Designing Spaces That Bring Communities Together
Designing Spaces That Bring Communities Together There is an old assumption in planning and development that if enough houses are built, community will naturally follow. Experience suggests otherwise. Communities rarely emerge simply because people happen to live in the same place. They grow through repeated encounters, shared experiences and the gradual development of trust. They […]
The Long Work of Funding Church Projects
The Long Work of Funding Church Projects As part of marking 25 years of practice, we have been revisiting a number of projects and conversations that have shaped our work over time. Recently, we spoke with Canon Annette Reed, who has recently retired after many years in parish ministry, during which she led a series […]
A Church for a New Town – Northstowe Cambridgeshire
New communities do not emerge fully formed. Homes, schools and roads may appear quickly, but the deeper fabric of community life — the places where people gather, support one another and build relationships — takes longer to grow. Northstowe, a new town just north of Cambridge, is now entering that stage of its development. Archangel […]
Café Fifty Five: a year of welcome
Transforming a derelict pavilion into a community café On the edge of Manor Park, a long-disused sports pavilion stood empty. Pitches were quiet, shutters closed. In 2023 St Luke’s Church began work to reimagine that building as Café Fifty Five: a place of welcome and community, help and hope for all. After planning hurdles, funding challenges, […]
Small Changes, Big Impact: Designing for Dignity and Inclusion
At Archangel Architects, we often say it’s not the biggest projects that make the biggest difference.Sometimes it’s a single room. A hoist. A bench.A door wide enough for everyone. As architects based in Cambridge, we believe inclusive design should be a core part of how we shape everyday spaces — from parks and public toilets […]
Reordering a Grade I Listed Church: Community-Led Church Renovation in Bassingbourn, South Cambridgeshire
Reordering a Grade I Listed Church: Community-Led Church Renovation in Bassingbourn, South Cambridgeshire At Archangel Architects, we specialise in church reordering projects that give historic buildings new purpose while honouring their sacred past. One such project is underway at St Peter & St Paul Church in Bassingbourn, where a Grade I listed building is being […]
Archangel Architects: Part of the Winning Team at the CFCI LEGO Competition!
Another incredible year of creative ingenuity and playful competition at the Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry (CFCI) annual LEGO competition! The event showcased innovative builds inspired by this year’s exciting theme: ‘Cambridge bids for the Olympics.’ We are thrilled to announce that Stantec/Archangel Architects took home the top prize! The Winning Design Our multidisciplinary […]
Joy’s Corner: A Home and a Fresh Start
There’s a special kind of joy in seeing a project come to life. Recently, we gathered at Joy’s Corner, Baldock Way, to celebrate the completion of a transformative initiative by It Takes a City (Cambridge)—four innovative SPACE micro-homes, now ready to welcome their first residents. It Takes a City is a Cambridge-based partnership tackling homelessness […]