Formed as a result of a merger between two existing architectural practices in 2004, Denovo Design has gone from strength to strength, continuing to scoop local, national and international awards for its work in residential, commercial and healthcare sectors, with an underlying commitment for environmental construction being a key feature of the fundamental design.
This is a firm that believes in practising what it preaches too, with its new bright and contemporary offices in Wood Street testament to this fact; a seven-foot green ivy screen giving a bold greeting in reception … alongside facilities to recycle clearly just about anything that isn’t nailed down!
First opening its doors for business in 2004, Denovo Design’s amalgamation of skills and experience means that it can offer the client a comprehensive service of architecture, conservation and interior design. This diversity of specialisms, along with close associations with other consultants in the North West, means that clients can access services all under one roof, saving them time to concentrate on their own businesses.
Whereas design is at the forefront of everything that it does, Denovo Design equally prides itself on its personal service, and key to this is its understanding that every customer is different and has different needs and aspirations. Director David Duvall comments: “By offering additional services beyond the traditional ‘architecture’ role, and more importantly backing this offer up with the right performance, we can respond to the Client’s developing needs throughout the often lengthy process of defining, designing and enabling the built form. The unusual ability to offer these services from a mid-sized company, retaining the personal touch, is part of our uniqueness and certainly helps to differentiate Denovo Design from others”
Denovo Design’s ongoing project at the Wirral Ark Hostel for the Homeless is testament to this approach. The client brief necessitated a phased and flexible design that could be augmented to suit future requirements, both short and longer term, as and when funding becomes available. The present structure comprises the original two-storey new build, constructed 10 years ago, with the valuable addition of the Irene Kennedy Centre extension, completed in 2010, providing staff training, medical facilities, and opportunities for the Ark to expand its services into the wider community in line with recognised needs. Fundraising is currently underway to allow for a further extension upwards to provide additional, much needed sleeping accommodation. As soon as funds became available, the green sedum roof installed on the extension, and carefully specified in a modular tray construction (as opposed to the more traditional ‘sedum mat’), can be ‘recycled’ by relocation to the upper floor.
Similarly, flexibility of use was one of the key requirements of Jack Jones House, the Liverpool headquarters of Unite the Union. This also involved ‘recycling’ on a grand scale with the actual building itself being’ recycled’ and transformed from the derelict, but nevertheless iconic, former T & G Building. In returning this important gateway building to its former glory, the brutalist style for which it has always been renowned has been maintained, thus preserving its architectural heritage. The whole underlying concept with regards to materials and technologies was geared towards high specification and maximisation of environmental performance, and it was vital that the refurbishment delivered on both.
The client-base is both local and national and covers diverse sectors, including residential housing, both social and private; commercial; healthcare, both public and charitable; and ecclesiastical. Denovo Design has a healthy working relationship with local and national private developers on a variety of projects, including large private residential.
Denovo Design works in a particularly hard hit industry, yet the practice is not only weathering the storm, but has had excellent opportunities and actual projects over the last few years. Whereas the effects of the recession show few signs of recovery, the practice understands that never has it been more crucial to diversify in terms of workload, and not to rely on one or two key sectors, as may have been the case historically. Embracing and exploring joint ventures in all their shapes and sizes; sharing knowledge and ideas to mutual benefit; and adapting and evolving together in order to develop, are fundamental to the company ethos and to surviving the challenges of the current climate.
For the future of Denovo Design, rather than steering it towards any large scale expansion, the emphasis lies in nurturing the company. Its design has always centred round an holistic approach, by looking at the bigger picture and not just the ‘bricks and mortar’, and aiming to maximise economic, social and environmental benefits, for all. Developing stakeholder relationships will be integral to this, and, whereas design is the very essence of what they are about, they also recognise that sound collaborative working is essential in the creation of good design, in order to provide enduring benefits to the client, the end users and the wider community
In line with this the Practice is currently working alongside Neil Rotheroe, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Sector Manager, in pioneering NQA’s Sustainable Development Management Scheme.
Neil explains: “It is as much about ensuring that the organisation itself is sustainable – environmentally, socially and economically – as it is about ensuring that it works to fundamental sustainable development principles. The standard is underpinned by the guiding principles of integrity, inclusivity, transparency and stewardship.”
To find out more, visit www.denovodesign.ltd.uk.
