Loyn & Co is dedicated to achieving high-quality design solutions relevant to our time that realise client aspirations and objectives.
The practice philosophy places great emphasis on working as a team, in a studio environment. We share ideas and collectively review design development throughout each stage of a project’s evolution. It is our belief that group work produces the most creative, imaginative and fulfilling design solutions.
There is no in-house style as such, but each proposal evolves through a response to the client’s brief and to the constraints and potentials of the specific site and context. Inevitably however, a consistency of language does develop and techniques and tested design devices can now be seen to re-occur in a number of the practice’s built projects. This reflects a method of approach to problem solving rather than a conscious lifting of ideas from one scheme to another. The individuality of each job drives the wide and varied output of the office, ranging from master planning, residential projects, commercial work and mixed use schemes, through to one-off dwellings and sensitive refurbishment, including work with listed structures and Scheduled ancient Monuments.
With all projects, regardless of scale or apparent complexity, we invest time in the initial stages to analyse the site and understand the context within which we are to design and to build. This ensures vital pragmatic issues are addressed from the outset. It enables us to take an informed and intelligent approach to integrating our work into the existing physical and social fabric. We believe that the nuances of a well understood site critically informs good design.
Successful contextual design, particularly in an urban location, needs equal consideration to be given to the spaces created between the buildings as to the buildings themselves.
Issues of sustainability are a particular focus to the practice, impacting on material selection, building performance and fundamental aspects of planning and layout.
Communication is a key factor in all aspects and stages of building design and construction. From the outset ideas are sketched and drawn in three dimensions to convey spatial concepts and critical details to all involved parties. Being able to explore these aspects quickly and efficiently and to respond to specific questions concerning relationships between various elements facilitates a far deeper all round understanding and perception of what is envisaged.
The combination of the use of 3D computer modelling, hand sketching, and physical model making forms an integral and essential part of Loyn & Co Architects.
Principal Architect Chris Loyn established his own practice in 1987 and went on to found Loyn & Co Architects in 1992. During its history Loyn & Co Architects has enjoyed recognition for its achievements in architecture through published projects and a number of significant awards and nominations.
The Loyn & Co team offer a wide range of experience, specialisms and skills. Several members of the practice have been on the judging panel for the prestigious RIBA awards, the Eisteddfod Gold Medal for Architecture and numerous other competitions.
A number of the team have appeared on television programmes on design where many examples of the practice’s work have been featured.
They also regularly tutor at The Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, one of the leading architecture schools in the country, teaching all years from undergraduate level through to Post Graduate Masters. In addition the practice has undertaken significant projects in partnership with the School’s Design Research Unit [DRU Wales].
This close relationship with the University gives the practice a rare and exceedingly valuable insight into the latest thoughts, philosophies and best practice in architecture and urban design.
Members of the practice regularly give lectures and talks to various public and academic groups including Royal Society of Architects in Wales [RSAW], a number of Planning Authorities, local societies and schools amongst many others.
They are also involved in the Royal Society of Architects In Wales [RSAW] Design Circle, the annual Cardiff Design Festival as well as regularly organising a number of events and exhibitions to help promote the importance of quality architecture to the wider public.
