ARC Architecture: The Dorset Architectural Specialists with a Difference

With a heritage tracking back over 40 years, Anders Roberts Cheer has grown into a prolific architectural practice. Offering an exceptionally wide range of services, from large-scale residential projects, to personalised home designs and conversions; ARC’s breadth of prestige is unprecedented.

Also at their core is an inspired commitment to design, commercial viability and planning constraints, which has built them an enviable reputation for securing approvals and optimising the development of any site or building.

As they took time out of their busy schedule, we spoke to the two owners of the innovative firm – James Roberts and Bradley Cheer – about inspiration, their unique design process and how they’ve become one of Dorset’s leading architectural firms.

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How has ARC grown in the last decade?
James: ARC Architecture has organically progressed from 25 years ago. Things have developed significantly over the past 10 years. In particular, we’ve increased the amount of work we do with local property developers.

Bradley: As a practice we are quite unusual in that most local architectural practices offer just one type of residential development and house style, whereas we have specialisms in a wide variety of areas. We work on everything from large scale housing layouts for the likes of Barrettes and Hobourne, to one-off 20,000 square foot houses for private clients, so there is a wide spectrum of residential projects.

What is key to your ethos at ARC?
Bradley: We pride ourselves on being the most prolific and the most commercially aware architectural practice in the district. When we are given a site to appraise, we will not only develop an aesthetically pleasing design that stand the maximum chance of gaining planning approval, but we’ll also extract the most possible value from the site for our developer clients. We are also proud to have gained more planning consents than any other individual practice in Dorset during 2016.

Where does your passion for architecture come from?
Bradley: As long as I can remember – ever since I was a child – I’ve wanted to design buildings.

James: My earliest recollection was sat at a drawing board at the age of 3. I knew architecture was always what I would end up doing. My father was an architect, so that’s really where it came from.

What’s your creative process when working on a project?
James: The Internet is an incredible source, giving immediate access to millions of different approaches. We always try to apply a bespoke approach and pride ourselves on not retaining a house style. Many architectural practices want to make it clear that the structure that they have designed is theirs, but we are rather more reactionary to the context of the area and the client’s brief.

Bradley: We take the client’s brief and work hard to ensure the very best for each individual project. For example, if a client is seeking a Georgian style of development, we will research that style thoroughly so that we’re able to develop a truly authentic project. In the conception process, it’s often helpful if clients bring in images of what they like. These might be interior details such as staircases and doors they like, as well as structural preferences. We then take this inspiration and put it together to create a cohesive final project.

Is there a favourite project to date?
James: Our favourite project is the next one. We’re constantly looking to evolve and become better at what we do.

ARC Architecture is a name we hear often, with your business referenced frequently by other architects and developers in the area. What standards have you set to enable this level of reputation and confidence?
James: We certainly follow rigid protocols that are friendly to residential property developers. We take on board any initial problems and iron them out at the design stage, which residential developers really appreciate.

Bradley: We also have a strong commercial awareness. We pay realistic attention to building costs and the market, so that we are able to maximise the profit potential for our clients. We design our properties not only to look attractive, but also to ensure that they are cost effective to construct without watering down the design during the construction phase.

How is your team set up to carry this out?
Bradley: We split the team into three: building regulations, planning and drawing and our admin unit.

James: Within the team, we are dedicated to submitting and managing planning applications carefully. We work closely with local authorities to make sure our proposals are running smoothly. We’re especially reactive to any changes that crop up along the way. Even if these changes are major, we make sure we deal with them in the application stage so that plans are approved effectively. Because of the rigorous steps we take, the vast majority of our proposals are accepted first time.

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Contact us on:
t. 01202 479919
e. enquiries@andersrobertscheer.co.uk
w. www.andersrobertscheer.co.uk
a. ARC Architecture Ltd, Chapel Studios, 14 Purewell, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1EP

Words by Ben Dickenson Bampton

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