23 March 2012
For years the Piece Hall, a Georgian glory that began life as a Halifax wool exchange, suffered neglect. But a new project could reinvigorate it as a centre of public life.
To read the full article (Financial Times 24/25 March 2012) online please click the following link:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/eb03d49e-6ebf-11e1-b1b2-00144feab49a.html
15 July 2012
Ambitious proposals to transform Halifax's Piece Hall (opened in 1779 for the trading of 'pieces' of cloth) and its courtyard are being considered by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
To view the full article (Context 125 : July 2012) online please click the following link:
28 January 2013
Piece Regen have been commissioned as Project Managers for works to the former Royal Ordnance Depot at Weedon Bec.
The Weedon Depot dates back to the Napoleonic war era when the strategic decision was taken in 1802 to set up a depot for the storage of small arms and ammunition near to the centre of the country where it would be safer should the threatened invasion by Napoleon take place. Despite being built far inland the depot was well connected by canal and road (and later rail) and so was still able to supply more vulnerable coastal locations.
Weedon is no longer used by the military and viable and sustainable new uses need to be found for the buildings and areas which are now in a Conservation Area as they retain significances, character, vistas and views. A few of the buildings are in poor condition and are on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk Register, pointing to the need for appropriate maintenance and repair regimes to be implemented throughout the Conservation Area.
Piece Regen are delighted to have the opportunity to help maintain the heritage of the Weedon Bec site for future generations.
17 April 2013
Piece Regen have been commissioned by the Trustees of the Gainsborough Community Theatre Ltd to assist them in the finding a sustainable future for ‘The Old Nick’ in Gainsborough. The grade 2 listed building was formerly the Police Station and Magistrates Court and many of the original features remain as they were when it was vacated by the Police.
Some income has already been generated by use of the courtroom as an amateur theatre and from evening ghost walks around the Police cells which remain untouched and are complete with the original graffiti and austere furniture.
Having been commissioned, Piece Regen are developing a strategy to fund the repairs and upgrades that will be required to develop a sustainable future for the building.
15 May 2013
The retirement home of the Sydney Opera House architect Jorn Utzon has been restored and is available for those interested in studying his work.
Utzon is best known for having conceived the dramatic curves and inspired the technical brilliance of the Sydney Opera House. Frank Gehry, one of the judges who awarded Utzon the Pritzker prize, stated that ‘Utzon made a building well ahead of its time, far ahead of available technology, and persevered…to build a building that changed the image of an entire country’.
After his involvement in the Sydney Opera House had finished, and having fallen in love with the island of Majorca over successive visits, it is said that Utzon asked a local farmer if he had any land for sale. He was offered three sites and chose a long, thin site just outside Puerto Petro with a vertical cliff to the sea at the back. The house is named Can Lis, after Utzon’s beloved wife and incorporates five staggered blocks along the cliff edge with each block individually adjusted to the contours of the land and the existing trees.
Following his death, the family passed the house to the Utzon Foundation, which has recently restored it impeccably. The house is now available for architects, artists and other researchers to apply for up to three months of residency.
Please click the link below to read the full article as published in Context (The official magazine of The Institute of Historic Building Conservation).
Jorn Utzon's summer house, Tim Morris – Context 128: March 2013
29 July 2013
Piece Regen has been appointed by Bolsover District Council to assist them with the transformation of the historic Pleasley Vale Mills complex, home of the world’s first branded textile.
The water powered upper and lower cotton mills where first built in 1785 and 1792 respectively but subsequent fires and rebuilding mean the current ‘Mill 1’ and ‘Mill 3’ date back to 1844 and 1847. In 1894 Pleasley Mills made their mark on the international textile industry with the trademarking of ‘Viyella’. ‘Mill 2’ was added in 1913 and the success of Viyella in the early 20th century led to international subsidiary companies and sales offices operating in Europe, America and across the British Empire. Unfortunately, Pleasley Vale Mills shared in the common fate of the UK textile industries as production was scaled back and moved abroad in the late 20th century and the Mills closed in 1987.
