Merry Christmas from all at Burrell Foley Fischer LLP

A Rolls-Royce engine, the inspiration for the design of the reception desk at the new Forum for the Royal Academy of Engineering, opening in Spring 2012.

Marimeko shop opens in Cambridge

A new shop, Nord, is open in Cambridge, with a fit-out designed by Burrell Foley Fischer.  Nord is the latest of the 32 Marimekko shops in the United Kingdom and can be found in Bridge Street. 

Marimekko, established in 1951, is a Finnish textile and clothing design company renowned for its original prints and colours. The company designs and manufactures high-quality clothing, interior decoration textiles, bags and other accessories.  The design uses clean lines and neutral colours in order to give prominence to the merchandise.

Stefanie Fischer gives evidence to All Party Parliamentary Group for Young Disabled People

Stefanie Fischer today gave evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Young Disabled People as part of their Inquiry into the issues that affect young disabled people and prevent them from living fully independent lives and how this needs to be improved.  Today’s session was on the subject of leisure with a focus on cinema.

Stefanie was invited to discuss examples of good and poor practice regarding disabled access to cinemas and to give the benefit of her extensive experience of designing independent cinemas.  Also giving evidence were representatives from Trailblazers, who recently investigated this issue (see previous post), the Cinema Exhibitors Association, and the cinema operators, Cineworld, Odeon, Vue and Picturehouse.  They were shown a screening of the Lights, Camera, Access documentary, which outlines the problems disabled movie-goers face and ways to address them, which is currently being screened at film festivals throughout the UK.

BFF's remodelling and refurbishment of Broadway, Nottingham's Media Centre, in a converted former Methodist Chapel was given an ADAPT award in 1998.  Our conversion of Norwich Cinema City from a single to a three-screen proved that it is possible to make a fully accessible venue even in a Grade I Listed building.  It won the National Local Authority Building Control Built in Quality Award 2008 for the Best Project for Access or compliance with Disability Regulations. 

See the Trailblazers report on the session

Mark Foley joins Shape East Design Support Steering Group

Mark Foley has been invited to join the Shape East Design Support Steering Group.  The group consists of a group of respected built environment professionals from a range of fields including development, architecture, engineering, planning, transport, ecology, heritage, sustainability and energy efficiency, landscape architecture, urban design, public art and leisure.

Shape East is a Centre for Design Excellence and Sustainable Innovation based in the East of England and a part of the Architecture Centre Network. They seek to provide a positive influence on the quality of urban design and the built environment through supporting the professional community, engaging the public and educating the future generations.  They promote sustainable and high quality living, providing people with both the knowledge and passion to participate more actively in changes and developments in their local and global built environments. 

Mark brings to the panel his experience of undertaking studies to explore cultural regeneration working closely with arts business and management consultants to develop strategies and establishing the feasibility of particular cultural projects and his specialist expertise in the design of theatres, auditoria spaces and buildings for the performing arts.

Visit the Shape East Website