The face of traditional Bermudian architecture is changing.

Architects and contractors are working overtime to develop buildings that answer the new demands for bigger, better, brighter and more, while still maintaining a look that can be considered uniquely Bermudian.

In his design of the new A. S. Cooper’s building, Fraser Butterworth, principal and senior architect of Butterworth Associates, along with his development team, incorporated these aspects in order to create something functional and modern, that will uphold the Bermudian tradition.

“I think my design demonstrates that a new building can be built on Front Street that will retain a cherished icon and give the owners a thoroughly contemporary building at the same time,” Mr. Butterworth said.

Where the original A.S. Cooper’s building is not necessarily considered historic, it was certainly iconic in its own right and the owners were concerned with maintaining this image.

Initially, Mr. Butterworth researched ways in which they would be able to retain as much of the original building as possible by improving the interior and building up, however, cost and time proved prohibitive.

“We were working to retain the old structure when we realised the difficulties and cost of our response was to give a building that would reflect the charm and scale of it’s environment,” he said. “The present design was produced in 2003, but the decision to start construction came in 2004.”

Although the approval process proved to be fairly simple, there were stipulations that had to be considered and the proverbial hoops that needed to be jumped through. For example, the Development Application Board required the design to include windows in the walls adjacent to neighbouring buildings, however, their “utility” would disappear once those neighbouring buildings were developed to their full height. Inspiration for Butterworth’s design was drawn from the iconography of Front Street itself, although much of it was dictated by the tight planning regulations stipulated for construction in Hamilton.

“Externally, the design effort had to replace the publicly enjoyed icon that we removed,” he said.

“Inspiration came from a study of Front Street and the harbour, and a realisation that the first two or three stories dictate the character of the building’s persona. The required setbacks of the upper floors means that the upper parts of the building can be of a completely different character if required as the building steps back into the cityscape.”

Butterworth and the team designed the upper portions of the building to reflect a traditional “city domestic” feel: “In reality, the building is designed to look like a series of buildings.”

The current facade is traditional in appearance and suggests the building that was demolished.

“I think we got the mixture right as the building merges well into the city scape of Front Street,” he adds, noting that the Reid Street facade also presents a conservative, quality image to a bustling shopping thoroughfare. Use of scale in this design was an important factor, he says, as most building plots in Hamilton are designated to be only 50 feet wide. The variation in building styles over the years and the innovative ways in which people have dealt with the lot sizes have dictated the unique appeal of Front Street.

“A big building on the street needs to address scale as a key element of design,” he says.

And as the width designation led to difficulties with the external design of the building, it also led to its share of challenges on the interior, however, these were easily overcome. From the outset, the building was designed to produce a first class, contemporary office environment that would provide an adaptable space for designers laying out their clients work spaces.

“Behind the facades of the building, the interior spaces are designed to be super efficient, adaptable offices. Unlike many new office structures, this building is built with a minimum of interior columns: clear, uninterrupted spans provide very adaptable spaces for designers to lay out their clients’ workspaces.

“I believe a small site width such as this should contain a building that has an interior space that is virtually column free,” he notes. “I firmly believe that an architect should do his best to produce a building, such as an office block and store, that will provide the end user a maximum flexibility in the way it can be used.”

Although not considered innovative, such things as column free interiors, high floor load capacity, ample space for flexible servicing (with air conditioning, communications and electrical distribution expressly in mind) are included in the interior design.

“The results of these measures are a building which can be planned for a variety of interior layouts both in the shop and office floors,” he says. “The tenants are happy and the owners can command a strong rental rate.”

Originally invited to participate as a consultant, Mr. Butterworth, one of the Island’s leading architects and president of the Institute of Bermuda Architects, was delighted when he was told they would proceed with his suggestions.

What stands this building apart from any of the other projects that Mr. Butterworth may have worked on?

“It contains every bit of experience I have gained from all my commercial building,” he says. “They work well, age slowly, serve their owners really well and rarely show faults.”