In this newsletter -

Richard Ward Joins The Team

Ecohouse Open Day

Architects Go Back to School

Waterstones Complete

&

Moria Unveiled

MSA and Richard Ward Associates form Alliance

Richard Ward has joined the MSA team with the merger of our two practices. The combined company will continue under the MSA banner, with Richard becoming a consultant.

This arrangement will provide better use of our resources and experience.

Richard Ward was formerly a senior partner at Bartlett Gray & Partners, a well established Nottingham practice. MSA itself has now been established well over 25 years, having been set up by John Severn in 1972. This wealth of experience, combined with fresh thinking through a youthful team will ensure our clients get the very best in architectural service.

Architecture Week Eco-house Open Day is a Triumph

This year MSA took an active role in National Architecture Week, which ran from the 5th to the 14th of November.

Gil and partner Penney opened their home, a Victorian Villa which they have been converting into in Eco-House. They are superinsulating the building, using Warmcell recycled newspaper insulation in the roof, and external insulation systems to walls except for the front wall which is internally drylined to preserve the front appearance. Solar panels were part funded by Rushcliffe Solar Club. Products have been environmentally screened. Rainwater is collected for greywater applications, and composting toilets have been installed.

The day was a tremendous success, with over two hundred visitors, and a live broadcast by Radio Nottingham. It is hoped to repeat the event next year, when the eco-conversion should be completed.

See also www.msarch.co.uk/ecohome/

Architecture Week Architects Go Back To School.

Another enjoyable activity the MSA team undertook during Architecture Week was to visit the Haydn Road Primary School in Nottingham to talk to the 10 year olds in the science and technology class about eco-houses.

The children were commendably enthusiastic, and the visit was a great success, ending with them designing their own ideal homes.

Waterstones Unveiled

The new expanded Waterstones Bookstore in Nottingham is one of the largest bookshops in Europe. The new store was opened by former England International and Forest Player Stuart Pearce.

A glazed facade and escalator array links 5 floors of trading space, making use of vacant upper floor to increase the original retail space by over 400%.

Ashby Canal Rewatering

The Moira Industrial Heritage Site, recently restored under MSA's direction in a Heritage Lottery Funded project, was opened by HRH the Duke of Gloucester. The blast furnace, lime kilns and other structures dating from the early 19th century, form a Scheduled Ancient Monument. In addition, the rewatering of the Moira stretch of the Ashby Canal is now complete. This is a part of a project to reopen the entire canal as a visitor and recreational attraction within the new National Forest.

SPAB in the East Midlands

Jane Holt has been co-ordinating the relaunch of the East Midlands Group of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. The first event, a visit to the fascinating Nevill Holt Hall in Leicestershire, was a huge success, with well over 100 members and guests attending. For more news see the SPAB website at www.msarch.co.uk/spab/