PROFILE 

  PRACTICE 

INSPIRE. CREATE. ENJOY... 
 
BGA Architects are an RIBA Award Winning architectural practice based in Newtownards, County Down. The practice was established in 1984 by Brian Grahame and is now led by Managing Director, John Lavery. John and the team have considerable experience in designing various building types however most of our workload is in the residential sector. We strive to provide a professional and friendly service from inception to completion. 
 
Chartered with the RIBA and registered with ARB, we are currently designing projects throughout Northern Ireland. We have a highly respected reputation locally and are expanding geographically with recent commissions in both London and Glasgow. 
 
Our growing residential portfolio has been recognised in the last three RSUA Design Awards, with us winning awards in both the Residential and Regeneration Categories. In 2012, we were shortlisted for 'Design and Innovation' in the RICS Awards, and in 2015 we were also shortlisted for Architectural Firm of the Year. In the same year, John reached the final three for 'Designer of the Year' in the Irish Construction Industry Awards. 
 
We believe in architecture for all, and as such we typically deal with budgets ranging from £25K to £1Million, with the bulk of our contracts falling between £150-500K. Whether the client envisages a traditional or contemporary style and whether the project is a renovation or a new build, we apply the same fundamental approach ensuring that the journey from the design process through to the construction phase is thoroughly enjoyable. 
 
As members of the RSUA Sustainability Committee we have completed zero carbon, low carbon and passive standard houses. We continue to promote environmentally responsible design solutions for each and every design. 
 
Located in a rural market town, we have particular expertise for Planning Policies in the countryside. 

TEAM 

JOHN LAVERY 
Managing Director 
 
CLAIRE LAVERY 
Director 
 
MATTHEW BEERS 
Technician 
 
RYAN McCLEAN 
Technician 
 

AWARDS 

ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE OF THE YEAR 2018 

BGA Architects win Architectural Practice of the Year (Residental) at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018. 
 
The successes of a superb year in the property industry were celebrated on Friday 16 November 2018 at the annual Belfast Telegraph Property Awards in partnership with Electric Ireland. Outstanding achievements were toasted at a fantastic awards ceremony in Belfast's Crowne Plaza Hotel. 
 
Local estate agents, architects, interior designers, builders and fit-out specialists were among the many industry professionals whose stellar work came under the spotlight. Hundreds of guests were entertained by Northern Ireland's lovable housewife May McFettridge, aka John Linehan, before tucking into a sumptuous two-course lunch.  
 
The main event, hosted by Pamela Ballantine, saw many local companies shortlisted for excellence in each of the hotly-contested categories. A record number of entries made this year's job especially challenging for the judging panel. 

GLOBAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION & DESIGN 2018 

BGA Architects win the Corporate LiveWire Global Award 2018 for Excellence in Design & Innovation.  
 
The judging panel commended: the strength and depth of BGA Architects overall portfolio, whilst highlighting their conscious effort to creating more sustainable and ecological developments. 
 
The Corporate LiveWire Architecture Awards 2018 is a celebration of construction, design, planning and completed work, recognising firms and individuals who have shown a commitment to their sustainable sector. Categories including building and interior designers, landscaping companies, refurbishment, urban project managers, product design services and law firms were all eligible. 
 
As part of this awards programme, the Corporate LiveWire judging panel has highlighted some of the most ambitious heritage and redevelopment projects around the world. 
 
Over the past year 12,115 nominations were received by the awards team at Corporate LiveWire from 22 countries around the world. Winners were chosen for industry recognition, innovation, design, local knowledge and service excellence. 
 
Awards Director, Jake Powers, commented: “We were delighted with the volume of nominations received for this year’s Architecture awards, the winners guide presents the highest achievers in the industry and we are keen to see how they will continue to demonstrate their success in the future”. 
 
Click HERE for award details. 

ULSTER TATLER HOUSE OF THE YEAR 2018 

Maison Wedge is amongst any famous faces as it wins the prestigious Ulster Tatler House of the Year 2018 at Belfast's Iconic City Hall. 
 
