NO MAN IS AN ISLAND and no great building can be completed without a great team.
A successful building project requires a lot of thought, love, care, planning, competence and above all, teamwork.
Just as a job can be ruined by a careless craftsman, a belligerent planner or and unhearing architect, magic can spring from a close team that understands, appreciates and offers solutions, not problems.
At Johnston Cave, we've built a reputation for a team spirit and collaboration that works with everyone involved to build the best we possible can.
We work hard to understand your vision and bring it to reality in ways better than you thought possible.
At Johnston Cave Associates we are used to working within multidisciplinary design teams as well as dealing with international Clients and consultants, when required.
We have the resources to act as and are frequently team-leaders in large multi-million pound construction projects, many of which involve very complex structures and services. These invariably require efficient administration and wide-ranging co-ordination - something that we pride ourselves in providing.
Multi-disciplinary collaboration
We also work with other disciplines including landscape architects, garden designers, lighting designers, other consultant architects and of course leading interior designers such as David Milinaric, Colefax & Fowler, Guy Goodfellow, Joanna Wood, Lady Victoria Waymouth, Alberto Pinto and Chester Jones, to mention a few.
In garden and landscape work we have had the pleasure of collaborating with Elizabeth Banks, David Hicks, Mary Keen, Françoise Goffinet, Penelope Hobhouse, Toby Hoblyn, Michael Balston, Rupert Golby, Arabella Lenox-Boyd, Arne Maynard, Simon Johnson and Tom Stuart-Smith.
Careful Repair
With our knowledge, experience and passion for old buildings we can work out the most sensitive, sympathetic and appropriate scheme of repairs to historic fabric, all in the context of the greater scheme of work. Our architects are well used to the cautious and careful approach, involving survey, analysis, investigation, research, experimentation, specification and execution of the appropriate method of repair.
We readily co-operate with specialist consultants and craftspeople to find the best solution for the building.
The buildings we work on are often set within the context of listed buildings and landscapes or within conservation areas. Whether they are providing independent buildings in historic settings, or additions to historic buildings, our senior architects are experienced in the variety of historic fabric encountered in the UK and respect the regional variations in both urban and rural locations. This knowledge equips us with an understanding of the need to respect the established palette of materials and the visual vocabulary of building details in a special and sensitive site.
As well as working as the regular construction project consultants, we work comfortably across all disciplines, with many other kinds of specialists and the latest techniques, including experts in Audio Visual systems, air handling, book storage systems, conservators, lighting and display systems, security installations (including the provision of "safe haven" areas) as well as the latest home technology, IP and remote systems technology.
Specialist expertise
As a Practice, we have also had experience of dealing with works of art and other precious artefacts on several projects. Many of our Clients have valuable collections that are displayed in the buildings that we have designed. This has often resulted in the provision of sophisticated lighting, humidity and temperature control as well as security protection and other systems. We have specified control environments for everything from painting to sculpture, murals and wall hangings to mechanical apparatus features, record collections, books, manuscripts, pottery, guns and of course jewellery.
What we do
How a building sits within its landscape has always been paramount to JCA as no-one wants to live in a carbuncle. However it's no longer a simple matter of visual impact, there's the wider environment to be considered. Are the building materials specified sustainable? Has the finished building's energy use been fully understood and considered? Is the insulation for both heating and cooling more than appropriate? Have alternative energy sources been considered?
In almost all cases, what's good for the environment is good for lowering energy bills as long as it's been designed in from the outset. This has become a JCA priority in our thinking and attention.