When leading UK eco architects, Architype, grew out of their old office they decided that their new West of England office would be a model of sustainable workplace practice and contemporary design.


In 2007 Architype was awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects’ prestigious National Sustainability Award for the recently completed new office building, a resounding endorsement of their achievement. Architype was also named Building Magazine’s Sustainable Architect of the Year 2007.

Architype required a property in the West of England that could accommodate an expanding office staff of 17 (the practice also supports a 20 strong office in London).

Photographs courtesy of Leigh Simpson

The project is a revolutionary new £2.5m learning and resource centre, designed by leading sustainability architects Architype for Somerset College of Arts and Technology in Tauton, UK.

The purpose of the new Genesis Centre is to showcase a variety of techniques and materials for sustainable construction, by using them to construct the Centre and exposing them to view.