The closure of the Mills coincided with the closure of the local mining industry in what were tough times for the region. The condition of the mill buildings and Vale House went into sharp decline until they were bought for just one pound by Bolsover District Council in 1992. Economic investment through the SRB, European and private sector funding allowed an initial restoration and conversion of the mill pond and mill buildings into ‘Pleasley Vale Business Park’ catering for light industrial and office use. Leisure uses in the form of Pleasley Vale Outdoor Activity Centre have also been developed.
In the long term further capital investment will be required and having been appointed Piece Regen are considering options to secure funding, complete the transformation of this historic complex and create a sustainable future for Pleasley Mills.
Bolsover District Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Alan Tomlinson said:
'Pleasley Vale Mills is a piece of our history – history that we are keen to preserve but also develop into a thriving business hub. By working with Piece Regen we feel we have the right blend of experience and expertise to secure the funding and take forward our proposals.'
20 January 2014
With the cold weather closing in, cast your mind back to warmer times with Tim Morris’s article from The Architects’ Journal revisiting the Sydney Opera House architect Jørn Utzon’s homes on Mallorca.
Jørn again, Tim Morris – The Architects’ Journal: 15.08.13
After resigning from the fractious Sydney Opera House project in 1966 Jørn Utzon visited Mallorca on his return from Australia and fell in love with the island. Over successive visits Utzon resolved to construct there, the home he had once intended to build in Australia.
Utzon asked a local farmer if he had any land for sale and eventually settled on a long, narrow plot, with a track to the front and a cliff to the Mediterranean Sea at the rear. Utzon’s genius was in responding to the topography of a site and he developed the concept for the home that would be named ‘Can Lis’ by placing sugar lumps on a plan of the site in five staggered blocks along the cliff edge. Each functional block is individually adjusted to the contours of the land, even to the trees on the plot, whilst Can Lis’ elevation to the road is simply an understated sandstone wall pierced by one high-level window and a boarded front door with the number 77 etched into it. Inside the front door is a blank wall with a crescent opening framing the Mediterranean beyond and recalling the original name of the road to Can Lis: Carrer Cala Media Luna – ‘Half-Moon Cove Road’.
Completed in 1971, Can Lis would be the first of two retirement homes Utzon built on Mallorca. As Utzon grew older the glaring surface of the sea became too much for his eyes, weakened by a lifetime studying drawings, and the number of sightseers knocking on the door at Can Lis became too intrusive. The Utzons decided to move further inland and design a second home, Can Feliz. Completed in 1994, Can Feliz used the same materials and followed the same principles as Can Lis but Utzon had by then learnt so much more about the local materials and how to use them. Utzon’s son Jan also recalls how his father loved working with the local craftsman ‘When he appeared at the building site with some bottles of wine, the craftsmen knew that he had had new ideas during the night and that some of the work already done would have to be changed’. Can Feliz took two and a half years to build and Utzon was on site every day to witness the construction of what he considered to be his masterpiece.
In 2003, Jørn Utzon received the Pritzker Prize, one of architecture's highest accolades. Now recognised for his genius and the brilliance of his work in Sydney, the road to Can Lis has been renamed Carrer Jørn Utzon in his honour, testament to the regard in which the Danish architect will always be held on the island of Mallorca.
Please click the link below to read a pdf of the full article published in The Architects’ Journal:
Jørn again, Tim Morris – The Architects’ Journal: 15.08.13
10 February 2014
Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active, have fun and raise life-changing funds for Comic Relief. From giving shelter to young people living on the streets and protection for those living with domestic abuse in the UK, to helping children into education and providing communities with fresh water and life-saving vaccines across the world, donations to Sport Relief really do have a positive impact on people’s lives at home and abroad.
Touched by the stories of those who have to survive in tragically tough circumstances, Piece Regen’s Managing Director Tim Morris has volunteered to enter a Sport Relief 50 mile cycle ride on 23rd March in order to raise money for this worth cause. The ride will be a round trip from Old Trafford in Manchester passing through Irlam, Lymm, Warington, Altringham and Sale.
