News

SW LABC BUILDING EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2013
We are proud to announce that one of our smallest projects is amongst the finalist of the South West Regional LABC Building Excellence Awards. This extension project was nominated by South Somerset District Council Building Control Officers and is in the “Best Domestic Extension or Alteration” category. The nomination reflects the quality and detail of information submitted.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SOMERSET FILM
O2i Design Ltd are thrilled that their work with Somerset Film and the Engine Room has secured a £250,000 grant from Arts Council England towards the first phase of upgrading the Engine Room community media centre at 50/52 High Street, Bridgwater. Somerset Film takes its place among cultural organisations across the UK to benefit from this round of capital funding. For more information and our proposal, take a look at Arts Council England Grant

HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
We thank all our customers for the many exciting and challenging projects that we have worked on together over the last year. We are proud that many of our projects in 2012 were repeat business for existing customers, both private and commercial.
We wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2013.

GOLD IN THE GREEN APPLE 2012 AWARDS - Architectural Heritage - 25th June 2012
The Green Apple Awards are at the vanguard of environmental and sustainable best practice for the built environment and recognise projects that have made a positive impact in architecture, landscape architecture, preserving our national heritage, urban design and civil engineering. O2i Design was selected for one of their recent commercial, sustainable project and was thrilled to win Gold in this national Award. Green Apple Award

SW LABC BUILDING EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2012 - June 2012
O2i Design Ltd thrilled to find themselves amongst the finalists for 4 Awards. Nominated by South Somerset Building Control, O2i Design Consultants were finalists in the categories of Best individual dwelling, Best small commercial, Best Sustainable and Best Conversion. Building Control Manager of South Somerset District Council David Durrant commented “SSDC building control was delighted to nominate 3 projects designed by Duncan Pyle of O2i Design Ltd for the LABC Building Excellence Award in the South West region. A large number of projects were entered for the awards representing the very best projects throughout the south west region and so to be among the finalists was an excellent achievement.”

O2I DESIGN FINALIST IN THE SOUTH WEST BUILT ENVIRONMENT AWARDS 2012 - 15th June 2012
O2i Design Consultants were delighted that one of their projects was shortlisted in the South West Built Environment Awards 2012 for the Sustainability Category. A full list of short-listed entries can be found on the CESW website

GOLD PAYROLL GIVING QUALITY MARK AWARD 2012- April 2012
O2i Design are proud to receive the Gold Award Certificate from Payroll Giving. This certificate is a symbol of excellence, reflecting the efforts that O2i Design has made to foster a culture of committed giving in the workplace. We have received this award in 2009, 2010 and 2012.

O2I DESIGN NOMINATED & FINALIST IN THE SUSTAIN' AWARDS - Biodiversity - March 2012
We are delighted to have been amongst the 3 finalists in the prestigious Sustain' Awards for Sustainability, Business & the Built Environment. Our local Somerset project was nominated for its sustainability and biodiversity credentials. Judges felt this project was "...clearly a diligent, carefully conceived and executed low-impact development – we were particularly impressed with the siting of the reed-bed system and how its installation was always mindful of local habitats and biodiversity. Importantly, the opportunity was also taken to reintroduce native plants and trees to the site boundaries – something less considered projects would often overlook. A sincere ‘well-done’ to all involved." Steve Oxley, Editor of Sustain' added “Year on year we have seen the quality of entries to the Sustain’ Magazine Awards increase. There were some extremely tough decisions for the judges to make and to even get shortlisted as a finalist is something of which all should be extremely proud. Despite these challenging economic times, the finalists for this year’s Awards have quite clearly not been discouraged from their commitment to pushing the boundaries of invention or seeking enterprising means to achieve sustainable excellence. Indeed, many of these projects present inspiring and influential solutions to the way we may address our built environment in the future and I would like to congratulate each and every one of them on their success.” We are also extremely proud of Geoff Pyle who won the Sustain' International project of the year for his design of the new Royal University of Phnom Penh buildings in Cambodia. The project was funded by a grant from the World Bank as part of the Cambodia Education Sector Support Project. Completed in 2011, this project has just won "Best International Project" in the much acclaimed Sustain Awards 2012. The Sustain Awards celebrate the high hopes and hard work, commitment and creativity, radicalism and rigour of all those achieving distinction and success in the field of Sustainability.

HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING - a two storey straw bale home - February 2012
Now out - Great article on one of our clients' self build home - a 2 storey straw bale home featured in the March 2012 issue of Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine. : Homebuilding & Renovating March 2012

BRITISH BUILDER AND DEVELOPER - Sustainable Building Supplement - January 2012 This Sustainable Building Supplement in the January 2012 issue of British Builder and Developer takes a look at our Somerset project of CfSH (Level 5) homes in Somerset : British Builder and Developer January 2012

HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING AWARDS 2011 - READERS CHOICE ECO HOME WINNER 2011 - November 2011
O2i Design gained the Planning Application Approval for Daisy Farm. This self build eco home is a remarkable achievement by owners Anthony and Andrew and a real testament of their drive and vision. Using the stone of the house they replaced and incorporating many sustainable design features, the owners of this project have achieved a home that perfectly represents their interest in low-impact living. This wonderful two-storey strawbale, self-build house, was amongst the Finalists of the HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING AWARDS 2011 (self build category), and in November 2011 was declared the Eco Home Winner in the competition (as voted for by readers). For more information: Homebuilding and Renovating Awards and Homebuilding and Renovating Winners

