FTAA Ltd

Practice formed in 1986 to amalgamate professional status with local knowledge and was based in Abergavenny, South Wales. Current projects extend beyond the South Wales area to include Oxford and the Midlands. Client base of projects rapidly grew from housing and local authority grant aided schemes to fast turn around Public house revamp schemes with Whitbreads as part of their “Vision for the Valleys”, as well as speculative housing, office developments, civic projects, medical centres, retail schemes and industrial units. With increased workload the Practice grew in size to include Architectural assistants and later a Quality Control Site Assistant to help run the Enveloping schemes and Group Repair Schemes. With changes in the economic climate came time for re-adjustment. Work had to be produced quickly and efficiently to generate design schemes into production format and built form to satisfy changing client requirements. The Practice looked to AutoDesk Revit where the building concepts are quickly prepared in 3D format easily read by Client and Contractor alike. The essential requirements of personal service to the Client, high quality design and face to face contact can be speedily backed up by precision drawings, written specifications and contract documentation. Working in this refined form gives time for reflection. When I qualified as a Chartered Architect in 1976 I had joined an “elite” profession which implied a “career for life”. Once established I could produce the designs and flair that I had trained to develop. Twenty plus years on and the status of the “professional” have changed. The Architect can no longer design compromises between client aspirations, Planning and economic constraints. The Architect is responsible for maintaining a balance between environmental ecosystems and the built environment. Buildings must relate to the environment in many dimensions including sustainability in use and future adaptation to changing social requirements.