If you would like to sponsor Tim, please click the following link to visit his official Sport Relief giving page: http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/timmorris
The ride is not going to be a walk in the park for Tim but he is up for the challenge and is determined to do his bit. Tim is currently in the midst of getting fit to take on the challenge which he hopes to complete in about four and a half hours:
‘It will be a gruelling ride but you only live once and any sponsorship money I raise really will make a world of difference to people living incredibly tough lives.’
On behalf of Tim, everyone at Piece Regen and those you’ll help, thank you!
Please sponsor Tim: http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/timmorris
14 March 2014
Piece Regen have been appointed to drive the revitalisation of the Old County Hall in Ipswich, famous for containing the law court where Wallis Simpson gained her divorce ahead of her marriage to the abdicating King Edward VIII.
The County Hall was built in 1836-37 and has been a jail, a law court and then a council building from 1906. County Hall hit the international headlines in the autumn of 1936 when its court granted Wallis Simpson the divorce that would eventually allow her to marry King Edward VIII. After six weeks living in Felixstowe in order to gain residential qualifications, it was hoped that a divorce hearing held at County Hall in Ipswich would attract minimal publicity. Unfortunately for Mrs Simpson and the King, the Associated Press of America was alerted to the pending case and the international media descended on Ipswich for the hearing on 27th October. The successful divorce sparked a crisis that was only resolved when Edward VIII abdicated on 11th December 1936, a move that allowed him to marry Wallis Simpson in June 1937.
County Hall was eventually sold by Suffolk County Council in 2004 after they moved to new headquarters. Despite its rich history and its status as a Grade II listed building, County Hall has sadly fallen into disrepair to the extent that in 2012 the Victorian Society placed County Hall on their list of 10 most endangered buildings describing it as the ‘haunt of vandals, thieves, drug users and squatters’.
The dilapidated state of County Hall has been a source of frustration for the people of Ipswich for some time and Piece Regen are delighted to have been appointed by the owners to kick-start the rejuvenation of this significant building. We look forward to working with all stakeholders and using our specialist knowledge to explore possible uses and submit a project enquiry document to the Heritage Lottery Fund as a first step on the road to funding and revitalisation. It is our vision that County Hall will become a historical landmark that the people of Ipswich can be proud of!
04 April 2014
On Sunday 23rd March Piece Regen Managing Director Tim Morris completed the Sport Relief 50 mile cycle ride in Manchester.
Starting from Old Trafford in Manchester at the menacing hour of 7:15am the gruelling round trip took Tim through Irlam, Lymm, Warington, Altringham and Sale before returning to Manchester. Despite some distinctly unpleasant weather on parts of the course, Tim’s determination to help those who regularly have to endure tragically tough circumstances saw him push through right to the end. Tim’s dedication to the cause has resulted in him raising sponsorship of £1117.50, the fifth highest total amongst individual Sport Relief 2014 cycle fundraisers!
On behalf of Tim, Piece Regen, and everyone that your generous donations will help – thank you!
Following the Sport Relief fundraising events throughout the country and a marathon broadcast on BBC One hosted live from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park by Gary Lineker and David Walliams, which included a comedy appearance by David Beckham in an Only Fools and Horses sketch, the grand total raised by Sport Relief 2014 is £53,370,743.
That record breaking Sport Relief total will already change countless lives forever, both at home in the UK and across the world but if you have not done so yet, it is not too late to sponsor Tim and make your donation to this worthy cause. Please click the following link to visit Tim’s official Sport Relief giving page and donate easily online: http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/timmorris
11 June 2015
Piece Regen has been appointed to carry out a feasibility study to find a new future for the magnificent Stack Rock Fort that sits on a small island near Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.
Constructed in several phases between 1850 and 1871 as one of the many Palmerston Forts encircling the Pembrokeshire coastline, the Grade II* listed building has remained empty since it was disarmed in 1929. Now, as a specialist heritage-led regeneration company, Piece Regen has been asked to look at imaginative options for a sustainable future.
Piece Regen Managing Director Tim Morris said:
“Finding new uses for heritage assets requires considerable creative thinking, hard work and funding. We are currently working on the Royal Ordnance Depot near Daventry which was the munitions store for the Palmerston Forts which we are going to develop as the first UK Military Retirement and Care Facility. Stack Rock Fort needs similar out of the box thinking and we are delighted to take on the challenge!”
