Ski Thursday People’s

The Hahnenkamm it wasn’t but nearby Cow Hill provided the nearest a band of intrepid JDDK winter sport enthusiasts could find in January. Taking advantage of record snow falls, we Passions decided there was too much fun to be had and decamped one Thursday afternoon to test some cutting edge design sledges and boards, OK, RIBA signboards and tea trays actually. Romanda Feels The results are actually available on a DVD for those winter sports purists who hark back to the Corinthian days of amateurism! The Force! With her father as an ex Army PTI, a military hobby was always on the cards for Directors’ PA, Romanda Jobson, but what was perhaps not expected was an environment leading to romance and marriage!

Romanda joined the Northumbria Army Cadet Force in August 1990 as a Sergeant Instructor, partly through her sister’s guidance, herself a Cadet.

The Army Cadet Force celebrates its 150th anniversary this year (big parades in June in Eldon Square…) as Britain’s oldest youth organisation with now over 40,000 cadets Matt Holmes, Joe Crinion, Adam Vaughan and Stuart Franklin nationwide, as Romanda explains her involvement, “Firstly, it’s NOT part of the Army as everyone seems to think, although a lot of our cadets do go on into the Army, it’s a youth training organisation that teaches general extra-curricular THANK YOU skills as well as military ones to teenagers.” …to everyone that has helped Stuart Franklin and Nicky Hodgson raise Romanda is currently based two nights a week at over £6,250, a sum that exceeds the £4,500 needed for their Transylvanian Barracks as an Administration Sergeant Challenge in aid of St Oswald’s Hospice. The generous companies include: where she helps run the paperwork for her Company Headquarters (7 detachments within her Company) and also spends four weekends a Abacus Building Components JDDK employees for raffle tickets year at Otterburn and a further fortnight at the and pennies jar donations Armstrong Rhead annual Camp - so where’s the romance? Assa Abloy Dene House Kevin Turnbull’s Curry Night “I met my husband, Kevin, a captain in the Athena’s Child Cadets, through the Force, in fact we were BDN Northern Kettle Chips virtually put together by the kids on a blind date!” Laidlaw Blockleys “I do love the job as it’s very rewarding seeing Boots Newcastle Labour Club these 12 to 18 year old kids, often from troubled Brick Services Northumbria Army Cadet Force backgrounds, develop in self confidence and self Pictogram discipline into really responsible young adults. I Cableflow suppose I’m looked on as a kind of second Mum Countless Individual donations on Polar NE by many of them but it’s great fun and I’m very www.justgiving.com/nickyhodgson RI Construction lucky to be involved.” Direct Blinds Sainsbury Frank Haslam Millan Sine Consulting Hacel Lighting St Oswald’s Hospice Treatment Hanson Centre (for pamper night) IBStock Todd Milburn Ideal Standard Walter Thompson JDDK (enormous thanks!) Wienberger

Sgt Jobson DID YOU KNOW?...... 80% of our staff have been at JDDK for more than 5 years and 60% for more than St Andrews United Reformed Church in 10 years... and that in the last 6 months we have appointed 2 new members of staff

Celebrating our architecture & people over the past 23 years Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall Limited Chartered Architects & Landscape Architects Millmount Ponteland Road NE5 3AL T: (0191) 286 0811 F: (0191) 286 3870 email: [email protected] www.jddk.co.uk Millmount News Spring 2010 A little goes a long way at A Visit to the Dentists