Other winners on the night included World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea, who was named Sportsperson of the Year in a hotly-contested category that also included boxing champion Carl Frampton, gymnast Rhys McClenaghan and Ulster and Ireland rugby aces Rory Best and Jacob Stockdale. 
 
Ulster, Ireland and British Lions legend Tommy Bowe was awarded The Bank of Ireland Special Merit Award on the night for his services to rugby for both Ulster and Ireland. This award has been previously awarded to former Ulster Rugby coach Brian McLaughlin, the Northern Ireland football team and Ulster Rugby legend Ruan Piennaar. 
 
The Celebrity of the Year award was won by much-loved local star Pamela Ballantine who was also the glamourous host on the night. The Lifetime Achievement accolade was awarded to Ciaran Hinds. The Game Of Thrones star flew into town to pick up the award which in the past has been won by a host of local legends including Dame Mary Peters, James Galway, Brian Friel, Phil Coulter, Gloria Hunniford, Michael Longley, Gerry Armstrong, Barry McGuigan, Terri Hooley and Marie Jones. 
 
Hinds is no stranger to being recognised for his talents in drama, having picked up The Theatre World New York Award for best debut in Closer in 1999, as well as picking up Best Actor at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009. In 2014 he also returned to Queens University to pick up an honorary degree for his services to film and drama. 
 
Click HERE for project details. 

RIBA REGIONAL AWARD 2018 

BGA Architects win an RIBA Northern Ireland Award 2018 for Maison Wedge. 
 
Judges Citation: When presented with a location as magnificent as this, the architect has worked with light, form, material and orientation to make spaces that are a delight to occupy. The house could just as easily be read as a museum or a gallery for it is the sculptural forms, the experience of the space and the connections with the outside that define this project. 
 
Click HERE for project details. 

RSUA DESIGN AWARD 2018 

BGA Architects win an RSUA Design Award 2018 for Maison Wedge. 
 
Judges Citation: One is struck by the two elegant forms that make the building. The desire for a large house in the countryside is a common theme but here the architect has dispensed with the standard approach of the one room deep vernacular section and instead modelled parabolic roof forms that echo the rolling landscape of County Down. 
 
Click HERE for project details. 
 
RSUA DESIGN AWARDS 2016 
Beechvale Road Social Housing 
 
Judges Citation: This project illustrates the possibilities of urban regeneration through careful planning in a previously uncared for environment 
 
BGA Architects win an RSUA Design Award 2016 (Commendation) for Beechvale Road in the Residential Category. 
 
Click HERE for project details. 
 
RSUA DESIGN AWARDS 2014 
Department for Social Development Regeneration Award 
 
Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 
 
Judges Citation: This project illustrates the possibilities of urban regeneration through careful planning in a previously uncared for environment 
 
BGA win top prize for Urban Regeneration at this year's award ceremony in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. Past winners of the award include the Shankill Well Being Centre and Victoria Square, Shopping Complex, Belfast. 
 
Click HERE for project details 
 
RICS AWARDS 2012 
Largymore Primary School, Lisburn was 1 of 6 projects throughout Northern Ireland shortlisted in the category of Design and Innovation. This award recognises the use of outstanding design and innovation in creating a successful 
 
project across a wide range of criteria. 
 
Click HERE for project details 
 
RSUA DESIGN AWARDS 2012  
BGA Architects win an RSUA Design Award 2012 (Commendation) for 007 House in the Residential Category. 
 
Judges Citation for the Commendation Award: A compact and eye-catching response to a very steep site of stunning natural beauty. It is solidly anchored in it's landscape while increasing opening up to the view as one moves up. 
 
Click HERE for project details. 

DATA PROTECTION 

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679 is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy for all individuals within the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). It also addresses the export of personal data outside the EU and EEA areas. The GDPR aims primarily to give control to citizens and residents over their personal data and to simplify the regulatory environment for international business by unifying the regulation within the EU.[1] 

QUALITY MANAGEMENT ISO9001:2015 

Click HERE for details of our Quality Management System Policy. 
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