AS Monaco FC is investing in the future with the launch of #thenextlevel program that includes renovations to the Louis II Stadium. Work in Monaco will include VIP boxes in the Louis II Stadium, while ASM Academy student housing is being built in nearby Cap d’Ail. Located above Monaco in
A SITE that is smaller than the length of a double decker bus and comes with its own kayak is the latest challenging project to be taken on by construction firm Stepnell. The construction of Boulevard Wharf in Nottingham – comprised of 76 student accommodation studios – is one of
Work has been completed on a £120k office refurbishment project at the headquarters of risk management consultancy Finch Consulting based in Ashby de la Zouch. The investment has also provided state of the art training and conference facilities. The launch of the training service is expected to increase revenue and
Enhancing Bobcat’s leadership of the skid-steer loader market in Europe, the company has launched new versions of its market-leading M-Series S450, S510 and S530 models, the first in the range to feature a specially developed Stage V compliant Bobcat engine. All of the new skid-steer loader models are manufactured at
Winvic is building two big warehouses for speculative logistics developer Panattoni at its Panattoni Park Luton site, next to the new junction 11A of the M1. The first shed, Luton 345 has a haunch height of 15 metres, and offers 345,000 sq ft of space and an additional 13,500 sq
Leigh MP Jo Platt has praised a North West developer’s cotton mill regeneration project and said it will “be the catalyst to trigger more focus from national government on how towns on the outskirts of big cities can play a crucial role in solving the housing crisis, as well as getting young
Rhatigan Group development to comprise grade A offices, 175-bed hotel and apartments Developer Padraic Rhatigan has commenced construction on the long-awaited Crown Square mixed-use scheme in Galway city. Located on a site of 5.2 hectares (13 acres), the development which will be ready for occupation in 2021, will include 39,483sq
MAG (Manchester Airports Group) has appointed McLaren to build a warehouse and logistics facility on the site of a former WWII aircraft hangar at Manchester Airport The design and build project, which will be known as ‘dnata City North’, incorporates the construction of a 145,000 sq ft warehouse and logistics
The average size of a block of land in Australia has been falling as time goes on. This means that if you want to build a large, spacious home to live in, you can’t just build out like previous generations would have. That’s why two-storey homes in Perth have become
East Midlands-based AM2 Architects has revealed plans for extensive new facilities at Wolds Wildlife Park in Horncastle, Lincolnshire – featuring jungle-like canopies, glass walkways, elevated viewing galleries and even a ‘Yoga with the Bears’ enclosure. The expansion project, which received planning permission in August, sees AM2 Architects work in conjunction
AS Monaco FC is investing in the future with the launch of #thenextlevel program that includes renovations to the Louis II Stadium. Work in Monaco will include VIP boxes in the Louis II Stadium, while ASM Academy student housing is being built in nearby Cap d’Ail. Located above Monaco in the village of La Turbie, the training centre will have three new football pitches, a new fitness and medical centre and a rehabilitation zone. What’s more, everything is set to be finished in time for the 2020-21 football season. Find all you need to know about the changes here. What will change at Monaco’s Louis II Stadium? VIP Boxes We have already seen 18 VIP boxes of 16 m2, luxuriously hosting up to 8 people, reach completion in time for the current football season. Nearly 1,000 seats in the Tribune vanished to create space for these ultra-VIP boxes, which feature eight plush armchairs, tablets integrated into the arms of the seat to keep up with the latest commentary, and a big screen on the wall for if your eyes need a break from the live game. The Louis II Stadium has always been a pull for those living in and visiting in Monaco, but property for sale in Fontvieille, where the stadium is located, is set to be even more popular after the renovations are complete. The Diagonale Meanwhile, accommodation for students of the ASM Academy will spring up close to the Stade Louis II in Cap d’Ail. Youngsters can look forward to 67 bedrooms as well as classrooms, a kitchen, and another medical centre and rehabilitation zone. Investing in the future with the Center for Sporting Excellence A new state-of-the-art multifunctional sports complex will be built, including three football pitches meeting UEFA and French Football Federation standards, a fitness centre, a medical centre, a rehabilitation zone, a restaurant, and a conference hall able to hold up to 80 people. This ‘Center for Sporting Excellence’ has been designed with efforts to not disturb the surrounding landscape and environment, with solar panels built into the roof of the building to supply it with hot water. When will the football renovations – including the Stade Louis II – be finished? The Louis II Stadium Center for Sporting Excellence and the ASM student dormitories are expected to be ready by the 2020-21 football season. How much money has been spent on this project? It is unclear how much has been spent on all three projects, however investments into the construction of the Stade Louis II Center for Sporting Excellence have amounted to €55 million – that’s £47.4 million or $61.1 million. Since AS Monaco President Dmitry Rybolovlev took over in 2011, around €335 million has been invested into the club. Is Rybolovlev planning to sell the football club? There has been ongoing speculation that Rybolovlev wants to sell AS Monaco, however the Russian billionaire has completely denied this. In a management meeting earlier this year, Rybolovlev expressed his commitment to taking the club forward into the future, saying: “Rumours about a potential change of ownership at the club have been repeatedly denied. I believe that the projects presented today speak best about our long-term commitment to ASM.” We can’t wait to see what the Louis II Stadium looks like when it is finished!