Our project creating the new officers in the local authority. At St Andrew’s Church Kingswalk Dental Implant the outset of the project there Practice opened in January after was concern from the planners the fast track, listed building, as they feared that the project was successfully construction work required, such completed on time and within as strengthening of the floor budget. boards in each surgery to take the weight of the equipment and The £370,000 development the distribution of services would undertaken by Northallerton- alter the very fabric of the listed based contractors Walter building. We worked hard to Thompson Ltd. saw the develop technical solutions that conversion of a Grade II listed protected the historic building Georgian terraced property on and its important original Leazes Park Road in the centre features while still meeting our of Newcastle from an office to a client’s requirements and as a highly serviced dental surgery for result our planning and listed the Kingswalk Practice who were building submissions contained relocating from their premises on virtually working drawings to the edge of the University show how the conversion could campus. With a client base be carried out in an acceptable consisting of numerous manner. University staff and students, the practice were obviously keen to The end result is a four storey remain in the immediate area. Georgian terraced property Derek Stembridge, which contains three fully The project, however, was not equipped hi-tech surgeries which Treasurer of the Development without challenges for JDDK surpass the latest statutory The new entrance to St Andrew’s United Reformed Church at Monkseaton. Committee, commented: primarily due to the delicacy and requirements for dental ingenuity that was required to surgeries, a central sterilising design the necessary alterations room, staff area and ground floor “The new entrance is in a manner that met the reception, waiting area and In construction, as in many other sectors, the saying Some seven years later, the results of the absolutely stunning but only exacting requirements of the offices. of “a little goes a long way” is unfortunately not congregation’s fund raising work, which has raised hints at the interior where the planning and conservation Kingswalk Dental Implant Practice, Leazes Park Road generally true - capital projects tend to reflect the level £600,000 in the intervening period, the architects’ Church Hall has been totally of investment in them. However, when a relatively designs and the construction work by DP Builders of transformed to create a superb modest investment is coupled with great design, the Amble were officially opened in a celebration results can be spectacularly successful. weekend by Rowena Francis, Moderator of the facility for the local community. Northern Synod of the United Reformed Church. The entrance leads into a light In 2001, the congregation of St Andrews United filled reception area with Practice Manager, Reformed Church in Monkseaton, set up a The development has created an entirely new servery and then into the Catherine Joy, commented: Development Committee to investigate the feasibility entrance to the Church Hall which compliments and Hall with a new toilet block of improving the accessibility and toilet provision for reinforces the existing architecture whilst answering complete with disabled Our previous site was no longer their heavily used Church Hall adjacent to the Church. the brief of refurbishing and improving the building., access facilities. In addition, “suitable once the University Built in 1939, the Church itself was also in need of as Derek Stembridge, Treasurer of the Development new lighting, flooring and some investment for new lighting and the then Committee, commented, “The project had begun by began to expand and it was very decoration has transformed Minister, Gordon Connacher, turned to ourselves for looking at improving access to the Hall, but it became important for us to remain in the initial designs after being impressed by our work at apparent that with over 1,000 people using the facility the whole building.” City Centre so we jumped at the St Oswald’s Hospice in . a week, including over 400 children, there was a real chance of this building. Once need to improve the building and we began to think of JDDK had satisfied the planners’ JDDK Director and Project Architect, Ian Clarke, something on a grander scale!” concerns, the project actually explained the challenge, “The Church and Church went very smoothly despite the Hall were connected by a utilitarian link block which “Our main concern over the construction has been to complexity of the services as had created a little used courtyard to the front of the be to minimise any disruption to the local community buildings, yet the Hall itself was very heavily used as the streets are very narrow around the Church and each surgery required X-ray together with its limited toilet and kitchen facilities. the builders have been very good here, particularly shielding, compressed air, The design required a way to tie the two buildings the Site Manager, David Curtis, with the result that gas and water services. together, creating additional interior space, improving there hasn’t been a single complaint. The overall ” accessiblity and facilities, and providing a central objective was to support the local community and we It was a complicated project, point of welcome. The new work had to be visibly now have a superb facility in which all are welcome as “from strengthening floors to sympathetic to the existing architecture and respond we build for the future.” installing the air compressors in to the human scale and character of the surrounding the basement but we now have suburban houses in this packed residential one of the most modern set of Conservation Area. We had an unknown but limited budget, which would depend on fund raising for the dental surgeries which exceeds whole project.” all current standards and we’re delighted with the new building.”

