axisdesignarchitects.com

Urban Vision North Staffordshire along with RIBA West Midlands recently asked us to be part of an event dedicated to Neighbourhood Planning. The event brought together representatives from four community groups based in Staffordshire with Architects who specialise in community engagement to help them in the early stages of their Neighbourhood Plan.

Rob went along armed with aerial photographs and a pile of blank Proboscis storycubes and stickynotes. He worked with the community group from the Burslem area of Stoke-on-Trent and was able to update the dedicated StickyRoom as conversation was taking place. Community representatives are being encouraged to use the StickyRoom after the event to allow dialogue to continue.

blurtonvision.co.uk needs your help… the new web site allows anyone who wants to take part in creating news about the neighbourhood to tell a story.

You could write something, take pictures or videos or even just use your mobile to send text messages. We’d like to hear from any residents in Blurton Farm, Newstead or Old Blurton who’d like to help us keep everyone in touch with the latest news and events from around the community.

Get in touch with Rob Annable at Axis Design architects if you’d like to take part…

After months of intensive collaboration with software developers Slider Studio, we can now announce the launch of our latest development in community consultation innovation. On behalf of Birmingham City Council and Urban Living we’ve created a 3D software platform for the Lozells neighbourhood that allows residents to see the latest proposals for the area by the city’s urban design team; then send feedback and chat with other residents and project team members.

The options can be viewed from above or from street level with the ability to switch between proposals from any point, helping the viewer make comparisons. It can be used both as an offline tool at venues without an internet connection and also online from home, outside of the usual time/location constraints for consultation events. The online option allows us to update the proposals as the project progresses and demonstrate the impact of the feedback we receive. Hopefully this project will provide a platform that Birmingham City Council can continue to deploy in future projects, commissioning 3D information to use in the software and for the creation of rapid protoyped models to use at public events.

Visit the project web site and download the software at: http://vision-lozells.org

 *UPDATE: You can also see video footage of the software being used for the first time at a recent event by visiting the Lozells News web site. *

Works is progressing well with phase 2 of the ecoterrace project and like the previous properties we’ll be taking part in some open days for the public. Come along and visit us!

107/109 London Road,
Chesterton,
Newcastle Under Lyme,
ST5 7JE

Open days:

• 7th March 10am-2pm
• 14th March 10am-2pm

4/6 Victoria Street,
Chesterton,
Newcastle Under Lyme,
ST5 7EW

Open days:

• 18 April 10am -2pm
• 25 April 10 am -2pm

Kings Heath, Birmingham 2001—present

A 1950’s estate of some 250 Smiths houses being redeveloped in association with Waterloo Housing Association, Birmingham City Council and the local resident’s Estate Development Group.

The new homes are being built in phases and the brief is quite simply to recreate the Arts & Crafts residential and environmental qualities of Bournville Village within modern social housing regulations.

Read the rest of this entry »

Normacot, Stoke on Trent, 2005—present

Axis Design were appointed by Beth Johnson Group to undertake a consultation and masterplanning role for General Renewal Area of approximately 200 households.

Alongside the standard methods of enquiry we provided a basic web site using ‘off-the-shelf’ IT solutions to enhance the reach of the consultation process.

Read the rest of this entry »

Blurton, Stoke on Trent, 2005—present

Axis Design were appointed by Aspire Housing to provide consultation and masterplanning services for an estate of approximately 3500 households.

Alongside the standard methods of enquiry we provided a custom built web site to enhance the reach of the consultation process.

Read the rest of this entry »

Coalville, Stoke on Trent, 2004—present

Axis design were appointed by the Coalville Partnership in January 2004 after winning the competitive tender for the remodelling of the estate consisting of 400 coal board houses dating from the 1950′s.

Axis undertook a programme of intensive community consultation with local residents which included setting up a dedicated residents website and running a neighbourhood office on the estate, along with open days and regular newsletters.

Read the rest of this entry »

Egghill Estate, Birmingham 2001—2003

Axis produced a masterplan for the rebuilding of the Egghill Estate in south Birmingham, an estate of 560 dwellings built in the 50s and 60s. Working from an office in an empty ground floor flat, Axis carried out consultation with residents which leading to an agreed masterplan for new dwellings, road layout, open space, and proposed commercial uses.

Read the rest of this entry »

New Deal for Communities, Aston, Birmingham 2000 – 2001

Axis was employed as urban design and community consultants by Aston Pride, the community based body which successfully won £50 million of NDC money for the regeneration of this historic but deprived inner city area.

Read the rest of this entry »