Ian aims to build a brighter future
New architecture practice will look to enhance post-Covid world
A NEW architecture practice has been founded and will be based in Newbury.
iB Architects Ltd has been created by Ian Blake, formerly a director at the Hampshire practice Morse Webb.
It sees him return to Newbury to benefit from the interest and future potential that he believes the town, and many others like it, have to offer a post-Covid world.
While many of Mr Blake’s projects are located in the wider region and around the country, he says that “the global pandemic has been a great leveller and changed the world, challenging previously accepted norms of a working life for everyone, me included”.
He said: “It has proved that technology can keep the world connected and humanity can continue to function – to some lesser or greater extent.
“We can literally be wherever we want to be, location is no longer a constraint and I can see many smaller and well-connected satellite market towns adapting to these new ways of working to offer a better quality of life to those who will or have become flexible commuters.”
Mr Blake believes this will change the dynamic of many smaller towns, which will evolve to cater for this new demand.
And, as well as basing the ethos of his new business at the heart of this (to reach across the UK), he hopes to contribute to the changes locally, providing architectural and design services to those that need assistance adapting to a post-pandemic world.
Mr Blake’s experience covers a wide variety of sectors, working alongside developers, promoters, landowners, charities, community groups and homeowners to create projects with commercial benefit that are designed to resolve property and environmental challenges, while being imaginative and socially responsible.
He also sits on the new West Berkshire Property Group, having been involved in the planning group of what was the Newbury West Berkshire Economic Development Company, and a member of West Berkshire Council’s Development Industry Forum (DIF)
For further details about the practice see the website www.ibarchitects.co.uk