D2 Architects has an extensive portfolio of commercial projects, including offices buildings, leisure attractions, sports venues, educational facilities and more. We work with public and private sector clients to help them deliver projects from conception to final certification. Regardless of the sector, we redevelop, reconfigure and expand spaces to meet the unique needs of our client and the application.
As the flagship attraction for Welsh Mountain Zoo’s new Silk Road Development, the Snow Leopard Enclosure sought to establish a sense of awe in its approach to zoo design.
Inspired by the indigenous architecture of the snow leopard’s natural habitat, the main housing is a contemporary interpretation of a hill-style temple vernacular. Connected to the surrounding paths via raised walkways, its platforms present visitors with tailored viewing points across the enclosure and beyond to the Carneddau Mountains and Colwyn Bay.
The snow leopards’ wellbeing was at the forefront of the design. Providing them with a much larger enclosure featuring more natural topography and a rocky outcrop, it also offers nose-to-nose visitor experiences through an extensive glazed section.
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For this sensitive restoration of Chester Post Office’s external façade for The Old Post Office, we used text found in the ‘Cheshire Observer’ from 20th May 1876, to design an elegant entrance space akin to what would have been seen on the original building.
By removing the concrete ramp and creating a level threshold side entrance, we were also able to reinstate the original lightwells and windows to the basement.
Aesthetically, we were able to design the contemporary elements of the façade to complement the client’s logo and style, including backlit signage and an aluminium and timber-clad side entrance.
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A leading logistics and storage company based in North Wales needed a future-proof facility. We worked closely with the client to provide a purpose-built logistics depot comprising a 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse, transhipment building, office and ancillary accommodation.
The buildings are aligned parallel to the main road to maximise the working area for the HGVs. Our arrangement also allows flexibility for the future use of the site, while maintaining the original design features of the principal elevations.
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In the historic market town of Ruthin, we were asked to redevelop the existing rugby facilities of its highly successful club and provide an opportunity to connect with local communities.
Overlooking Ruthin Castle, we sought to enhance the location, taking influence from the spectacular fortress while directly linking to the main sports pitches.
The result is a two-storey extension clad in copper, a ground floor consisting of remodelled changing/sports facilities and local community facilities upstairs.
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We won a competition to design and develop a scheme that replaced the existing library facility in Prestatyn, North Wales.
A prominent yet compact site within Prestatyn, our design looked to take influence from the ornate brick detail of the surrounding buildings. The solution was a series of pitched roofs connected to form a new residential complex, which sits in harmony with the streetscape.
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Sport is an opportunity to connect with communities, and never more so than with our proposal at Pwllheli. We were approached to provide a modern sports facility for the local rugby team, which also incorporates a community hub to give users a sense of place.
The design seeks to provide a gateway building that takes advantage of the dramatic Welsh mountains’ scenery in a prime location for spectators to view the sports activities.
Set over two floors, the proposal is for a statement building, clad in materials representing the local vernacular, and glazing to connect with the activities and external surroundings.
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Following an initial competition entry, we were selected to design and develop a primary school in Farndon, Cheshire. With a restricted budget, the proposal sought to redefine the site as a two-form-entry primary school.
At the heart of the new development was a new classroom block extension. The restricted site had limited space for such a development, but through carefully considered design, spatial awareness and natural light, a proposal was developed that created a positive learning environment. Connected via an expandable teaching street, we designed a corridor that allowed for additional teaching spaces and enhanced social interaction through learning.
The education inspector said: ‘…the architecture and classroom spaces created, deliver an environment that enhances the children’s ability to learn. The spaces directly affect the quality of teaching spaces provided for the pupils.’
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