MICHAEL ARGENT
MA RIBA AADip
Michael trained at a particularly stimulating time when many of the best minds and talents could find time to involve themselves in education.
Degree: Cambridge University
Teaching staff Sir Lesley Martin, Colin St John Wilson, Peter Eisenman, Lionel March, and Christopher Alexander.
Diploma: The Architectural Association
Teaching staff:: Archigram team, Fred Scott, Cedric Price, Paul Oliver - on occasion Richard Rogers Norman Foster and Nick Grimshaw.
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Career:
London
Assisted on the Foundling Estate - now Brunswick Centre - (Patrick Hodgkinson) and the Barbican Development (Chamberlin, Powell and Bonn) both seminal projects. Full involvement in mixed development at Westbourne Grove and interesting sports centres at Harpenden and Ashford (Rice Roberts).
Wales
Dyfed County Architects Dept then set up Argent Architects with brother John Argent MA(Cantab) Dip Arch RIBA. A commission for Tenby Surgery – for a 5 doctor surgery in Tenby got the practice under way.
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Designs: Bigyn School, Langton Community Hall. With brother John: Tenby Surgery and Tenby Museum Art Gallery. Award winning Tenby Lifeboat House featured on Kevin McCloud's s Channel 4 Grand Designs programme , various houses - The Matchbox, near Pembroke has recently received an LABC award. A number of interesting houses have followed, including Glenwood in Pleasant Valley, Mill Park in St Florence, Montrose, The Retreat and Woodlands in Penally.
ADAM CHANDLER MCIAT
Adam joined Argent Architects as a young student and has been an integral part of AA development ever since - no better training and experience (over 20 years! - dealing with all phases of design and construction process from project inception to completion. He was made a director in 2019.
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Adam is qualified Chartered Architectural Technologist, BREEAM code assessor and plays key roles in detailed design, site design coordination and project site management. He has taken a large part in award winning residential developments and a range of other work (hotels, apartments, health, leisure).
OWEN ARGENT BA(Hons)RIBA
RIBA Chartered member. Violinist & guitarist, writer, arranger, producer & performer
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Just joined. Has been a key member of Delta Architects in London for 18 years –
Experienced in leading the design & delivery of buildings in the commercial, residential, and domestic sectors, and across a range of scales from high rise apartment buildings to office buildings and individual houses.
Argent Architects is a West Wales based practice working on a range of design projects in the United Kingdom. We work closely with clients to interpret aspirations and then achieve life enhancing buildings that complement their locations. Those awkward permissions are gained through intelligent design that is EXPLAINABLE (on sensitive sites in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and beyond (Ceredigion, Carmarthen and further afield in the UK). Extract the Max page on this website gives an idea of the design process.
AA are on a roll with several interesting houses projects in scenic locations. Also hotel and care home projects. Community and heritage designs include Tenby Surgery and an art gallery addition to Tenby Museum. Our ex RNLI Tenby Lifeboat House in Pembrokeshire was one of the most interesting projects in Wales at the time and featured on Kevin McCloud’s Channel 4 Grand Designs programme - combining modern contemporary design with conservation and enhancement of local heritage
We are particularly interested in (though not wedded to) post and beam technology for its sustainability and economy. The timber structure, when clearly expressed sets rhythm and human scale. It is also flexible and offers almost endless spacial possibilities and the means of exploiting awkward sites without massive retaining walls,
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Conservation: in order to avoid dereliction and decay (which affects so much of our built heritage), we favour creative conservation that exploits any opportunity for re-use or new-use. History and character allied with modern purpose incentivises preservation - adding interest and meaning - and therefore VITALITY. Our conservation philosophy favours restoration and repair using appropriate technology, but, where significant interventions are required it is essential that they should be clearly articulated and of their time, so that the history is clear and the integrity of the original structure preserved.
High standards have been rewarded with an RICS award for Tenby Lifeboat House, also shortlisted for the RIBA Conservation Award; LABC award for The Matchbox, Pembroke; Prince of Wales Award for the restoration of Carew Tidal Mill and a Civic Trust Award for the construction of Treginnis Farm School near St Davids (with Niall Phillips Architects).
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​REVIEWS
Tim O'Donovan (Grand Designs Tenby Lifeboat House client}
Great recognition and appreciation are due to Michael Argent and Adam Chandler of ARGENT ARCHITECTS, who with great imagination, sensitivity and ingenuity interpreted our wishes to create a home one could only dream of. They put their heart and soul into this project to present us with an exceptional home while retaining the uniqueness of the Lifeboat Station. Michael and Adam went well beyond the call of duty with great skill and innovation, and we were extremely fortunate to have had them as part of our team. We will forever be indebted to them as, without them as we could well have ended up with a very tall bungalow on stilts. The time, effort and dedication devoted to this project by both Michael and Adam knew no bounds and, as Michael once said ‘’It is a labour of love’’. The Argent Architects practice is truly one of a kind.
We highly recommend Argent Architects to anyone looking for the best in design and a team with great expertise, vision and creativity. We moved in over 8 years ago and are still very impressed with the great work of Argent Architects. We are currently working with Owen Argent on a new project and can confirm that the high standards continue!
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Richard Wingfield: Professionalism, Responsiveness, Value: Michael, Owen and Adam have an excellent practice that combines vision, design flair, and a deep level of technical ability.
They are not afraid to constantly challenge the status quo to achieve the appropriate solution for the context set by the client. Their drive to achieve the efficient use of space and the highest environmental standards possible has been great to experience.
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Paul Watson Watson Investment Properties Ltd.
We have used the services of Argent Architects on a number of occasions for various building projects. The service we have always received has been first class. What I find essential is that when I need an answer or a solution, it is always available from them. You don't have to fight through layers staff to speak to the right person, instead it is simple to speak directly with the person you want to and solve any issue. I would not hesitate to recommend Argent's to anyone wishing to employ an excellent firm of Architects with that personal service that is so important.
Anna Felton (Leisure facilities project)
Argent Architects were brilliant to work with. I would highly recommend them as a creative, skilled and friendly architect studio.
Pam Richardson (Various house and conversion projects)
I have used Argent Architects on a number of my projects and have always found them professional, friendly and efficient, particularly when dealing with the Pembrokeshire National Park Planning. Overall a first class service to be highly recommended.
Alexander Manisty (conservation and remodel project)
Argent Architects were a pleasure to work with - matching true creativity with real practical experience of managing contractors and sorting out problems. Strongly recommended!
Alun James (Houses in Kilgetty)
Excellent design service and unbeatable back up to sometimes very minor requests which is very important today in this digital age. Thank you again for all you help in our little project Pamela Tom and Alun.
Testimonial from our Grand Designs Client
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