Joseph Gautrey - Fen Studio Architects (Company Founder and Director)

Joseph Gautrey (BSc, MArch, Arb, CPHD/C)
Founder & Director

Our Story...

Fen Studio Architects was founded by ARB chartered Architect and Certified Passive House Designer, Joseph Gautrey - after a decade of industry experience working at numerous award-winning architecture practices in London, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. His portfolio of work varies from large scale multi-million-pound schemes, to smaller, tailor made, bespoke eco-homes for private clients. The latter is where Joseph's passion lies, and the main reason he founded Fen Studio Architects in 2017.

Joseph did not always want to be an architect, although It was through larking around on farms as a child within the Fenlands of Cambridge which sparked his early interest in built forms. It was the lonely agricultural buildings in particular, stumbled upon on various muddy adventures which developed this fascination. From dilapidated cattle sheds to looming grain stores - they all told their own stories through their specific form and through haunting tales made up by generations of children, and passed down like folklore. They were structures to fear on adventures, to only go near if you dare.

After a misspent youth covered in mud, it isn’t surprising that Joseph’s architecture career began after an unorthodox route into the profession. After leaving school at 16 and training as a furniture maker and metal worker, he decided to harbour his creativity and embark on a foundation course in architecture at the London Metropolitan University. This introduction into the industry saw Joseph receive a first class Honours degree from The Bartlett school of Architecture in London, a master’s commendation from the University of Sheffield, and an ARB chartered architect qualification from The University of Cambridge.

Joseph is passionate about sustainable architecture and landscape design, specifically in natural habitat creation. Both, heavily influence the studio’s ethos, as since the studio began, he has directed its focus towards the creation of sustainable eco homes, as well as the creation of homes for nature through using building as an opportunity to enhance biodiversity through the design and implementation of landscape improvements. Joseph is frequently undertaking additional training to expand his knowledge in both sustainable architecture and biodiverse landscapes, to stay up to date with research, emerging trends, and technologies.

Our Ethos…

We love creating well designed and thoughtful architecture. We also understand that buildings are uninvited guests on the earth, and with this privilege, we are equally as passionate about being kind and contributing to the natural world in which our architecture exists. We therefore strive for a harmony between the buildings and spaces we create, the people they house, and within the environments they are built.

Our ethos is to design quality, bespoke, sustainable architecture which touches the earth lightly, and which positively impacts nature.

Why we do it…

The UK is one of the most depleted nature countries in the world and biodiversity is declining faster than any other time in human history. The statistics are staggering - Since the 1930’s, 97% of all wildflower meadows have disappeared, as has 90% of wetland habitats. 75,000 miles of hedgerows have been torn down and thousands of ancient woodlands have disappeared of which now only covers 3% of the UK. This demise in natural habitat has resulted in a quarter of our mammals and one third of native birds now being at risk of extinction, and in 20 years flying insects essential for pollination have declined by 60%. The UK may appear green, but the majority of our land is made up of an interconnecting tapestry of intensively farmed agricultural land with little refuge for wildlife.

Growing populations also means more homes need to be built and more food needs to be produced to feed people. Currently 72% of land in the UK is used for agriculture and 8% used for construction and which leaves little room for wildlife. As well as being the main reasons for natural habitat loss, these industries are also major contributors to global greenhouse gas emission, leading to the well documented damaging effects of climate change. In the UK it is estimated that the built environment contributes around 40% towards the UK’s total carbon emissions. Energy use significantly contributes to C02 emissions, and even though there are renewable resources available in the UK through wind and solar, 78% of our energy is still created from burning fossil fuels.

Architecture and building projects therefore have a big role to play in preserving natural habitat and lowering C02 emissions. How we use land, build new homes, restore old homes, and how we create and use energy for everyday living is fundamental for the health of the natural world and for all life, including us. Positive Change is possible through responsible building practices, and rather than negatively impacting on nature, they can provide opportunities to enhance biodiversity and eliminate their negative impact on climate health.

How we do it…

The way we design and build at Fen Studio Architects is largely influenced by environmental pressures. We are signatories of Architects Declare (Architects Declaration Climate and Biodiversity Emergency) and The AECB (Association for Environment Conscious Building), and we consider the natural world in as many ways as we can with all of our projects. This is achieved through methods of construction, external and internal material choices, building orientation, window placement, renewable energy systems, and the creation of habitat for nature through landscaping interventions. The aim is for a building to; have a minimal impact on the environment; provide a healthy living environment for its occupants; ensure energy efficiency; and to provide a place for nature to thrive.

This does not mean however that the design of the architecture to be a second priority. On the contrary. We believe any piece of architecture has a responsibility to contribute positively to its surroundings both environmentally and visually. It should be well considered, of its place, vernacular and thought provoking.

It may also seem like a drop in the ocean for one building project or landscape improvement to make a difference to an entire ecosystem, but small changes can have significant impacts and play a vital role for the health of the surrounding wildlife. A small pond or a dense patch of scrub for example can make a huge difference in an environment surrounded by intensively farmed land, as they can become refuges for a plethora of wildlife. Creating sustainable, energy efficient buildings and biodiverse environments are also good for us and our wellbeing, and ensure energy costs are kept to a minimum.

