PRACTICE PROFILE

The principal architect Nicholas Jacob, who was a former partner of Cleverly and Jacob and later Purcell Miller Tritton and Partners, founded Nicholas Jacob Architects in 1997.

We are a small highly motivated team capable of producing designs, which balance the conflicting requirements of brief, location, budget and planning restrictions, often working within tight restraints and in a Historical context. Using a key philosophy, which involves working in a close partnership with enthusiastic clients, skilled craftspeople,  structural and environmental consultants, we believe in the importance of both the seen and the unseen detail.  Our aim is to resolve these issues and produce the highest standards of design, which are informed by the principles of sustainable design.

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We are recognised for our informed, sensitive and appropriate restoration and repair of historic buildings and the creative reuse of redundant or under-used buildings.  We aim for minimal intervention in historic building fabric, making a careful distinction between repairs and alterations. All projects are carried out using traditional materials and techniques ensuring the reversibility of any necessary intervention.  Where appropriate, our design solutions incorporate sensitive contemporary design in order to maximise the potential of the historic building.

Nicholas Jacob is on the register of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation.

Areas of special expertise include the following:-

• Community Based Projects - museums, small theatres and halls.
  

• Historic Building Conservation - secular and religious buildings of all ages. Quinquenial inspections. 

• Conservation plans, Lottery applications and Grant advice.

• Ecclesiastical Buildings - reordering and extensions to churches and church halls. Quinquenial inspections.
  

• Housing Associations - new build and refurbishment, family and sheltered housing.
  

• Schools - new build, extensions and maintenance repairs.
  

• Private Houses - new build, refurbishment, conversions, interior design.

We are fully compliant with AutoCAD and NBS specification writer.  Our computer systems are all Microsoft PC based, using the latest office suite software.

Snape Maltings Concert Hall - responsible for repairs and alterations, including new hospitality suite, new heating system, improvements to means of escape: 1988 - 1996 for the Aldeburgh Foundation.  Feasibility study funded by Arts Lottery Grant 1995 for foyer extension, restaurant and dressing room extension, lift for disabled access, improvements to lighting and air conditioning, flood defence, etc.  £1.3m Lottery Grant awarded 1996.  Foyer extension completed 1997. [1]

Harlow Museum - feasibility study for Harlow Council 1995 - 1997 for refurbishment and extension.   Approximately £1.5m. 

Park House, Palgrave, Suffolk and The Old Rectory, Burston, Norfolk - Extensions and alterations 1985 -.  Works totalling approximately £2m to a School and College for mentally handicapped children.

Harwich Lifeboat Museum - design for new museum building and alterations to existing for the Harwich Society, 1996 -.  Approximate project value £500,000. 

St. Michael's Primary School, Braintree - new infant wing; first phase completed December, 1996.   Second phase designed.   Approximately £400,000. [1]

Little Hall, Lavenham - 15th century timber framed hall house now used as a museum and the Suffolk Preservation Society's headquarters.   Repairs and improvements 1985-98 for the Suffolk Building Preservation Trust.

The White House, Gilwell Park - complete refurbishment as part of new headquarters for the Scout Association.   Completed 1992: £700,000. [1]

Hedingham Castle, Essex - repairs to Norman keep, Tudor bridge and 18th century brick dovecote.   1990 - 1996  (private museum and tourist attraction) for the Hon. T. Lindsay.   English Heritage grant aided. [1]

St. Mary Magdalen Church Site, Colchester, Essex - new low cost housing and flats for Colne Housing Society and the Mary Magdalen Almshouse Trust.   Contract value £1.2m.   Completed 1996. [1]

Term Commission for Defence Works Services - 1993 - 1996.   Carrying out option studies, rough orders of cost, building surveys and preparing project briefs.   As lead consultants we co-ordinated all professional disciplines.   Project costs ranged from £1m - £15m. [1]

The Redoubt Fort, Harwich - Condition survey report and subsequent repairs to this scheduled ancient monument 2001. Designs for disabled access and an observation tower 1997.

St. Margaret's Church, Ipswich - repairs since 1989 including masonry repairs and re-roofing to south porch (approximately £50,000) completed 1993.   Cleaning and conservation of 17th century ceiling paintings, 15th century double hammer beam roof structure in the nave with associated re-lighting, redecoration, stonework repairs to clerestory parapet and tie rods.   Project costs approximately £420,000. Completed 1995.Awards:  Museums and Galleries Commission,  Award for Conservation 1996.  Ipswich Society Award, 1995.  King of Prussia Gold Medal 1997. Designs for an extension to house wc's and a small kitchen, 2001. Further repair programme planned for 2002.

