Clyde Petroleum, corporate headquarters, library & archives

Project Description.

Within an area of outstanding natural beauty, adjacent to a listed, late 18th century brick house, the challenge was to achieve planning consent for and build a new headquarters, library and archive.

Selected as best choice architect for such a challenge, William McMorran would develop a carefully detailed scheme. Winning both an RIBA National Award and the Civic Trust Award.

Planning.

Within the Malvern Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty, & set adjacent to 18th Century listed buildings, winning planning consent here was never going to be easy.

As planning consultants, we developed a best choice strategy. Selectively choosing a pallet of natural materials and detailing to reflect and retain the areas contextual character. 

We positioned the new buildings in context with existing mature trees and shrubs.

These efforts allayed the concerns of the local community and planning officers. Moving the project through planning while allowing us the freedom within these tight constraints to create a modern, expressive new build that was nonetheless shaking  hands with, rather than shirking the challenges set by, the best qualities of classic English architecture.

Architecture

Below, a transcript from the RIBA West Midlands Jury.