Read our Architecture and Landscape sections below to understand more about how we achieve our goals.

Line drawing of architecture and landscape to support Fen Studio's sustainable architecture ethos

Architecture

Our architectural approach follows these key principles:

  • Our architecture is a result of a clients brief, and careful analysis of the site, and surrounding context. Architectural references which inform a design come in many forms, such as a sites history, the local vernacular, and surrounding material palette.

    Our designs also intend to maximise a sites natural resource, such as sunlight, wind and rainwater, which also have a strong influence on the overall design of a building, as do other environmental aspects such as desirable views, and existing site features and constraints.

  • We orientate our buildings to maximise the available sunlight throughout the day. This means that primary spaces are often facing south, to increase solar gains in the cooler months which reduces heating requirements. To control solar gains and overheating in the warmer summer months, design measures are taken such as overhangs and external louvres to create solar shading.

    Being orientated towards the south does not mean light from other directions and key views are ignored. Light from the north for example is indirect and can provide a more consistent light quality which is good for work or studio spaces. There may also be a feature such as a tree, or where the sun sets which provides a nice view, and can be framed via considered window placement. Such views also often dictate the overall form and composition of a building or space.

    We also consider many other environmental design drivers such as wind direction, together with external door and window opening locations to promote cooling via cross-ventilation.

  • The materials we choose to specify for construction are always as natural as possible. We are advocates for the use of sustainable timber in construction, and natural insulating products such as sheep’s wool and wood fibre to provide thermal comfort.

    As well as these products being very good natural insulators, they also ensure that a buildings structure and external fabric can breathe, reducing the risk of condensation and damp.

    We avoid using manmade chemical derived building products which contain VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds), such as rigid foam insulation and uPVC. We believe that a natural building envelope is much healthier for the environment, and for the people it contains, than a building enveloped in chemicals.

    External finishing material choices often reference the surrounding built and natural context and are specifically selected for each setting. There are endless options, such as timber and metal cladding, masonry, and tiling.

  • A fabric first approach is paramount when considering energy use, and should be carefully designed and detailed before planning which energy systems are to be integrated into a new or existing home. This is because a poorly performing fabric will mean energy is lost through having to continually heat a space in colder months and can also lead to overheating in warmer months.

    The fabric of a building refers to the external facing elements, such as walls, floors, roofs, and glazing.

    To ensure thermal comfort and energy efficiency, a buildings fabric should be highly insulated and continuously sealed internally with an air tightness layer, which can be in the form of a membrane or sheet timber such as OSB.

    With a thermally efficient fabric, energy required to heat and even cool the internal space is then greatly reduced.

    To provide sustainable heating and electricity provisions, renewable energy systems can the be installed such as ground or air source heat pumps to provide heat, and solar photo voltaic panels to provide electricity, and which can also divert surplus energy for heating.

    To further reduce energy consumption an MVHR (Mechanical Vent Heat Recovery) system can also be installed to recycle and redistribute heat, provide continuous filtered fresh air, and to control air quality.

    We also aim to recycle as much rainwater as possible to conserve natural water stores and to also help in reducing localised flooding. Water recycling can be in the form of external underground or above ground storage tanks to be used externally for watering gardens and washing cars, with excess surface water being diverted to wetter areas of the site which require water such as ponds or ditches. It is also possible for water to be reused internally if required for flushing toilets and washing clothes.

Landscape

Our design of a garden or landscape follows these key principles:

  • We design healthy gardens or landscapes to be enjoyed by their occupants, to complement our architecture, and to support nature. The starting point is always a biodiverse approach, and we look to care for existing wildlife as well as creating new habitat to further increase biodiversity.

    There are many approaches to achieve this, and although gardens, like architecture provide very personal spaces for our clients, we often propose designs which allow wilder elements to bleed into more formal garden areas. This allows nature to be brought in as close as possible, and imbeds constructed elements into the landscape.

  • Shelter refers to the creation of areas of a site where wildlife can retreat to. This can be in the form of planting to create dense areas of a site, i.e., trees, hedgerows and scrub, or the creation of a species-specific habitat. The creation of these habitats can also form attractive features within a garden or landscape and for part of an overall aesthetic.

  • Like us, all plant and animal species require a plentiful food source to thrive. Food in nature can take form in various ways, but there needs to be adequate flora and fauna present to support the natural food chain. The introduction of native wildflower for example attracts pollinating insects, as well as providing shelter for small animals, which, in turn, are a food source for many birds species.

  • Adding water to any site is one of, if not, the most important elements for increasing biodiversity. Every living creature requires water to survive and water sources can act like oases to all life and can significantly increase biodiversity. Water can be introduced in various methods depending on the space available. These can include the creation of a small pond, a natural swimming pool. or even a large lake and wetland area.

We aim to keep the process to build a new home or space as straight forward and transparent as possible. We do not expect the clients we work with to understand what is involved in a construction project and our work process reflects this.