Newnham College, Cambridge - repairs and alterations 1985 - 1996 totalling approximately £4m. [1]

The Ogilvie Homes, Aldringham, Suffolk - twelve new bungalows, refurbishment of fourteen existing almshouses and two new staff houses to form sheltered housing.   Built in three phases, the first and largest financed by the Housing Corporation.   Contract value approximately £650,000 in total, completed in 1989 for the Ogilvie Charities. [1]

The Moat House Nursing Home, Great Easton, Dunmow, Essex - conversion and extension of country house to form 24 bed nursing home with dual registration.   Contract value approximately £2000,000.   Completed 1988 for Brookrange Ltd.   Subsequently obtained planning permission for a 22 bed extension in 1990. [1]

Glazenwood, Bradwell, Essex - complete remodelling and extension of Georgian country house including orangery extension with computer controlled environment.   Award:  The Plasterers Trophy 1994.   Contract value £1.9m completed 1993.   Further work 1997/8.

St. Margaret's Church House Centre, Bolton Lane, Ipswich - feasibility study on long term future for the church and Church House completed 1991.   Detailed planning permission obtained for alterations and extensions to Church House in 1992.   (Total project costs - £350,000).   Phase I completed 1993.   Award:  Ipswich Society Award 1994.  Phase II completed 1998; contract value £250,000.00.

Gainsborough House, Bolton Lane, Ipswich - repairs and conversion to counselling centre with training facilities.   Contract value £70,000 completed 1993 for Ipswich Concern Counselling Centre. Award:  Ipswich society Award 1994. [1]

26 Park Village East, Regent's Park, London - repairs and refurbishment of this Nash house including the design of all fitted furniture and some loose furniture.   Contract value approximately £200,000 completed in 1989. [1]

New Country House, Norfolk - design of new country house, completed May 1999.   Contract value £1.2m

St. John's Church, Stratford Broadway, London - extension to form meeting rooms, parish offices, kitchen, lavatories, disabled access. Contract value £600,000.   Feasibility study, completed 1993, included evaluating alternative uses for existing church rooms which then were sold.  Completed 1997. [1]

St. Andrew's Church, Hatfield Peverel - extension to form church room, wc's etc.   Completion 1993.   £250,000. [1]

The Cottage, Cumberland Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk - conversion of 16th century stables to living accommodation.   Contract value approximately £70,000.   Award: Craftsmanship Award.

Historic Building Survey Reports for the PSA - part of several term commissions with the Eastern Region of the Property Services Agency.  Reports prepared on over forty properties.   In many cases leading to repairs and alterations.   The commission ended with the disbanding of the PSA. [1]

St. Edmundsbury & Ipswich Diocese - diocesan inspecting architect carrying out quinquennial inspections and repairs since 1981, currently on thirty eight churches.

The Great White Horse Hotel, Ipswich - refurbishment of Grade II* listed hotel for Regent Inns plc.  Project cost approx. £1.5m. Completed 1998.

Pakenham Water Mill - Feasibility study, option study and designs for Lottery applications to repair and extend the existing mill, to provide better visitor access and a new education and visitor centre by converting Watermill Farmhouse. Application submitted October 2001.

Half Moon & Star, Ipswich - Restoration and conversion of former public house to create 4 flats and 1 cottage for the Ipswich Building Preservation Trust, part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. 

Contract value: £200,000.  Completed 1999. Award: Ipswich Society Award of Distinction 2000.

Ipswich Historic Churches Trust - appointed architect to the Trust 1998. Responsible for repair and maintenance of four redundant, medieval churches.

Chelmsford Diocese - on approved list of architects carrying out quinquennial inspections and subsequent repairs to ten churches since 1986.

The Design of - many small housing schemes within the context of historic buildings and conservation areas (Lavenham, Monks Eleigh, Little Easton, Hintlesham Hall).   The restoration and refurbishment of numerous historic houses ranging from small cottages to large country houses.

Repairs to - several National Trust properties in Essex and Suffolk including The Mill, Mill House and Willy Lott's Cottage at Flatford; Thorington Hall, Thorrngton, Suffolk; Paycocke's House, Coggeshall, Essex; Bourne Mill, Colchester, Essex.[1]

[1] Denotes projects previously undertaken under the direction of Nicholas Jacob, whilst a senior partner at Purcell Miller Tritton and Partners.