2 3 A SELECTION OF HOUSING PROJECTS Dwelling (n): Phase 2: 1987 Collingwood Court, Morpeth, Yuill Ltd flats for rent and houses for sale 1988 Park View Court, , Newcastle demonstrating that high quality North British Housing Association design is independent of tenure. 1989 Blue Bell Dene, Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle A place to live in, North British Housing Association 1991 South Meadowell Estate, Cheviot Housing an abode, a residence 1992 Falstone Walk, Newcastle, Wimpey Homes 1992 Cheshire Home, Crook, Leonard Cheshire Foundation 1992 Lumley Walk, Dunston, Two Castles Housing Association 1992 Northumberland Village Homes, Monkseaton Wimpey Homes & Council 1993 Cowgate Estate, Newcastle, North British Housing Association 1994 Aykley Heads Farm, Durham, Rivergreen Developments 1997 East Howard Street, , E5 Housing Association & Wimpey Homes 1998 Thomas Hawksley Park, , Rivergreen Developments Martin Hawthorne, 1998 Abbey View, Blanchland, Cheviot Housing Fabrick Group Director 1999 Norton Hall & Wilton Castle, Wimpey Homes of Regeneration & 2000 Grange Farm, Shincliffe, Rivergreen Developments Development commented: 2000 The Leas, Monkseaton, Barratt Homes 2000 Winterton Hospital Site, Leech Homes Discus Bungalows: a successful scheme which re-houses older residents in new build bungalows integrated with larger family homes to create a new community in the heart of York. JDDK’s designs are fresh 2000 Preston Grange & Great Ayton, Wimpey Homes “and innovative but also meet 2001 Former Royal Infirmary, Chester, Bryant Homes the local vernacular and create 2001 Internal Modifications, Sunderland Housing Group As a practice, we have spent the last 22 Life’, “Lifetime Homes” and the Homes and a lovely sense of place within 2001 Wylam Manor, Wylam, Wimpey Homes years working with a range of clients from Communities Agency’s Housing Quality Indicators. In recent years our experienced the context of their environment. individual home owners to large RSL’s 2001 Lesbury House, Northumberland Estate & Bellway Homes design and technical staff have been working Their homes in Newton Aycliffe committed to large scale regeneration really lift the place yet do not look 2002 The Bars, Chester, Wimpey Homes successfully within these guidelines creating The Wynd, Amble: award winning bespoke housing projects and our experience is not just in well crafted, high quality environments for new which achieved EcoHomes Excellent rating. at all out of place. 2002 The Chains, Corbridge, the delivery of homes tailored to particular and existing communities to grow and flourish. ” Northumberland Estate & Charles Church clients’ needs, but in understanding the These housing schemes have varied from large I find the staff very professional 2002 The Cloisters, Ashbrooke, Barratt Homes nature of our urban and rural landscape. scale redevelopments of existing estates to “and a pleasure to work with. 2003 Pottergate, Alnwick, smaller scale supported housing projects for The drawings are accurate and The Northumberland Estates & Rivergreen Developments vulnerable young people or those with learning For example, British villages have a long timely and they have helped us on 2003 Lanesbrough Court, Newcastle, Yuill Group disabilities. tradition of arranging houses around village a number of occasions to produce greens which act as a hub for community life, 2003 Pumping Station, Rivergreen Developments first rate competition drawings as for annual festivals, for daily walks and for The practice’s experience and successes has 2004 Lambton Cokeworks Masterplan, One North East well as excellent quality technical gossip and gathering. At a number of schemes, been recognised by our Directors holding additional positions in the field of regeneration drawings. 2004 Stamford Brook Masterplan, Altrcham, we have therefore located the individual Redrow Homes & Taylor Woodrow dwellings around spaces which form the heart and the management/recognition of design ” Doxford Park Phase 1: each housing scheme is of the community, whether these be open quality such as an RIBA Client Design Advisor, We build both housing for 2005 West Sunniside, Sunderland, Gentoo Ventures designed with distinctive character to suit the location. Your Homes Newcastle’s Fossway Scheme: provides spaces or links to other areas, inspired by the Design Review Panel member, RIBA Award supported accommodation for people with learning “sale and housing for rent 2005 Hamsterley Hall, Barratt Homes* Assessors, Civic Trust Assessors and a CABE layout of nearby traditional villages. disabilities in 12 apartments and five bungalows. which presents the designer 2006 Grasmere Village, Cumbria, Great Cross Trust Enabler. In addition, we have an in-house Code some particular challenges. for Sustainable Homes assessor, adding that 2006 Doxford Park Masterplan and Redevelopment, Sunderland The design, construction and relationships of The loss of countryside to urban sprawl has led The housing for rent has to all important sustainable backup to all of our Gentoo Homes* dwellings to each other and their immediate to the intentional development of denser urban be very specific in terms of infills to brownfield land over the past 10 years. housing projects. 2006 Bowesfield Lane, Tees Valley environment has been of prime importance to Northumberland Village: the standards we and the This pressure to live in close proximity to your 2006 153 Main Street, Northumberland, Northside Management architects from the very earliest days of neighbour had the potential to threaten the Our schemes create a specific character to the won an RIBA National Housing Government expect whilst the Design Award in 1991 for its housing for sale has to follow 2007 The Wynd, Amble, Rivergreen Developments construction. Whilst individual homes tell us quality of life for the next generation. In housing that suits the particular rural, urban or response, a string of design guidelines have sub-urban setting, provides good quality public characterful design and is more market orientated principles 2007 Beadnell House, Northumberland, Northside Management something about the character of the occupants, still a popular place to live. been published by various organisations to set realm, meets the needs of the local residents and be attractive to house buyers. 2008 Discus Bungalows, York, Tees Valley Housing* the way we arrange groups of dwellings tells us high standards for the quality of the with a mix of dwelling type and tenure and This difficult balance is met 2008 Former Stannington Hospital site, Bellway Homes* a great deal about the nature of our society. developments, from ‘By Design’ first published creates a successful portfolio of houses for the convincingly through JDDK. in 2000, through to the more recent ‘Building for developer. ” 2008 Blayberry and Blaymoor, Redcar, Frank Haslam Milan 2008 Hawkshead Place, Newton Aycliffe, Tees Valley Housing 2009 Beaumont, Southdale Homes* Stannington Hospital: a complex scheme which creates a new village within a sensitive rural setting in Northumberland. 2009 5 Residential Schemes in Frank Haslam Milan & Your Homes Newcastle* 2009 The Fossway & Star Centre in Newcastle, Frank Haslam Milan* 2010 Springfield House, Gosforth* 2010 The Dovecote, Corbridge* *Denotes ongoing project 4 5 Hospice Update New Director for JDDK We are delighted to announce the appointment Mura commented, “I was originally attracted of Mura Mullan as a Director of the practice, to JDDK by the wide mix of both new build Appointed an Associate of the practice in 2003, and conversion work across a wide variety Mura was born in Derry but now lives in Benton, Newcastle. A graduate with distinctions from the of sectors and the challenge of bringing old University of Manchester in 1994 she has been buildings back into use. More recently, I’ve with JDDK for some ten years, having worked been working very closely with Ian Clarke, previously for several large national practices. specialising in health care, particularly hospice projects with the soon-to-be- Since joining JDDK, Mura has worked on opened Marie Curie Hospice in Glasgow several high profile projects including the award- taking up a large part of the past four years!” winning Phase II of St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds, the conversion of a former Methodist church into the headquarters of the Northern “There’s a fairly unique atmosphere at Rock Foundation in Gosforth, Newcastle, the JDDK and I’m obviously delighted to Marie Curie Hospice in Glasgow, the Sacred become a Director of such a prestigious Heart Children’s Centre in Fenham and work for practice.” the Irish Hospice Foundation. Mura Mullan, JDDK Director