The first steps

The first step is first contact. If you’re thinking about starting a project, then do get in touch with us. From here, we usually prefer to meet prospective clients on site, at their home, or where the project is intended for a no obligation discussion. After this initial meeting, we produce a document, which outlines the project brief, sets out our fee structure, and includes any other relevant information which may be useful for your project. Step two, if you would like to proceed, is then to commission us. We use an industry standard client / architect professional service agreement for the majority of our projects, to ensure clarity, fairness and which clearly sets out the project details. You can download a specimen copy of the agreement here.

The Project Process

Our project process follows a format based on the RIBA Plan of Work - an industry standard format for construction projects. (Click here for more information and download a copy of the plan here). We do not however expect domestic clients to fully understand the RIBA Plan of Work stages, and for domestic projects especially, the RIBA plan can be overly complicated and include tasks and information which are not necessarily relevant. We have therefore provided a straightforward explanation for each work stage below, which reflects a typical project process from start to finish:

Our Process…

NOTE:

The following process represents a new build project or complex work to existing buildings which require full planning permission. We also offer simplified and reduced services for smaller work of less complexity.

  • This stage first involves developing the project brief though thinking and discussion, much of which will already be known by you as the client i.e., spaces required, size and location of rooms, a specific way of living, and any landscape initiatives to consider, and so on. Architectural preferences, likes and dislikes are also discussed to ensure there is a congruent approach to the design process. We set up private Pinterest boards for our projects to enable these discussions, which allow images and ideas to be easily shared and discussed throughout the project, and which gives us, as the designers, a flavour of a client’s preferences.

    Once the project brief is understood, relevant surveys are conducted which may be necessary to inform the design proposal and to ensure the project constraints are fully understood. This typically involves; a measured survey of the site; a building survey if there are existing structures on site or if the project involves work to existing buildings; and an arboricultural (tree) survey if there are trees on the site which need to be considered. The required surveys are to be advised by us and either conducted in house or by a third party.

  • Once the project brief and site information are fully understood an initial sketching period commences, which involves us developing initial sketch proposal ideas, and then presenting and discussing them through with you. Unless we get it right first time (which sometimes happens) back and forth communication and meetings then follow, which result in a final sketch design chosen to be taken forward.

    The chosen design, more often than not, is then tested within a planning conetext using the local planning authority’s pre-application (pre-app) advice service. This allows for the proposal to be reviewed by a planning officer to understand if it is likely to gain officer support, and which also provides opportunity for the design to be amended if required prior to making a full planning application.

    At the end of this stage, or once there is enough information available, we advise for cost advice to be sought from a Quantity Surveyor to understand better how much the project would likely cost overall. The final price which is paid for a project is the result of the tendering stage (See stage 03) but an initial cost estimate provides a useful comparison and a tool to adjust the design to suit the budget, prior to submitting a full planning application. Subsequent cost advice can then be sought throughout the project if required and as advised by us.

  • Following the initial design and subsequent pre-app advice, the design is further developed using 3D drawing software, a supporting document is produced (Design and Access statement), and any other required reports and surveys are commissioned to form part of the planning application set, which is then submitted to the local planning authority.

  • This stage involves the production of a detailed set of drawings and a construction specification for contractors (Usually 3-4) to tender against. This set of drawings also then forms part of the construction set which is passed onto the chosen contractor to build from. During this phase, we appoint the necessary consultants i.e., structural engineer, on the client’s behalf, and work with them to ensure the proposed and consultant / specialist design packages are fully coordinated. We also appoint a Building Control officer on the client’s behalf to ensure the building is designed and built in full compliance with National Building Regulations, and we undertake the role as principle designer for CDM (Construction Design Management) to produce pre-construction health and safety information required by government HSE.

  • The complete set of tender drawings and documents are then sent to contractors (Usually 3-4) which are invited to submit a bid for the work. The tender returns are then reviewed upon return after which a contractor is chosen. Value engineering is also undertaken during this stage, if amendments are required to suit the project budget.

    Prior to the start of the project, we administer a construction contract (We usually advise a RIBA domestic building contract. Download specimen contract here) between the client and the chosen contractor. We then stay on board during the construction of the build until completion, to be a point of contact between the client and contractor, to evaluate contractor payment requests for completed work, and to provide quality control to ensure the project is being built as intended.

    We also aid in hard internal furnishing choices and can offer a service for the design of the interior spaces i.e. paint choices and soft furnishings if required.

  • Once the build is complete, we begin a snagging process prior to the contractor handing the keys to the client to ensure the work has been completed as required and to the expected standard. The project is then monitored for a 12-month period, in which time any defects are recorded. We stay on board to ensure the defects are recorded efficiently and to ensure all work is remedied by the contractor after the 12-month defects period.

  • The final work stage is to monitor the project in use. This is more of a light touch service but there will be check ins with the client for the next 1-2 years, to understand how the building performs in terms of energy efficiency and comfort, to understand any issues, and to monitor any landscape initiatives which may have been implemented to improve on site biodiversity.