25-year celebrations for Ciren architects (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

25-year celebrations for Ciren architects

THE architects behind the new look Corinium Museum have toasted 25 years as a Cotswold business.

And Peter Yiangou Associates LLP celebrated its Silver Anniversary with a party at the museum itself.

Cirencester's famous tourist attraction reopened in 2004 after being given a £5million makeover by the Dyer Street firm.

It was a challenging but prestigious commission for PYA, but their buildings can be found all across the Cotswolds and South West.

Ranging in value from £50,000 to £10million, the majority of work undertaken is for private clients.

However, their portfolio includes a wide range of projects in education, leisure and other public sectors.

The business has grown steadily over the last two decades from a one-man band to a 17-strong team, moving from Cheltenham to Cirencester in 2005.

Founder Peter Yiangou, who grew up in South Africa, said: "It started off as a partial move a year ago, but it was so successful we decided to move everything sooner rather than later.

"We are much more in the middle of things down in Cirencester and we are really pleased with the result.

"I think when I started in the Cotswolds it was a lot quieter - there wasn't the sort of interest in the area. Now it's really a designer place to live."

The Corinium Museum project received a great deal of national attention, but the Cotswold architects were more than up to the job.

In fact, Mr Yiangou told the Standard this week their redesign of the museum has been shortlisted for a European architectural award.

He said: "It was a very difficult site because access was a real problem for the workman and equipment. It was quite a management challenge for the contractors.

"It was also tricky for us because the buildings on the road outside are listed, but we had a free hand to create something quite spectacular inside."

The unique characteristics of the Cotswolds have provided PYA with the chance to design diverse buildings, ranging from new country houses to school premises.

Sherbourne House, Malvern School and Oxford University are all on the company's curriculum vitae.

But it is a project in Icomb, near Stow-on-the-Wold, which is dominating their agenda at the moment.

They are busy designing what is believed to be the biggest new house in England, a 20,000sq ft private property. Mr Yiangou said: "Most clients who want to spend serious money are very hands on - our challenge is to design something which fits and looks right but also responds to contemporary design challenges."