This morning I presented both of the PPS7 houses that I’ve been running, to SHAPE EAST. The Idea is

that, as a PPS7 house has to be architecturally outstanding and innovative, it is best to have it judged

by a panel of professionals to ascertain whether it truly does meet the criteria. This is all part of the

planning process and is necessary due to the local planning authorities own acknowledgements that

they are not qualified to judge it for themselves. So we hope that SHAPE EAST will be able to make

recommendations on our behalf.

I find it strange that a planning authority does not have enough expertise to deal with such a

proposal. You would have thought that the people who actually decide what is built in the country

would be properly qualified to do so. Instead it is us and our clients who have to foot the bill for their

short comings.

The panel itself consisted of 4 people, all with architectural backgrounds, two focusing in the

planning sector one in landscaping and one through and through architect. It was refreshing to be

critiqued by such people who understand concept and method within design, instead of the usual

dead wood planner.

In the room there was also:

the clients, who have been very supportive of my work, saying that I’ve ‘breathed a new sense of life

into the project’

Modece Architects, the two partners of the practice, one of whom previously ran the project.

Babergh Planning officer

Two St Edmundsbury planning Officers

Two of the team from SHAPE EAST

A Landscape architect from The Landscape Partnership.

The first project, PPS7 in Lavenham’ (pictured above), Is just going in for planning and has historically

come up against unwilling planning officers. I was given the scheme after it failed its previous

planning attempt before I was in the practice. I went back to the beginning with a completely new

proposal. Due to the projects history there was input from a local landscape architecture firm,

although for this scheme they redrew my drawings with their name on it to give a professional edge

to the landscaping.

We started the presentation with Ralph, partner of Modece Architects, giving a background to the

project, then Chris from the landscape partnership going over the landscaping and then it was

passed to me........to complete the rest of the presentation on my own.

I was the right person to do the presentation as I know the building inside out, designing it from the

ground up. This however was no comfort when you have 14 professionals staring at you and the

damn conference room projects is playing up. ( I didn’t mention that it was being held in Cambridge

with the panel coming from country wide) My presentation was blighted by the technical issues

(which I will design out of my next presentation) and this did put me off for my verbal presentation

too. However there is no way of getting out of it so I carried on best I could, soon getting into the

swing.

My presentation was followed by questions which seemed to be directed to myself and the

landscape architect mostly, a verdict from each panel member then a rounding up from the

chairman.

To cut a long story short, The proposal was very well received and given the green light by SHAPE

EAST.....this is unlike (according to my bosses) to translate into a yes from the planner but it does

give us as good a chance as possible and a great argument if (when) it goes to appeal.

The second presentation was on a PPS7 in Fornham.

This technically went allot better however the scheme is in its infancy and this was evident to the

panel. We treated the response as guidance and will be taking it back to Shape east when it is more

complete.

Their main issues was in the response to context and landscape which I’d had very little time to work

on so completely understood their comments. Despite this I am still going ahead with my design as I

learned in uni it is unfair to judge a project before it has been fully represented. The issues raised

were in the back of my mind on the ‘to do’ list which tells me i’m on the right path.

I have found this side of my time in professional placement very exciting. I relish the opportunity to

discuss real architecture which fights for its place rather than constantly compromising. I think this is

also a part of my nature. In the office when receiving input from the partners I still argue if I disagree

with them, and I really think they appreciate it. A couple of times when there has been obvious

disagreements they have let me run with it as an opportunity to prove my point instead of telling me

no strait away. Allowing me to do this has nearly always resulted in my point being accepted. I’m

very grateful they give me this freedom. Speaking to Ralph today he said; ‘all these bespoke houses

take so much of our time’, I replied; ‘I suppose you make less money when you create real

architecture’ and in response he said ‘ we are too old to be in this for money’. I found this warming,

to know that they do what they do because they love to create architecture rather than just making

money.

I have learnt allot about lifestyle in this placement. I chose it for that reason along with its

environmental credentials. It is not worth making money in life if you don’t enjoy the way you make

it. I know in reality it will be hard to find myself in a similar roll after 5th year and i will probably have

to work for a large faceless company, but at least I have something to aim for in latter life.

So....back to rounding up the SHAPE EAST experience.......

I was thanked by the clients and told how much better the response was for this Lavenham project

compared to the last attempt. Even a joke by Modece about giving me a pay rise, (which I may

follow up later) which left me with a feeling of job well done.