back to listings SME Profile: AMA Architects
9, Church Street, Wye, Ashford, Kent, TN25 5BN
t: 0044 (0) 7740 424 289 e: andy@ama-architects.co.uk w: ama-architects.co.uk
AMA is an architectural practice founded by Andy MacFee in 2017, with the benefit then of 25 years industry experience, including highly respected architectural design, RIBA award winning buildings and academic teaching.
AMA’s designs are thoughtful, elegant and distinctive. Our work begins by listening very carefully to the Client’s requirements and carefully appraising the brief. Then our design process combines original creativity with conceptual narrative to develop architecture that delights and inspires people. We consider the cultural and environmental context of each project and aim to make every project special in its own way.
We have experience in a range of sectors as illustrated on the website, leading with Residential and Education. The AMA team has the professional and technical expertise to detail and complete projects efficiently and to a high level of quality. We work proactively to help guide the project team to complete projects on time and on budget. We are experienced in both Traditional and Design & Build procurement.
AMA works in Kent, London and across the South East of England. It has connections throughout the architectural profession and with prestigious client organisations. Andy MacFee is a member of the RIBA and is a key member of the Higher Education Design Quality Forum, HEDQF. Andy also teaches and lectures architectural design at universities in Kent and across the UK. Read more about us
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PROJECTS
Education
We have extensive experience in this sector with Universities, Colleges, Secondary and Primary Schools. Our previous University experience has centred in London and the South East and has included RIBA Award winning Buildings for Queen Mary University of London and Birkbeck College University of London. We also have nationwide schools experience in a variety of procurement models, from BSF & PSCF, to PSBP and the Independent School sector.
AMA is currently working with the London School of Economics and London Metropolitan University on a Master plan/Accommodation Plan Estate Strategy and the refurbishment of a Library to house an Architectural Archive. We are also investigating the phased re-development of schools in London and Kent. Our philosophy is to create efficient yet inspirational spaces for teaching, learning and research. We aim to have each project capture the ethos and vision of the educational institution it represents.
Residential & Mixed Use
AMA is experienced in working on the design and construction oversight of extensions, refurbishments and new build houses for individual private clients. We provide a friendly, dedicated service and enjoyable design process. This enables people to realise and usually exceed their original hopes and aspirations for their home.
Our residential design experience has been across the UK, from London to Cambridge, Yorkshire to Kent and Surrey. Our design experience is very broad, from bespoke private extensions, multiple unit apartment buildings to residential / mixed use Masterplans in both conservation and regeneration areas. The scale of our individual residential projects range with construction budgets of £100k to £1.5M. Our experience of apartment buildings and mixed use Masterplans is widespread, with construction budgets from £3M to in excess of £100M.
We aim to create homes, neighbourhoods and public realm that are both beautiful and welcoming, great places and spaces to live, work and relax. Our design approach is contemporary combined with a philosophy to preserve and enhance the historic context of the project. We are also committed to maximising environmental efficiencies and opportunities. For the larger projects, we have previously worked with enlightened and respected developers such as Igloo Regeneration, Cathedral (Now U+i), Nikal, Allied London and Crest Nicholson.
Culture & Leisure
We have a range of experience in this sector with designs and completed buildings ranging from libraries, gallery exhibition spaces, restaurants and cafes, a television broadcast centre, an aquarium, sports pavilion, retail centres, public landscape infrastructure, a youth centre performance venue, a church and a boutique cinema complex.
Perhaps Andy MacFee’s most notable projects in this sector are firstly Peckham Library that won the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2000 (Andy was Project Architect and Contract Administrator working for Will Alsop) and Birkbeck Cinema that won an RIBA Award in 2008 (Andy was Co-Director of Surface Architects)
AMA have worked on an Architectural Archive and exhibition space, refurbishing a Library building for London Metropolitan University. We have also designed a new music performance venue in Canterbury, as part of a school but with direct connection and benefit to the broader community. Our approach to all Culture and Leisure projects is to imbue the design with a strong concept and narrative that responds to the specific cultural and environmental context. Then to create public architecture with a sense of delight and wonder that enhances and intensifies our collective social and cultural experience.
Masterplanning
We have developed Master plans and Estate Strategies for various sectors, Universities and Schools, large scale Residential, Mixed Use Regeneration projects and Office parks in sensitive rural locations. Our approach is to respond to and enhance the urban or landscape setting of the project. Then to set a strong concept and framework for the scheme and it’s phased construction.
The morphology and massing of future development is carefully considered using established best practice in urban design and place-making. We use a mixture of media to present our Master plans, from hand drawn sketches and physical models to evocative CGI’s and dynamic AV animations.
Workplace
Our workplace experience includes the design of speculative office buildings in the UK and Europe, together with bespoke end user workplace designs for postgraduate research and start-up business creative studios. We also specialise in designing distinctive entrance reception and foyer spaces.
We understand the net to gross efficiency requirements of office space and are adept at designing conventional open plan floor plates with efficient cores, or high quality cellular offices favoured by the legal profession and many academics. We can also create more dynamic agile working environments where the users experience is more rich and varied through the day, but the diverse spaces are shared or booked to maximise space utilisation.
Historic Buildings
We have much experience of working within and around a variety of historic buildings. We work closely with historic building specialists, such as Historic England and the Victorian Society; also with specialist consultants where that is beneficial.
Our philosophical approach is to preserve and enhance the character and quality of the original building and it’s setting in the public realm. This is often amplified by sensitively juxtaposing contemporary design with the historic original, also by using modern materials to reflect and enhance the setting of traditional materials. We are interested in the layers of history that an old building often contains and may seek to reveal these in our design. We also believe in the inventive re-use of old buildings as a sustainable low carbon strategy.
We have achieved numerous Listed Building Consent and Conservation Area Planning Consents and believe in securing early dialogue with the planning and historic building authorities when embarking on a project.
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