Sri Lanka – House in the Village

A house built for retirement was the brief.

Designed and project managed on site, utilising local trade and materials, a house was constructed within 5 months in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) an island south of India in the Indian Ocean. Its diverse landscapes range from rainforest and arid plains to highlands and sandy beaches.

The house was built using interlocking earth compressed bricks, to allow the walls to breath and prevent heat being trapped. The orientation, verandahs, high ceilings and cross ventilation mitigate the need for air conditioning in a highly tropical, humid landscape.

Everything from the kitchen work surfaces to handles on doors were a bespoke design.

Having respect and embedding ones self in the local culture was the best way to make sure the outcome sat well within the community and place.

OVO Energy

OVO energy commissioned Nudge Group to create a unique, collaborative work environment, which sets the tone for the ethos of the young, fast growing company. Working with the existing 90’s building, Nudge turned a five-storey atrium space into a lushes green oasis, inclusive of a meeting room on stilts, reception desk, café area, library and signage.

The tree house on stilts is the centre piece of the five storey glass atrium, acting as a meeting room, viewing platform and playhouse. Designed in collaboration with Bower House construction and Round Wood Design Ltd., the feature was created entirely using locally sourced timber in keeping with OVO Energy’s eco mentality.

To further reflect the company’s  eco ideology, we worked with PlantCare to display over 700 plants around the building, including a 6.5m moss wall and vines trailing off the balconies of each floor.

The curvaceous library on the ground floor, designed by Nudge, allows a natural flow of people from the reception area through to the meeting spaces. The surrounding wooden slats mimic the rhythm of the structure on stilts and tree pots, giving the space a harmonic unity.

The refurbishment brings a new life into the office building, creating a light, fresh and inspiring environment for the employees and epitomizing the values of OVO energy.

Engine Shed

Brunel’s famous Engine Shed, used previously as the Commonwealth and Empire Museum. Designed as a growth hub for SET Squared, Bristol City Council, Local Enterprise Partnership, Bristol and Bath inward investment and University of Bristol. The building will provide facilities for over 60 start-up businesses and an exhibition open to the public, ‘Ambitious City’.

Located adjacent to the ramp of Temple Meads station at Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. Detailed development of material specification, furniture design, lighting layout, vision and design of entrance with planning submission for grade one listed building.

Bristol and Exeter House

Bristol and Exeter House is owned and managed by savvy young developers TCN UK.  Nudge have been appointed to develop a feasibility study for the basement of the Grade I listed building as part of considerations for the larger master-plan of the Temple Gate site. Watch this space as further development takes place in Bristol’s Enterprise Zone!

Creative Common

Temporary Use development at what was once the car park serving Temple Meads station, described by the ITV as, “once a wasteland”.
Materplanning, visioning, below ground works infrastructure design, Local development order (planning submission).

See a full report as broadcast by ITV.