At Piece Regen we recognise that historic buildings such as Stack Rock Fort are very much a part of the community and we will be carrying out a public consultation exercise prior to applying for the necessary consents to provide a sustainable heritage-led future for Stack Rock.
If you would like to get in touch about the future of Stack Rock Fort please contact:
Tim Morris
E: tim.morris@pieceregen.co
M: 07969588136
19 October 2015
Piece Regen has been appointed as Masterplanner to restore a derelict listed hospital to its former glory.
Stallington Hall, an Italianate style house, was built the late 18th century, but suffered severe fire damage. Piece Regen has been instructed by developer Millhouse to seek planning and listed building consent for its conversion into residential units together with adjacent enabling development.
Piece Regen Manging Director Tim Morris commented:
‘This is a great opportunity to demonstrate how a listed building can be sensitively restored as well as working in conjunction with Historic England to plan the new enabling development needed to fill the conservation gap which such buildings require to bring them back to life.’
17 June 2016
As Trebbi continues to support its clients across Europe, we are delighted to announce that GSP Italia have joined the Trebbi family.
GSP Italia have been supporting Trebbi on project delivery in Italy since 2014. During this period clear synergies have been identified in terms of our culture and values, as well as the sectors in which we operate and the services we provide. Formally joining Trebbi will therefore ensure that our clients will continue to benefit from our combined capability and shared values to deliver an unparalleled client focused service.
With staff comprising Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Project Managers undertaking technical design implementation, project management, health & safety and other construction related services, the new structure enhances Trebbi’s ability to procure and deliver projects seamlessly for both local and international clients.
Simon Turner Director Monaghans and Trebbi commented
“The merger with GSP Italia is a fantastic development for Trebbi, furthering our ambition to provide the most thorough multi-disciplinary building consultancy service in support of our clients and their business aspirations across Europe and beyond. We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues on board.”
Marco Schiavi, Enrico Caglio and Andrea Radeglia, Board Directors of GSP Italia, commented
“We are delighted with the merger between Trebbi, a major international Building Consultancy, and GSP Italia, a “Made in Italy” Project Management & Engineering company. Joining Trebbi will enhance the synergies between our closely-related and complementary activities, integrating our skills, track record and technological know-how. We are confident that the merger will create significant value for our clients, as well as providing exciting career opportunities for our colleagues."
02 September 2016
As part of Trebbi’s continued growth, Piece Regen now has a fully operational office in Pembroke.
The office is shared with Acanthus Holden as we have forged a highly successful relationship with Peter Holden and his team creating new uses for heritage assets.
The new office will provide an excellent base to deal with heritage projects focusing on the end to end design and project management of Listed buildings. From securing the necessary funding mix, to managing the final construction and delivery, we look forward to supporting our clients and their projects in the region from our new location.
Contact details:
Piece Regen,
Watermans Lane,
The Green,
Pembroke,
Pembrokeshire
WALES
SA71 4NU
The new office will be led by Tim Morris, for more information please contact Tim on 07969 588 136
26 September 2016
Piece Regen has successfully challenged Historic England’s listing description for the Oliver Buildings in Barnstaple.
The Grade II listed former Shapland and Petter factory was built in 1888 according to the designs of local architect William Clement Oliver. The factory produced Arts and Crafts style furniture and Shapland and Petter flourished in the years following its construction establishing showrooms just off Oxford Street in London and selling through a wide network of retailers.
The factory was built following a devastating fire which completely destroyed Shapland and Petter’s previous premises and accordingly, in addition to their architectural and historical interest, the Oliver Buildings are also listed for their technological interest due to “the innovative combination of fireproof and fire-retardant construction, compartmentalisation and a sprinkler system”.
Following the successful challenge, the updated listing description now omits various later additions to the buildings and some of the former internal fabric. The revised listing description will provide crucial flexibility to allow for the sustainable reuse of the Oliver Buildings.