A SITE that is smaller than the length of a double decker bus and comes with its own kayak is the latest challenging project to be taken on by construction firm Stepnell. The construction of Boulevard Wharf in Nottingham – comprised of 76 student accommodation studios – is one of the most complex jobs taken on by the contractor to date due to the unusual dimensions of the 11-metre-wide site and its proximity to the city’s canal. Because of this, a kayak forms part of the team’s emergency rescue procedure, meaning that any items that inadvertently fall into the canal can be retrieved. Shaun Moses, site manager for Stepnell, said: “It is certainly one of the more unusual sites we’ve worked on. Along with the obvious issues that come with building so close to the canal edge brings, the overall site is just 11 metres wide, meaning that day-to-day operations must be very carefully managed. “With incredibly tight boundaries and the buildings themselves designed to fill the entirety of its footprint, the site is a real challenge, but the team has worked closely with the developers from an early stage to create a solution that is workable and allows the whole operation to run smoothly.” The project sees the studios spread across three buildings providing views over the canal and towards the city of Nottingham. Designed by MAS Architecture, the scheme will also feature high-spec communal areas, including an on-site gym and movie room. Tom Sewell, East Midlands’ regional director at Stepnell, said: “The story of this site is really one of collaboration. Our team worked extensively with the client through the design development process in order to design and manage a project that met a high standard in terms of appearance and finishes – all while working to the budget and the challenges the site provides.” Muthar Al-Salloum, managing director of MAS Architecture, said: “This is a prestigious development that we are really pleased to deliver. Boulevard Wharf will provide much-needed contemporary student accommodation within Nottingham city centre and the scheme is one of only a few self-contained student accommodation developments in the city – providing all the necessary facilities onsite – thus creating a homely and luxurious environment for students to thrive in.” To find out more about Stepnell visit: www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd
Work has been completed on a £120k office refurbishment project at the headquarters of risk management consultancy Finch Consulting based in Ashby de la Zouch. The investment has also provided state of the art training and conference facilities. The launch of the training service is expected to increase revenue and create new employment opportunities. Finch is located on the Ivanhoe Business Park in a modern but traditional style office building and consider this investment a vital part of the company’s overall growth strategy to bring its brand and company values to life from the moment people enter the building. Blueprint Interiors, which is also based on the Ivanhoe Business Park completed all the design and installation works to create the new look for the Finch offices which have been affectionately named ‘The Nest’. Brand design elements were created by the Cafeteria, and installed by Hardy Signs, who also supplied an 86” CleverTouch screen for the new training facility. In creating the new workplace, an important objective was to ensure the design encouraged Finch’s widespread consultants, who mainly work remotely, to come to ‘The Nest’ to collaborate, innovate, share ideas and engage together on a more social basis. The ground floor was previously a myriad of offices and meeting rooms. This space has been opened out to provide hot desking facilities for the Finch community to hold informal meetings with large project benches, focus desks, booths, and touchdown areas. Ensuring the Finch community enjoys being at work is also a key ethos, therefore plenty of socialising opportunities were factored into the design through the provision of comfortable relaxed seating areas, and an open plan café including a pool table. Commenting on the fit-out, Andrew Millington Finance Director said, “Finch Consulting continues to invest heavily in creating a brand identity which accurately reflects our culture, entrepreneurialism and expertise as risk consultants who inspire ‘Engineering Confidence.’ – a strapline that is used to underpin our market positioning.” He added, “From the outset it was clear Blueprint Interiors understood the rationale for our investment in our office-fit out. The initial design meetings were very creative, the design proposal was superb, and the install was completed by Blueprint Interior’s own team of very competent and professional contractors who were very attentive to the finest detail. The project was also finished as promised and ready for us to reveal to all of our colleagues who were at Charm, our annual conference, which we were able to host for the first time at The Nest.” Blueprint Interiors Creative and Commercial Director, Chloe Sproston, added, “The delivery of this project had to be meticulously planned around the need for Finch to remain fully operational throughout the eight week period of works to ensure staff were relocated with minimal of disruption to their daily routine. We are delighted that the overall, finished project has delivered a range of work spaces that support Finch’s wellbeing initiatives and enables the Finch community to share, escape, focus, explore, create and socialise together.” The Cafeteria’s Senior Designer, Tom Peet, said “Finch have such a strong understanding of their brand and the significant role it has in presenting their offer to the world. But it’s just as important to present that brand message internally as it is externally. The interior graphics created for The Nest help to build a collective understanding of the mission and values that ultimately drive Finch forward.” Tom Hardy, Operations Director at Hardy Signs, also added “Hardy Signs is delighted to have been involved in this stunning project for Finch Consulting, a company with whom we have a long-standing relationship. As a company, we aim to transform spaces for our clients. The results offer a great example of just what can be achieved through signage, wall graphics and branding from Hardy Signs.” Finch is unique in that it is the only professional services organisation to be both an engineering consultancy and law firm. Its unique position enables Finch engineers, lawyers, specialists, ex-regulators and consultants, to offer world class advice, investigation, training and representation to its clients in a wide range of market sectors, including legal, financial and insurance, food and drink, leisure and entertainment, manufacturing, energy and waste, and defence.
Enhancing Bobcat’s leadership of the skid-steer loader market in Europe, the company has launched new versions of its market-leading M-Series S450, S510 and S530 models, the first in the range to feature a specially developed Stage V compliant Bobcat engine. All of the new skid-steer loader models are manufactured at the Bobcat compact equipment plant in Dobris in the Czech Republic. The new Stage V M-Series loaders provide operators with increased performance, enhanced comfort and optimised maintenance requirements to maximise job site efficiency. They are designed to continue the success of the Bobcat range globally, where nearly one out of every two skid-steer loaders on the market is a Bobcat machine. Mike Vought, Senior Director, Product Management, commented: “M-series loaders are some of the best-selling models for Bobcat in Europe and the new Stage V machines build on the legacy set by their predecessors. Customers will benefit from the compact size coupled with the high torque and performance of the new engines. The Stage V engines also allow us to add the popular air conditioning and high flow hydraulics options to the 500 series models further increasing operator comfort and performance.” More Power but Still Compact Compactness within this performance class was the key benefit appreciated by Bobcat customers. Skilful design work has ensured that even with the Bobcat Stage V engine incorporated, the small dimensions of the new S450, S510 and S530 skid-steer loaders are maintained, offering a truly compact size and low weight, so they can work/manoeuvre easily in tight spaces and can be easily transported. The new Bobcat engine provides 37% more torque and fast recovery from overload compared to the previous machines, which ensures increased comfort for the operator as they can work with the same power at lower RPM, at lower noise levels and with lower fuel consumption for the same jobs. New High-Flow Hydraulics Option Another very important advantage derived from the Bobcat engine is the availability of a new high-flow hydraulics option for the S510 and S530 Stage V models. This further expands the exceptional versatility of these machines allowing them to be used with higher flow attachments such as sweepers, planers and wheel saws. There is also a new air conditioning option on the S510 and S530. By offering the same power at lower RPM, the new Bobcat engine provides a significant decrease in noise levels, reducing operator fatigue and lowering fuel consumption for the same type of work. In addition, with an engine equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) as standard, users can work in emission-regulated zones such as city and town centres. The new Bobcat engine has