LIMEWOOD | REMODEL
Procurement Method: Main Contractor for most elements supplemented by trade contractors employed direct for specific elements.
Construction Technique: Mass concrete trench fill foundations; Suspended concrete beam and block ground floor structure; Load bearing masonry cavity walls with localised steel frame and oak trusses; Traditional timber intermediate floors and cut pitched roof.
This two storey property is located along a prominent road within Bedfordshire and enjoys distant views over a rural landscape to the rear. The house sits central on its tight plot with neighbouring properties staggering the front building line. From the rear elevation to the rear boundary the levels gradually drop away, emphasising the views over the scenic landscape.
The existing house was built in the 1950’s, finished within traditional red brick and painted render under an interlocking concrete tile roof. The current house has an overall footprint of 147m² over two floors, which includes an attached garage. The internal layout also does not promote the use of the external areas to the rear which capture the evening sunlight and aspect.
The Challenge
The property is located on a prominent road open to the public realm and also lies within the conservation area. The existing properties along this road, although all occupying varying plot widths and sizes, all use similar external materials which have become dated over time. To bring this property into the 21st century a carefully selected palette of materials can be used to produce a contemporary property whilst respecting the character of the area.
Due to the close proximity of neighbouring adjacent to the plot the options for areas to extend are limited and care needs to be taken as to not over develop the property that would result in poor quality of internal spaces.
Conceptual Approach
The key aim for this project is to breathe a fresh lease of life into the property, and to achieve a contemporary style whilst retaining the character of the area. The use of very traditional elements combined with contemporary finishes can achieve both these goals and create a much improved family home. Due to the limited space either side the only options for any extension work was to the front and rear of the property. Extending to the front is also limited however the already staggered building line of the adjacent properties presents an opportunity to break forward to generate the space required. The creation of a central entrance under an overhanging front gable creates an visual hierarchy.
Ground Floor
With the limited opportunities to extend the internal layout needed to reflect the lifestyles of the current and future occupiers. By extending to the front and back creates additional accommodation it also results in the centre of the house lacking from natural light. We have pushed the secondary spaces such as the boots & utility rooms to the centre of the plan form which are spaces that are only used for limited period of times during the day and do not require the same amount of natural light as the primary spaces such as the kitchen/dining/family area. The stairs are also moved to the centre of the plan form with a void over the entrance hall, this allows the light to penetrate into the centre of the plan reducing spaces that feel dark and uncomfortable.
First Floor
With the relocation of the stairs to the side at the centre it allows for a central gallery landing creating the opportunity to have 4 good sized double bedrooms that benefit from primary fenestration facing the panoramic landscape views to the rear or over the front amenity space, with again secondary spaces, family bathroom and en-suites, to be positioned towards the centre of the plan form.
Externally
The current property used a limited palette of traditional materials which had made the building look tired and old. Traditional features have been retained with the introduction of a main gable which runs from front to back. The fresh new look of this property uses splashes of contemporary brickwork along with acrylic render and aluminium cladding. The natural timber cladding offers a warm welcoming feeling to the refreshed property offering a positive contribution to the public realm and helping to preserve the character of conservation area.
Summary
From the public realm the existing property has been completely modernised with the introduction of contemporary materials and slick architectural detailing. The remodel has retained over 75% of the existing external walls along with over 90% of the substructure, which results in the budget being spent on the new primary spaces where the occupiers spend the majority of their time. This design has helped to preserve and rejuvenate the conservation area in replacing a building that had no architectural merit and offered little to the surrounding area.
Existing Footprint: 147m²
Proposed Footprint 231m²
Estimated Value: £500,000
Build Budget: £150k-£200k
Predicted Value: £750,000-£800,000