17 November 2017
Piece Regen has been commissioned to inspire creative reuse and funding for the Madeira Terrace in Brighton.
The Grade II listed Madeira Terrace is thought to be the longest cast iron structure in the world with 850 metres of seafront arches. Constructed from 1890-1897 as the place to promenade, the historic structure was once much visited by the Prince Regent and his entourage and in modern times has featured in many films such as Brighton Rock, Genevieve and Quadrophenia.
However, despite Madeira Drive remaining the focal point for major events in Brighton, such as the world’s longest running motoring event the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, the Madeira Terrace has sadly been closed to the public since 2012 due to safety concerns around the degraded 100-year-old structure.
Thankfully it’s not too late to save the well-known terrace which forms such an excellent natural grandstand to the seafront and the events of Madeira Drive. A crowd funding campaign is underway with a target to raise £424,639 by 30th November 2017 in order to unlock a further £1million of funding from Brighton & Hove City Council and launch an initial project to fully restore 3 of the 151 arches. Publicity for #SaveBrightonTerraces is growing and the campaign is progressing well with over £350k already raised by over 1600 backers. If you would like to learn more or donate to the campaign please visit: www.spacehive.com/madeira-terrace
To the rear of the Terrace is an original green wall which is celebrated by a plaque which states ‘established by the Victorians, this is one of the oldest, longest and most important green walls in the country – a place for people and wildlife to enjoy.’ Piece Regen is dedicated to ensuring the Madeira Terrace remains a place for all to enjoy for generations to come!
05 April 2018
Further to Piece Regen’s appointment to inspire creative reuse and funding for the Madeira Terrace in Brighton we are delighted to report that the campaign to #SaveBrightonTerraces is gaining momentum.
The Grade II listed Madeira Terrace on Brighton’s seafront is thought to be the longest cast iron structure in the world with 850 metres of iconic arches. Constructed from 1890-1897 as the place to promenade, the historic structure was once much visited but despite Madeira Drive remaining the focal point for major events such as the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, the Madeira Terrace has sadly been closed to the public since 2012 due to safety concerns around the degraded structure.
However, a successful crowdfunding campaign has seen more than 2000 individual backers raise a total of £463,007 (10% more than its original target) with Crowdfunding expert Spacehive citing the campaign as the most ambitious ever to be run on its platform. The successful campaign now unlocks a further £1million of funding from Brighton & Hove City Council and facilitates an exciting initial project to fully restore 3 of the 151 arches. The first three western end arches have been identified as they are closest to the main pier thoroughfare and will therefore provide the most visible showcase for the terrace’s potential once restored.
With many people continuing to come forward to support the campaign after the crowdfunding deadline, a Madeira Terrace Restoration Fund has now been established (for details on how to donate please visit www.visitbrighton.com/save-madeira-terrace). Local brewers Brighton Bier will even be supporting the restoration fund by donating 25% of the profits from a specially brewed beer; Mabiera reflects the challenge of regenerating the Madeira Terrace for future generations by blending classic hops with a new experimental variety.
Another major piece of the puzzle in securing full long-term funding for the restoration of the remaining 148 arches is the submission of a bid for Heritage Lottery Funding. Piece Regen have recently submitted the bid complete with some high-profile backing. Having previously featured as one of the Victorian Society’s Top Ten Endangered Buildings, the Society’s president Griff Rhys Jones, is supporting efforts to save the Madeira Terrace, writing:
"The Victorians were the inventors of the identity of the British seaside. The Bank Holiday Act of 1871 created holidays for working families across Britain. Piers, winter gardens, Lidos and even whole towns followed. The emphasis was on exuberance and delight.
There are few such simple, impressive and beautiful examples of Victorian seaside charm as the eight hundred and fifty meters of cast iron arches known as Madeira Terrace…The community values and cherishes this important structure. They need supporting. The arches are a wonderful evocation of seaside Brighton. Simple, elegant and irreplaceable. They are Victorian decorative art at its very best. And they are the identity of the city. Wholly visible, delicate and appropriate they cannot possibly be lost. I urge HLF to do what it can to support their repair for new generations to enjoy."