also allowed the company to extend maintenance intervals with the first service now being after 500 hours and to reduce the number of fuel filter replacements required. Innovative Machine Styling and Built-in Technologies The new Stage V M-Series machines are the first models in the Bobcat compact equipment range in Europe to have the company’s innovative new machine styling scheme, which includes 3D decals for the first time. The new Stage V loaders now feature the previously optional Deluxe control panel as standard, offering a choice of different languages and telematics to protect machines and to monitor their performance. Bobcat has also extended the choice of factory installed tyres for the three models, ensuring they can be more closely matched to customers’ applications right from the start. The cab on the new loaders is radio ready with a 12 volt power outlet for charging mobile phones and other devices, a cup holder, added storage compartments and new full-colour, deluxe instrument panels. The ‘Swiss Knife’ of the Compact Equipment Market As well as their compactness, the S450, S510 and S530 skid-steer loaders can be supplied with a comprehensive choice of over 50 different product families of approved attachments, offering solutions for a very wide range of applications and providing a perfect illustration of the Bobcat Tool Carrier concept common to all Bobcat compact loaders. The S450 and S510 radius lift path loaders combine excellent manoeuvrability in tight areas with the reach and visibility needed for applications such as dumping materials over walls, backfilling or loading flatbed trucks. The S530 model features vertical lift path boom arms particularly suited to lift and carry as well as material-handling applications. All three skid-steer loader models offer a two-speed option which boosts the maximum travel speed from 11.4 km/h in low range to 17.3 km/h in high range. The hydraulic bucket positioning option keeps the loader bucket level as the lift arms travel upward, enabling operators to spill less and work faster. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com Brief specifications for Bobcat S450 skid-steer loader: Rated operating capacity (ISO 14397-1): 654 kg (+46*) Tipping load (ISO 14397-1): 1308 kg (+93*) Operating weight: 2436 kg (+71*) Engine: Bobcat D24 97/68 EC Stage V (4 cylinder) 48.9 HP (36.5 kW) at 2600 RPM Torque 182 Nm (+32.2*) at 1800 RPM Travel speed (1st – 2nd gear): 11.4 – 14.8 km/h Hydraulic flow (Standard): 64.0 l/min Lift path: Radial Height (top of cab): 1976 mm Width over tyres: 1490 mm Length with standard bucket: 3172 mm Brief specifications for Bobcat S510 skid-steer loader: Rated operating capacity (ISO 14397-1): 851 kg (+41*) Tipping load (ISO 14397-1): 1703 kg (+84*) Operating weight: 2816kg (+130*) Engine: Bobcat D24 97/68 EC Stage V (4 cylinder) 54.9 HP (41.0 kW) at 2600 RPM Torque 204 Nm (+54.2*) at 1800 RPM Travel speed (1st – 2nd gear): 11.8 – 17.3 km/h Hydraulic flow (Standard – High flow option): 64.0 l/min – 101.1 l/min Lift path: Radial Height (top of cab): 1972 mm Width over tyres: 1643 mm Length with standard bucket: 3378 mm Brief specifications for Bobcat S530 skid-steer
Winvic is building two big warehouses for speculative logistics developer Panattoni at its Panattoni Park Luton site, next to the new junction 11A of the M1. The first shed, Luton 345 has a haunch height of 15 metres, and offers 345,000 sq ft of space and an additional 13,500 sq ft of offices over two floors. The second warehouse, Luton 69, is 13.1 metres high, has a 69,000 sq ft footprint and provides 7,700 sq ft of office space. Winvic will also be carrying out the associated civils and infrastructure work, including car and lorry parking. Both Luton 69 and Luton 345 are expected to be completed in December 2019. Winvic is also already working for Panattoni putting up warehouses at Derby Commercial Park and the East Midlands Distribution Centre. Winvic director Danny Nelson said: “Our relationship with Panattoni has gone from strength to strength, and starting another project together – over a short amount of time – illustrates how hard our whole company works to create robust bonds with clients. We are focused on meeting, and exceeding, expectations and are proud that our values help to position us as a trusted leader in the industrial sector.” James Watson, development director of Panattoni UK, said: “Having appointed Winvic on a number of occasions, we are confident their management and construction of this project will be of the highest standards. We are dedicated to providing only the best quality buildings in the best locations and Panattoni Park Luton fulfils these ambitions, in part due to Winvic’s vast experience in constructing first-rate, modern warehouse facilities.”
