Adaptive Architects Pty Ltd
Adaptive Architects Pty Ltd was established by James Nicholson and operates from the Central West of NSW serving regional areas in NSW along with projects in the Sydney Metropolitan area. We provide contemporary design and documentation of residential and commercial buildings, with a particular experience in difficult sites, and with concern for the environment. Designs are prepared with three dimensional modelling. We also have extensive experience in the field of heritage, in the conservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings and in designing new work adjacent to or on historic sites. We have prepared a large number of conservation management plans and large heritage studies.
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Projects:
Ronald McDonald House
Orange, NSW, pend
James Nicholson documented this project while working at John Blackwood Architects in 2011. The design belongs to John Blackwood, but James developed the elevations, detailing and spatial modelling. The building was to be located within a State Heritage Register site, within a landscaped recreation zone that featured exotic trees in a park like context. The materials and elevations are inspired by the colours and variations of the landscape, in order to fit in with the context. The project features a common living space for 20 families, along with individual accommodation units for each and administration and storage areas. The project will commence in early 2012.
War Memorial Building – UnitingCare CF&YP
Oatlands, 2010
Unbuilt Project – James Nicholson was project architect while working at Paul Davies Pty Ltd. The site of the former Burnside Orphanage is a heritage listed site that retains six out of around thirty original eclectic designs that formed the orphanage in the early twentieth century. UnitingCare CF&YP still operate from the site, but it is now the central administration facility for the large community organisation. The additions to the War Memorial building were a large part of consolidating the community organisations operations on one site. Connecting to a heritage building, the new wing was a large building that provided office space, meeting rooms, accessibility and services that, if introduced to the existing buildings would have seriously impacted the heritage values of the site. The design is deliberately contemporary, utilising zinc cladding, terracade panels, blackwood cladding and aluminium framed windows. While largely documented, the building did not proceed due to the GFC.
Denmark Cottage additions
Ashfield, NSW, 2011
James Nicholson was project architect for this project while working at Paul Davies Pty Ltd. Denmark Cottage is an 1870s building that was so enclosed by later additions that it was never identified as an item. A proposal to demolish the building for four units was very nearly approved before it was discovered. Understandably the owner took it to court and it was referred to Paul Davies. A new compromise solution was accepted whereby we would design the site to accommodate the four new dwellings, while keeping the original cottage. Naturally this was incredibly tight but the design solution has resolved the conflicting issues well. The building was constructed without the architect, but has largely kept to the design as documented. A very detailed schedule of works for the cottage has returned it to its heritage character. The attached apartments sit well on the streetscape and in context with the older building.
