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DESIGN PROFILE |
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| Burrows
Cave International
November 2008 |
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Burrows
Cave International was founded on the belief that a commitment
to good design is compatible with the underlying economic reality
of commercial development. The company has adopted a holistic
approach, working in a discipline in which architecture is only
one part of a commercial development: the other aspects being
masterplanning, graphics, special effects, interiors and, not
least important, people.
BCi’s combined understanding of the smallest human experience
and the large-scale value generators has been tested on more
than half a million square metres of development, where it has
created environments that have exceeded the expectations of
both user and client. |
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“The
first half of the year has typically seen a slowdown in the
UK markets,” says Director and Co-Founder, John Burrows.
“However, our broad spread of work across the regions
has kept the company buoyant. In turn, our staffing levels
and design capabilities have only been slightly affected in
the sense that more of our work revolves around pre-planning,
masterplanning and conceptual design.
“It seems to me that most developers and investors are
preparing their sites for strong future developments rather
than committing to construction in this uncertain market.
Obviously there are exceptions but, generally, the market
is more cautious than a
year ago.”
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BCi’s
experience and portfolio keeps it active in the CIS and Baltic
States and the company is currently working in Romania, Hungary,
Montenegro, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. In addition,
it has now opened up the Middle East and North African markets
and is now involved in projects in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria
and the UAE. The company has also been
commissioned to collaborate on the masterplan of a major resort
hotel, casino and nature park in south Cambodia, BCi’s
first commission in this part of the world.
“Obviously we still have a strong presence in the UK,”
says Burrows, “working on projects in many secondary towns
such as Salisbury, Ipswich, Romford, Woking, Wisbech and New
Brighton, as well as most of the major centres.”
Since RLI last spoke with Burrows in 2007, the company has opened
three major casinos for London Clubs International (LCI). At
the end of last year it opened The Empire in Leicester Square
which has proved to be a runaway success for both the existing
gaming clientele and the ‘new market’, the young
professionals and club scene. Earlier this year it opened Alea
at Heron Quays in Glasgow. BCi was responsible for both the
overall Heron development and the standalone casino. |
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In
September it opened the Alea Casino in Leeds; designed and built
for LCI, this was the fifth of a series of major new facilities
following on from the locations in Glasgow and Leicester Square,
as well as Nottingham and Manchester opened the year before.
As mentioned earlier, much of BCi’s work involves masterplanning
and Burrows is particularly proud of the company’s work
for the Montenegro Tourism Board, involving the redevelopment
of a 13km stretch of seafront land. Other very large masterplans
have been created for Brasov in Romania, Riga in Latvia and
Salisbury District Council here in the UK. |
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“We
are currently working on a major regeneration project for Casino
du Liban on the outskirts of Beirut,” continues Burrows,
“whilst our retail and shopping centre work is still strong
in Romania, not only in Bucharest but in Cluj Napoca, Brasov,
Constanta, Bacau and other major locations. Akademia Centre
in Cluj is about to commence on site; this is the project for
which we won the design award at last year’s MAPIC.”
For the full article
please see the RLI November 2008 issue
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| DESIGN PROFILE
ARCHIVE |
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Benoy
- October 08
Benoy - June 08
Kinnersley
Kent Design - Feb 08
Concept
I - Dec 07
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Publications Ltd Suite 15, Hardmans Business Centre, New
Hall Hey Road, Rawtenstall BB4 6HH UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1706 212200 Fax: +44 (0) 1706 211782 Email:
info@rli.uk.com
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