Leigh MP Jo Platt has praised a North West developer’s cotton mill regeneration project and said it will “be the catalyst to trigger more focus from national government on how towns on the outskirts of big cities can play a crucial role in solving the housing crisis, as well as getting young buyers on the property ladder.” The comments were made during a recent visit to the Loom Wharf apartments in Leigh. After the £13m regeneration of the Grade II-listed former cotton mill is complete, it promises to bring a new lease of life to the centre of the town, offering luxury homes to those seeking affordable housing and instigating a new wave of investment into the area. Described by Platt as one of Leigh’s ‘red brick giants’, the old cotton mill, which was first built in 1882, is currently under construction with JP McGuire Developments. Having stood empty for over 20 years, following its transformation it will offer 99 luxury one, two and three bed apartments at a variety of price points, starting at £78,000. Commenting on the development, MP Jo Platt said: “Anyone who visits this development will be blown away. What JP McGuire Developments has done is take one of Leigh’s red brick giants, consider its industrial past and bring it forward with the vision of an industrial future for our town. “Projects like this reinforce how important investment and regeneration in areas like this can be, because it highlights how much potential there is in our town to deliver something fantastic, which speaks to the needs of local people. Loom Wharf helps you imagine what Leigh used to be and envisage what it could be like in the future. “This development is an icon which will change Leigh – it will house talent, attract investment, and be the catalyst to trigger more focus from national government on how towns on the outskirts of big cities can play a crucial role in solving the housing crisis, as well as getting young buyers on the property ladder.” Jonathan Twentyman, founder of JP McGuire Developments, who is originally from Leigh and was a student at St Joseph’s, the primary school next to the Loom Wharf building, said: “The entire JP McGuire Developments team were delighted to welcome our local MP to take a behind the scenes look at Loom Wharf. It was a pleasure to be able to describe to Jo exactly what we are envisaging this development will bring to the local area, and to gain her support for our plans. “By providing local people with quality housing like we have created at Loom Wharf, they will be more inclined to use local facilities, use public transport, and encourage their friends and families to live here too. Before you know it, this working-class town – which hasn’t received much investment in recent years – will be thriving again. “Our main goal is to deliver a development which is about more than the look, feel and space. We’ve designed Loom Wharf to encourage interaction, with facilities that will create a new community. We’re delivering a building that will make people want to stay in Leigh, and that’s exactly what this town needs.” Complemented by large reception areas, secure parking, bicycle storage and on-site gym, Loom Wharf will also boast a large dining room and cinema, both of which can be booked by residents for their own private use. First time buyers are encouraged to take advantage of Help to Buy – the government-backed scheme that helps people to purchase a property with only a 5% deposit. The development is due for completion by the end of the year, and over 70% of apartments have sold already. For more information visit http://loomwharf.co.uk.
Rhatigan Group development to comprise grade A offices, 175-bed hotel and apartments Developer Padraic Rhatigan has commenced construction on the long-awaited Crown Square mixed-use scheme in Galway city. Located on a site of 5.2 hectares (13 acres), the development which will be ready for occupation in 2021, will include 39,483sq m (425,000sq ft) of grade A office space distributed across five buildings, a 175-bed hotel, 288 residential units, along with retail, food and medical uses. Designed by architects Henry J Lyons, the development will be set around a central square with a landscaped public realm area and walking track running around its perimeter. Upon completion the scheme is expected to accommodate a total workforce of about 3,500 people between its offices, hotel and other facilities. Funding for the €200 million Crown Square scheme is being provided by US investment firm, Quadrant Real Estate Advisers. Since entering the Irish market in 2015, Quadrant has deployed close to €1 billion across a range of commercial, residential, land, hotel and retail investments. Earlier this year, the company provided about €100 million in finance to Gerry Barrett’s Edward Holdings to support the development of Galway city’s other landmark mixed-use scheme at Bonham Quay. Finance While not as large in scale as the Rhatigan Group’s Crown Square development, Bonham Quay will comprise 25,000sq m (269,098sq ft) of offices alongside 1,904sq m (20,505sq ft) of retail and 8,494sq m (91,439sq ft) of landscaped space. Commenting on Quadrant’s decision to finance the development of Crown Square, the company’s chief executive, Kurt Wright, said: “We are very proud to be involved with the Rhatigan Group in this strategic project. Quadrant view Ireland as offering excellent property fundamentals into the foreseeable future. This is particularly true in Galway which is a desired location for strong domestic and international corporate occupiers.” Sarah Ward of CBRE added: “Crown Square is the first development of its kind in Galway, designed with a large emphasis on placemaking and public realm. The scale of the office buildings will deliver much-needed modern space to the Galway market, and provide high-class amenities to the wider community.”
