Ltd (M&E), SCS (Sustainability), Peter Tanner, Stantec (Planning consultants), Steer (Transport consultants), Marc Dix, LT Studios (Landscape), Ian Sayer and Co. (Employers Agent/Quantity Surveyor) 👉 Catch the full story in the Architects’ Journal - https://shorturl.at/uxN7T

Excited to be part of the team on this lovely project with such a focus on social and affordable housing! #socialhousing #affordablehousing #structuralengineering

We are hiring! Structural engineers with 0-4 years experience please do get in touch at hello@simple-works.co.uk with your CV and examples of your work. We're very proud of our wonderful team, and looking forward to expanding and welcoming new people!

Are you a small charity or community organisation with a building project in mind? Or perhaps you know of one who might? £30,000 worth of pro-bono consultants time is available to apply for from a team of architects, structural engineers, cost, planning & sustainability consultants - to help get your building projects off the ground. The DESIGN FOR ALL Support Programme has been set up to help small charities (turnover < £1m), community organisations and other organisations that make positive contributions to their community and believe in the power of good design. Deadline for applications: 19 July 2024 More details at our website: www.designforall.uk Simple Works | NTA Planning | Stockdale | Beyond Carbon

Our co-founder Sinéad Conneely discusses the B Corp Certification, regenerative design & the future of engineering with host Dom Taujanskas for Building Your Career Podcast! Have a listen!

Really pleased that our Triangle House project won an Architects’ Journal Small Projects Award last week. The project created a new wing to a detached house in Epsom, inspired by Caribbean style, with an enfilade of living spaces that chase the afternoon sun. The house was Highly Commended, and massive congratulations to Takeshi Hayatsu for winning the overall prize. Thanks to our wonderful clients, Jamie Dean for his lovely planting scheme, Janek Bednarz for his skill and dedication in building the project, and Simple Works for the engineering. Photo by Lorenzo Zandri.

The wonderful Triangle House has been shortlisted for Architects’ Journal Small Projects 2024. A fun project and a great team lead by Artefact Studios! https://lnkd.in/eJqsUVzs

Simple Works was founded with a shared desire to focus on the communities we build and work for, and the environment we live in. We are fortunate to live and have our studio in Hackney, so to be on two great teams commissioned by Hackney Council to deliver new homes at Morris Blitz Court with Archio Ltd and Nye Bevan Estate with Citizens Design Bureau is very special to us.    We are excited to work on this amazing project with all those involved! https://lnkd.in/exJ3iKC4