Buildings and the built environment are vital to us as human beings. We need buildings to survive. Our climate dictates the need for shelter and protection from the weather.
In Britain we have a remarkable stock of buildings, some of them exceptional historic structures, all of them a valuable inheritance. As Architects we are trained to to design buildings to suit the many purposes required in our society.
As a practice we are committed to the idea that all buildings should be cared for and when necessary modified for contemporary use. We also know that each Client brings to the project their own unique requirements. At Tod & Taylor Architects we look at existing buildings with the understanding of how they have been put together, gained from decades of experience. Guided by this experience we are able to advise our Clients on all aspects of continuing the life of the building, ranging from suggesting how they can be altered and extended, to proposing maintenance and redevelopment. It is exciting work which everyone in the office enjoys.
Most people in this country live in a manmade landscape, where the buildings create the visual background for life. This visual significance cannot be underestimated, and exists in all areas, not just the obviously historically rich. We believe sustainability should be interpreted in a broad sense to include the use and reuse of buildings. Often it is the buildings themselves that will pose the questions, such as how to reduce heat loss in a period house without losing the important details or how to create a contemporary feel within existing spaces.
Each combination of building situation and Client presents us with a new and unique challenge. At Tod & Taylor Architects we thrive on the opportunities presented to us and will continue to give our remarkable existing buildings the care and attention they deserve.