The Glasgow Marie Curie Hospice Brunswick Park Centre Completes

The latest in our series of SureStart/Community Constructed in traditional load-bearing block Whilst many construction sectors garden terrace forming a sun trap, to Centres, the £735,000 Brunswick Park Centre and brickwork with partial timber cladding, the have certainly been adversely affected make the best of a Scottish summer. We was successfully handed over by contractors internal design has created both practical and hope to have a full feature on the by the economic climate, our NCS Build to our client, Newcastle City Council, interesting spaces with two large ‘L’ shaped hospice in the Autumn issue of in early January. meeting rooms separated by a removable workload with hospices has Millmount News. screen, a large kitchen which can be used for continued and even grown over the Similar in design to the earlier Grange Centre in training purposes, front office and toilets. To the last years with good progress on Design work continues on the West Gosforth, the single storey building provides a side of the building are two changing rooms and several projects. Midlands Marie Curie Hospice, after shining example of how good design matched showers with separate access from the football planning permission was received in late St Columba’s Hospice, Edinburgh to traditional construction techniques can fields within the park. Solar panels on the In January, the new £16m Marie Curie 2009. Whilst without the challenge of a produce buildings which are both a cost- pitched roof provide partial hot water for the Hospice in Glasgow opened its doors to steeply sloping site, the greenbelt The internal design has created both effective and architecturally interesting solution building and showers. patients for the first time, replacing the location of this project on the south to the client’s brief. existing hospice which was built in the western edge of the Birmingham practical and interesting spaces. 1970’s. Built on a steeply sloping site conurbation has meant that visual and within the campus of Stobhill Hospital on ecological sensitivity have played the north east edge of Glasgow, the particularly important parts in this project. hospice provides space for thirty in- Collaboration with the Warwickshire patients, a day hospice and outpatients Wildlife Trust has been extensive, and Project Architect, suite, training and education spaces for our wildlife garden over which the patient Helen Fairmaner, commented: health professionals, a regional base for bedrooms will look will include webcams staff working in the community, and all so that patients can have a close-up of the supporting accommodation. the action in the garden! The fact that the Centre is to be used “by such a wide variety of community At our first visit several years ago, the In Edinburgh, the “Buy a Brick” site appeared daunting, but with the fundraising appeal for the St Columba’s groups presented a few challenges great advantage of wonderful views of Hospice project, (www.bluedove.org.uk), West Midlands Marie Curie Hospice which we partly overcame by providing the Campsie Fells from the upper parts which received planning permission last extensive storage space so that each of its slope - hence the reason the year with support from Historic Scotland group can securely store their own bedrooms are located here to give the - the site includes important Listed equipment when not in use. bedrooms and patient terraces a Buildings and is located in the Trinity ” wonderful view. Conservation Area. The requirements of a youth group “or a group of older people are very The building is split over three different In Cork, Ireland, our contractors, BAM, different from the Mother & Toddler floor levels, with the advantage that each are proceeding at pace with the new level has garden access because of the Curraheen hospital which is scheduled groups, for example, so our brief was slope. At the lowest level, the Day for completion around the end of the to create an easily built mixed use Hospice is close to the main entrance year. facility which appealed to a wide range and with a sheltered south facing of user groups.” Curraheen Hospice in Cork

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