SOMERSET BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2011 - WINNER October 2011
O2i Design is very proud to have won the much coveted "Business of the Year" award in the Somerset Business Awards. We are thrilled to be recognised as a “Business of the Year” (2-5 employee). The Awards are organised by Somerset Chamber of Commerce and recognise and promote the county’s talented entrepreneurs. Somerset Business Awards.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH October 2011
The Sunday Telegraph's Environmental Property Journalist of the Year, Sarah Lonsdale, took a look at the ownership of eco homes, including one of our eco project. Some key lessons with complex technology, but "It is light, airy and pleasant to live in" says the owner "My only worry is that we'll never be able to live anywhere else as we have got used to such high standards." For more information: Sunday Telegraph 9.10.11

THIS IS SOMERSET October 2011
O2i Design is amongst the final 3 in Somerset Business Awards for Business of the Year (2-5 employees category). For more information: This is Somerset 13.10.11

SOMERSET BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2011- FINALIST
O2i Design was very proud to be shortlisted in the Somerset Business Awards for Environmental Responsibility and Business of the Year category. We are thrilled to be amongst the three finalists for “Business of the Year” (2-5 employee). The Awards are organised by Somerset Chamber of Commerce and recognise and promote the county’s talented entrepreneurs. Somerset Business Awards. The results will be announced on 21st October.

SOMERSET ART WORKS 17 SEPTEMBER - 2 October 2011
We are delighted that one of our most recent projects will be used as a wonderful exhibition space and pop-up shop for some of this year's Somerset Art Works Somerset Art Works PROJECT GRAFITTI A young team of graffiti artists have just been given a blank canvas onto which to work. Under the watchful eye, and creative guidance of our client, this blank domestic interior has been transformed into a (graffiti) work of art. The artists were George Mayou (Art Director), George Higham, Greg Haynes and Owen Wolfe.

FINALIST FOR “BEST SUSTAINABLE PROJECT" FOR SOUTH WEST REGION IN LABC BUILDING EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2011
The shortlist of nominations for the Annual Regional LABC awards has been announced, and O2i Design Ltd are delighted that one of their projects made the final cut. The shortlist can be viewed in full here, and more information about the 2011 Awards can be viewed on the LABC website.

NEW WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA At the end of April 2011, O2i Design launched a new website, together with our first foray into social media. You can follow us on Twitter @o2idesign.

GREENER STILL... For the last few years all our electricity requirements have been provided entirely from renewable sources.

LOW CARBON HOMES POST OCCUPANCY STUDY As a key advisor to the Technology Strategy Board's "Building Performance evaluation Programme" and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Carbon Challenge Exemplar Programme, Dr Fionn Stevenson has been developing guidance on domestic post occupancy evaluation. Dr Stevenson interviewed O2i Design regarding our input on a housing development to Code for Sustainable Homes, level 5, in Somerset. The findings of this research are expected late 2011.

WINNERS OF THE BEST SUSTAINABLE PROJECT IN LABC BUILDING EXCELLENCE 2010 SEDGEMOOR, TAUNTON DEANE & WEST SOMERSET We are very proud that one of our projects won the LABC Building Excellence Awards "Best Sustainable Project" for Sedgemoor, Taunton Deane and West Somerset. “The judges felt that the project by O2i Design Consultants was unique in its sustainability credentials. The development of five dwellings on a confined site successfully achieved Level 5 under The Code for Sustainable Homes. The project incorporates the latest technology and demonstrates that with innovative design high level carbon reduction can be achieved.” The project has now been put forward to the South West Regional nominations. A decision will be reached in late spring this year.

EuroACE 2011 The European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings, is developing a "Smart Energy Buildings Campaign" and has requested a case study on one of our sustainable projects for their campaign in 2011.

PAYROLL GIVING GOLD AWARD 2010 & 2009. We are very proud to be recipients of the "Payroll Giving Gold" Award 2010 from the Institute of Fundraising and HM Government. We were also awarded a 'Payroll Giving Gold" Award 2009 in celebration of O2i Design’s decision to foster a culture of philanthropy and committed giving in our workplace, by making Payroll Giving available to our employees.

CODE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMES (CSH) - Case Studies. One of O2i Design‘s project featured as one of four national case studies in: The Code for Sustainable Homes- Case Studies. This project was also awarded ‘Best Housing Scheme’ by Regen South West for the development of five sustainable homes built to CSH Code Level 5. Code for Sustainable Homes

MENDIP OPEN GREEN HOMES Mendip Environment showcased 'green' homes built sustainably or ‘eco-renovated’. After protracted negotiations O2i Design gained Planning Permission for a straw bale and timber framed house featured in this event. SMARTER TRAVEL CHARTER 2010

O2i Design Consultants were awarded the "Smarter Travel Charter", an initiative to reduce congestion and pollution by helping to explore sustainable transport options.