MAG (Manchester Airports Group) has appointed McLaren to build a warehouse and logistics facility on the site of a former WWII aircraft hangar at Manchester Airport The design and build project, which will be known as ‘dnata City North’, incorporates the construction of a 145,000 sq ft warehouse and logistics facility with a two-storey office space. Designed by architect RPS, dnata’s new warehouse and logistics facility will set a new benchmark for air cargo handling and warehousing. McLaren will manage the Cat B fit-out of 20,000 sq ft of dnata-branded office space and will oversee external drainage and landscaping works. During the design process, virtual reality technology was used to future-proof the building. The facility will include flexible office accommodation, providing a mixture of workspace and meeting facilities, as well as breakout spaces and a fitness suite. David Murphy, managing director of operations at McLaren, said: “By working closely with MAG Property, the property and development arm of MAG, and dnata at the earliest stage of this project, it became evident that attention to detail and strong management of construction schedules and logistics will be crucial to the success of this project. “By leveraging our close relationships with our supply chain partners and focusing on MAG’s specific business drivers, we have been able to develop an effective and robust plan for the design and build of dnata’s new logistics warehouse and office space.” Jonathan Haigh, MAG property’s managing director, added: “The scale of dnata’s ambition and longevity of commitment rightly called for our assembly of this prime site and for a suitably impressive scheme to fully exploit its potential. “From master planning to transaction execution, it’s been a great example of how we blend our airport operations knowledge with real estate development expertise and work hard and with skill for our customers.” dnata UK chief executive Gary Morgan, commented: “We’ve worked closely with MAG Property and the design team to ensure that dnata City North is able to adapt to the dynamic industry in which we operate, as well as providing our staff with a quality working environment.” Particularly well situated for ease of airfield access, the new warehouse and logistics facility will allow dnata to consolidate and grow its Manchester operations with the capacity to handle over 150,000 tonnes per annum. It will become operational in late summer 2020.
The average size of a block of land in Australia has been falling as time goes on. This means that if you want to build a large, spacious home to live in, you can’t just build out like previous generations would have. That’s why two-storey homes in Perth have become increasingly popular in recent years. They allow you to make much more efficient use of your land. Stuck choosing between a roomy house or a back yard? Well, choose to build up instead of out and you might not have to! While it’s definitely an attractive option that can help you make the most out of your land, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to make sure you get the absolute most out of your two-storey home build. If you’re thinking of going down this route, make sure you check out the following list of things to consider when building a two-storey home. Plan Your Layout Carefully Everyone’s family and lifestyles are different, so it’s important to carefully plan your layout so that you end up with a comfortable, practical and convenient home that you’ll adore living in. For example, if you like cooking and entertaining, you don’t want to put your kitchen on a different floor to your dining room, do you? A two-storey home allows you the luxury of completely separating your living and entertaining spaces from your bedrooms, so planning a layout to maximise your privacy (especially if you have children) is always a good idea. A smaller footprint may also allow you to maximise your outdoor space and alfresco area, or you might be able to take advantage of a great view from the second floor (which can help to boost the value of your property), so these are the kind of things that you should take into consideration when planning your home’s layout. Make The Most Of Your Stairs Stairs are a necessity in a two-storey home, so why not look at them as a great opportunity to create an impressive design feature? Consider the rest of your interior design and ask yourself questions like: What materials will it be made of? What kind of balustrade will you go for? Do you want to incorporate timber, glass or steel (or a combination of all three)? Space under the stairs can also be used for extra storage (especially for your wine collection), or even as a cute little study nook, so make sure you get as much functionality out of your stairs as well. Opt For Open Plan Living Open plan living is one of the top interior trends of 2019, so it makes a lot of sense to incorporate it into the design of your two-storey home. Rather than having separate rooms for the kitchen, dining and living area, an open plan layout will help to make that floor of your two-storey home look and feel a lot more spacious and open. Opening up this combined kitchen/dining/living space onto an alfresco entertaining area can also be a great way of helping your home to flow seamlessly from inside to out. Don’t Lose Your Cool Hot air rises. This is a fact that you need to consider when planning the climate control of your two-storey home, as getting it wrong can make your house uncomfortable to live in an extremely expensive to heat and cool. Adding insulation between the ground and first floor can be a great way of reducing energy loss and helping to keep your home at a constant temperature. Floor joist heights can also be adjusted to allow for central air-conditioning ducts. Building a two-storey home can be a great way of taking the challenge of building on a smaller block and turning it into an advantage. It can also be a fantastic way of making the most out of your views to increase the value of your property. If you want to make sure that your two-storey home building project results in a comfortable, stylish and practical house that your whole family will love, make sure you pay attention to the considerations that we’ve just outlined.
