Sydney Buildings Modern extension of a listed house
Sydney Buildings is a desirable street on the southern slopes of central Bath. Our client purchased a run-down listed property previously used as student accommodation with the aspiration to return it back into a family home. After careful analysis of the historic value of various aspects of the building fabric, we prepared a scheme that stripped away the modern layers of inappropriate interventions, repaired original features and sensitively introduced new services to make the house fit for modern life. The highlight is the new contemporary double-height bay window in the basement that opens out into the garden providing views across the Kennet and Avon Canal to the city skyline beyond.
Monkton Farleigh Timber framed extension to Listed Cottage
The project involved the refurbishment and extension of a grade II listed cottage in the picturesque village of Monkton Farleigh (Green Belt and AONB). One of a row of two, formally three cottages, the building had been extensively remodelled and was badly in need of modernisation. Challenges included a flying freehold over the neighbouring cottage. Designscape were appointed as having the knowledge and experience best suited to the owner’s needs and objectives. The brief was to undertake a sympathetic renovation of the house, strip out modern alterations, make minor modifications to the layout, upgrade building services, and where feasible, upgrade the building fabric. The attic became a main bedroom suite and a poorly constructed C20th extension replaced with a new design built to a high standard and making the most of the garden and views across the fields beyond. The result is a series of high quality, light, airy, warm and healthy living spaces which retain and enhance much of the old character, whilst adding a new layer which will age sympathetically with the dwelling. The project stands out in achieving a successful marriage of thoughtful design, an understanding client, and some conscientious workmanship from the builder which in our experience is a rare commodity in projects of this scale and complexity.
Hillcrest A new community of six houses
A new community in a woodland setting.
This project for six new houses is located upon a hill north of Bristol within the village of Winterbourne Down. The wooded site previously formed the garden of a large derelict house and contained a disused quarry. The houses are arranged around a central ‘clearing’. Constructed with rubble stone and timber clad walls the houses are designed to reflect the character of the site and nearby listed church. The houses are positioned around protected trees and to maximise views from the elevated site. Four of the houses are substantial homes with 5 or more bedrooms and double garages. One has an outdoor swimming pool. The two remaining are designated affordable homes.
Hawker’s Meadow Sustainable community for active retired living
Located on the edge of the village of Batheaston, this project for 20 houses, 10 apartments and clubhouse facilities is for a new model community for the active and retired. Arranged around a common pedestrian ‘yard’ the residents enjoy common facilities including gym, bar, library, function space and a wildlife water meadow with the wider community. Parking is provided in a basement car park. The buildings are designed to respond to the local agricultural tradition, maintain a modern appearance and provide connected digital facilities for residents within the highly insulated and energy efficient homes.
Madam’s Paddock A contemporary house in the Greenbelt
This project replaces an existing 1960s house. It is close to the centre of the village, yet is on an Island, surrounded by the River Chew and located within the Greenbelt. The proposed house is placed so that the garden is maximised, with the house placed to form an arrival space, separated from the garden. The radial layout, with its centre point defined by a large oak tree on the site boundary allows different parts of the house to relate specifically to various character areas of the garden: The house is lifted out of the ground on the masonry radial walls, allowing floodwater to flow beneath the house and keeping the ground floor clear of the predicted flood levels. The majority of the accommodation is on the ground floor, with just the master bedroom and the guest bedroom elevated above the stone plinth as two separate first floor volumes, clad in a dark coloured zinc cladding in order to break down the mass of the house. The landscape has been designed to improve the flood resilience of the site and at the same time to allow better access from the garden to the water’s edge, and also to provide wildlife / ecological enhancements.
Landscape design: B:D Landscape
Holcombe mill New workspace within converted mill
Holcombe Mill is a Grade 2 listed structure on an industrial estate in the Nailsworth valley, near Stroud. Working in collaboration with the local conservation officer, the Mill has been rescued from near dereliction and converted into flexible serviced office space for one or multiple occupiers. The new architectural interventions including a corten metal entrance canopy, metal staircase and services are designed to be of high quality and sympathetic to the industrial context and origins of the mill building, yet remain clearly legible as modern. Natural ventilation, and high levels of natural daylighting combined with the historic features of the original building provide a pleasant working environment for the tenants of the building.
Rodwell Road Six modern apartments
A development of six flats in Weymouth, replacing a 1930s detached house on a prominent corner on the edge of the town centre. As a response to the acute need for housing, both in Weymouth and elsewhere, the flats are all designed with two “equal” bedrooms and two bathrooms – to suit a number of different potential occupiers – from a retired couple to a young family or potentially two single people or two couples sharing a flat. One side of the site fronts onto a busy road, so the building is organised with the circulation and public areas on the noisy side, and all the living spaces are arranged on the quiet East facing side, so that every flat has a large outside terrace, with views towards the sea.
Rotork A new factory
This project is for a new 12,000 sq.m. factory building for Bath based engineering manufacturers Rotork. With business expanding beyond the capacity of their existing site, the company needed to consider alternative locations nearby. The building includes office, manufacturing, storage and distribution spaces employing 400 people. Our proposal sought to use the natural slope of the site to accommodate the different volumes required for each activity in an attractive setting and create a high-quality working environment for staff and visitors.
Mount Pleasant A steel framed garden room extension
Occupying a hillside site with good views south over Bradford on Avon, this intricate project proved challenging due to the extent of structural works required to support the existing house above. Fortunate timing meant that our client was able to make use of the contractor who had recently completed a similarly challenging project at Cornbury Mill as well as sharing his desire to achieve high standards of finish.
The uncompromising design removes a lower section of bay window and replaces it with a larger, heavily glazed extension and wrap around slot window which allows natural light to penetrate deep into the house. Internal reorganisation provides much improved open plan living, dining and kitchen areas, facilitated by the installation of a fire resistant glazed screen and new timber staircase to the upper levels. The result is a light and bright multi-purpose room where the family spend much of their time together, providing a new direct and open relationship between house and garden.
Equestrian HouseContemporary New Home in the Greenbelt’
The Equestrian house is a proposal for a new dwelling with associated equestrian facilities in the Green Belt on a 20 acre site, just outside Windsor. It was submitted for planning under the NPPF clause 55 criteria. The brief includes a family house along with equestrian facilities suitable for either professional use or for a family with horses. A Landscape Management plan, along with various sustainable technologies were also introduced in order to enhance the existing landscape and context and contribute towards the Bracknell Forest Biodiversity Action Plan. Sustainable technologies such as the installation of PV’s, ground source heat pump and rain water collection are key elements in the design of this equestrian house.