At Chichester Festival Theatre, a new kind of performance space has taken shape among the trees. The Nest is a 120-capacity demountable studio theatre, providing a flexible home for emerging artists, local creatives and community activity. It was built on a JCT Intermediate Building Contract with contractor’s design. Opened in summer 2025, The Nest hosts fringe theatre, comedy, live music, family performances, open-mic events and other experimental work, while also supporting Chichester Festival Theatre’s Future Theatre Makers programme. The single-storey building sits between the Festival…

Blog Author: Barefoot Architects   Youth-led design and the JCT Minor Works Building Contract in action A former pub in Bristol’s Barton Hill has been transformed into a vibrant youth-led community hub, demonstrating how collaborative design and the JCT Minor Works Building Contract with contractor’s design (MWD) can successfully deliver socially impactful, flexible projects. The Swannery, completed in October 2024, is a retrofit of The Swan—a disused public house that has been reimagined as a thriving youth club. Designed by Barefoot Architects for Wellspring Settlement,…

In the heart of Street, a new cultural landmark has risen to celebrate 200 years of one of Britain’s most recognisable footwear brands. The Shoemakers Museum, commissioned to mark the bicentenary of Clarks, is more than an archive and exhibition space. It is a carefully crafted statement about place, heritage and the enduring relationship between industry and community. The project was built on a JCT Standard Building Contract. The significance of Clarks to Street and the wider Somerset area cannot be overstated. Founded in 1825,…

Set within a fold of the Kent Downs, the recent improvements at Ightham Mote have required an unusually careful balancing act. The project included a new visitor centre and shop, a series of landscaping and sustainable drainage solutions, and new parking, and was built on a JCT Design and Build Contract. The medieval manor house – a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument of international importance – is one of the most complete survivals of its type in England. Any contemporary intervention, therefore, had…

The Heart of the City project represents the centrepiece of Sheffield’s urban regeneration, weaving together heritage, sustainability, and contemporary design to breathe new life into a key area of the city centre. The development was built on a JCT Design and Build Contract. The Heart of the City project comprises three interconnected elements: Cambridge Street Collective – a social destination, Elshaw House – a flagship office building, and Leah’s Yard – studios created within historic metalworkers’ workshops. These three distinct elements, while serving different purposes,…

In the heart of Tufnell Park, London, Acland Burghley School stands as a testament to 1960s Brutalist architecture. Recently, the school underwent a significant retrofit, transforming its interiors to meet contemporary educational needs while respecting its architectural heritage. A JCT Design and Build Contract was the form of choice for this project. The refurbishment focused on enhancing key areas such as the library, classrooms, and T-Level learning facilities. The design team, led by Tuckey Design Studio, adopted a ‘light-touch’ approach. This strategy aimed to retain…

Taking inspiration from its natural surroundings, the new Pump House at Kew Gardens is part of a wider scheme to provide a greener source of irrigation and improved water security. It was built on a JCT Intermediate Building Contract with contractor’s design. Kew Gardens in Southwest London houses the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collection in the world. With over 50,000 species, the UNESCO World Heritage Site – a 121-hectare landscape – requires a considerable amount of water to maintain its environment, especially as…

Rochdale’s Grade I-listed Town Hall, one of Britain’s finest examples of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture, re-opened to the public last spring after four years of restoration. A JCT Standard Building Contract and Pre-Construction Services Agreement were the contracts chosen to help revive this historic building. Rochdale Town Hall was originally designed by William H Crossland and completed in 1871. It is widely regarded as being one of the finest examples of a municipal building, and one of the most historically significant buildings in the country. …

A derelict Georgian mansion has been rescued with a full period-correct restoration and the addition of a new glulam-timber extension to provide Dorset with a new arts venue. The project used a JCT Standard Building Contract. Sherborne House in Dorset is a Grade I listed building which features Georgian, Tudor, and medieval elements. The main structure is an early Georgian mansion which has been attributed to local architect and craftsman Benjamin Bastard. Its principal staircase features an original mural depicting hunting scenes completed in the…

A new adventure playground building for a popular north-London children’s venue has been completed for Islington Council and site operator, Islington Play Association. Designed by Paper House Project, with CW Chelsea the main contractor, a JCT Intermediate Building Contract with contractor’s design was used to get the games back up and running. Martin Luther King Adventure Playground (MLK) has been at its current site since 1968, when its construction was partly funded by a grant from the Martin Luther King Foundation, and it was named…