East Midlands-based AM2 Architects has revealed plans for extensive new facilities at Wolds Wildlife Park in Horncastle, Lincolnshire – featuring jungle-like canopies, glass walkways, elevated viewing galleries and even a ‘Yoga with the Bears’ enclosure. The expansion project, which received planning permission in August, sees AM2 Architects work in conjunction with Louth-based For-Ward Planning Consultancy and East Lindsey District Council to develop the masterplan for the wildlife park; which includes improvements to the existing space and plans to accommodate a larger variety and number of animals. Wolds Wildlife Park has an interesting back-story when back in 2013, animal lovers Andrew Riddel and Tracy Walters started rehoming animals from the circus as well as rehoming animals from zoos at their home in Horncastle. The pair really began from a standing start; creating the enclosures by hand and catering for the animals’ various needs. With passion and determination, the wildlife park was born. Following growing interest from local residents, Tracy and Andrew started spending their weekends showing passers-by around the park – reassuring guests that public safety and animal welfare were of the utmost importance to them. The new expansion project will bring to life Tracy and Andrew’s dream to take the park to the next phase – creating a complete zoological park with species-specific enclosures, and interactive spaces for visitors to enjoy. AM2 Architects has drawn on inspiration from leading wildlife parks around the world to develop the concept design; which includes a giraffe enclosure with an elevated viewing gallery – giving visitors the chance to see eye to eye with the world’s tallest mammals – and leopard and lion enclosures separated by glass walkways to allow big cat lovers to walk straight into the lion’s den. For a chance to connect with nature on a deeper level, visitors will be able to strike the balancing bear pose and take part in a ‘Yoga with the Bears’ class. This truly wild experience will offer yoga practice just a few steps away from the enclosure of the bears, who are known to love interaction with the public. It is also a unique form of positive enrichment for the animals. Jonathan Metcalfe, director at AM2 Architects, said: “We’re very proud to be working on such an exciting and unusual development. “Our highest priority when designing the spaces was the needs and welfare of the park’s residents and marrying that with best practice from wildlife parks around the world. By listening to Tracy and Andrew’s incredible vision, we believe we have created something very special. “Everything is coming together with the first phase now complete and the construction of phases two and three due to commence later this year. We are looking forward to the journey of bringing Andrew and Tracy’s vision to life – creating a place of wonder and learning for generations to come”. The final phase three of the development, which aims to be complete by 2022, includes a brand-new main building for the park, complete with a gift shop and restaurant featuring impressive canopy-like structures as its roof, to mimic the appearance of jungle trees and provide shaded areas beneath for guests, as well as offering views over the landscaped park, its animals and the lakes. A new education centre will accommodate school visits, provide areas for learning activities and workshops for children as well as offer function rooms for events and even weddings. The centre’s design is based on the instantly recognisable ‘big top’ circus tent, as a reminder that many of the animals in the zoo are rehomed from circuses. Further plans as part of the development include four separate units for use by local businesses, all with independent access allowing flexible operation times. Tracy Walters and Andrew Riddel, owners of Wolds Wildlife Park, said: “Since the beginning of the project, we have been overwhelmed with local community support, which has really given us the drive to work around the clock to put Horncastle back on the map. “It is our aim to work with local businesses, schools and colleges to support the area, and create new job opportunities, educational facilities for learning, and a place for those with long-term illnesses to visit and enjoy. “We feel we have the best team on-board to make our dream a reality, and it is a pleasure to work alongside AM2 Architects – they have amazing ideas for the park and we could not do this without them.” Portfolio Holder for Market Towns and Rural Economy, Councillor Adam Grist, said: “This is an exciting project and an excellent opportunity for growth in the local economy. East Lindsey District Council is pleased to continue its work with Mr Riddel and Ms Walters towards obtaining a zoo licence in the future.” Wolds Wildlife Park currently holds six open days per year to welcome visitors. AM2 Architects works on residential and commercial projects throughout the East Midlands and nationwide, including contemporary and historic, listed building, conservation projects, feasibility studies, new builds and refurbishments of all scales and sectors.