Ecological Design
Viewing human beings and buildings as integral components of the landscape, allows us to reconsider our relationship with the environment and each other. Following Permaculture principles, Gale & Snowden focuses on the science behind the architecture and our concepts through to completed designs are based on sound building physics and biology
The practice has three decades’ experience including residential, education, community, health and public building design and prides itself on its integrated and holistic approach to ecological, sustainable and healthy building design. We are collaborative by nature and work closely with all our clients to ensure they receive the best professional RIBA Chartered service available
Permaculture
We follow Permaculture principles, a creative design process based on whole system thinking, ensuring concepts through to completed designs are based on sound building physics and biology, enabling buildings to perform in use as expected. As Passivhaus-Certified Designers, we focus on a fabric-first approach to energy efficiency, providing healthy homes and buildings which are future-climate ready
Coordinating an in-house team of consultants, including experts in energy, building services, engineering and biodiversity, we ensure projects are managed to deliver cost and time efficiencies. We operate a rigorous quality control procedure based on RIBA best practice and ISO 9001
Holistic
Our Architecture is the result of an integrated design approach combining art and science to create elegant, sustainable, quality buildings that are both people and place specific
We strongly believe that a holistic approach to architecture is vital to creating excellent, naturally beautiful and successful buildings, landscapes and experiences and we work with our clients to facilitate a participative design process – a journey enjoyed together that nurtures a sense of ownership for all
“An Object seen in isolation from the whole is not the real thing” – Masanobu Fukuoka
Integrated
We believe that fully integrated design solutions deliver the most sustainable, low-energy and healthy building designs and value for money
Unifying elegant architecture with low energy principles, Building Biology, and landscape design, we create beautiful, healthy, and uplifting buildings and landscapes
Our team of Certified Passivhaus Designers and Building Biologists have more than 15 years’ experience designing to this standard in the UK. Since delivering some of the first Passivhaus developments in the country we are constantly evolving our approach to construction and detailing – refining and improving with each project
Healthy by Design & Climate Ready
By incorporating Building Biology healthy design principles from a project’s conception, buildings and landscapes can provide uplifting and life enhancing environments
By understanding how biological systems work in nature and applying them to human settlement design, these principles can be harnessed to design inspiring, productive, and low maintenance environments that are self-perpetuating and rich in biodiversity
Climate change requires a fundamental shift in the approach to Building design. We have been at the forefront in research and in practice of utilising projected climate data to future-proof buildings against the effects of climate change
Our Pedigree
As an integrated team of architects, mechanical engineers, building physicists, certified Passivhaus designers, Building Biologists and Permaculture designers since 1992 we have been exclusively designing and delivering low energy, healthy buildings, and landscapes that people love to live, study, work and play in
We are an experienced team with a proven and consistent track record offering a fully integrated ecological design service for all building sectors
We would look forward to collaborating with you
