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LARGE QUALITY GLASS WALLED WATERSIDE HOME - NEWTON FERRERS |
3D VISUALISATION.
The freedom to create a contemporary and graceful home in a stunning location does not come along very often. Many dream of a 'Grand Design' but few see the light of day. We are truly privileged to have been awarded this project. Our design links modern and traditional elements and materials and sets them deep into the hillside to make the most of the site and give every room the best view.
Huge curved glass windows in the semi-circular lounge give a 180 degree panorama.
PHOTO
REALISTIC MODEL OF PROPOSED HOUSE IN HILLSIDE.
PROPOSED VIEW FROM DINING
ROOM.
The reverse level kitchen and dining area feature a sliding glass wall that leads out onto the deck that links all the living areas from the outside. Lowering the house into the site has put the living area at both ground and first floor level. This solves the awkward access issue that is so often associated with an upside/downside house. The wide sweeping curved glass walled circular staircase with lit treads is a practical focal point. If you can't manage the stairs, take the lift!
The natural slate roof will be a tremendous challenge even for a master craftsman. The semi-circular shape of the projecting wing coupled with the subtle curve of the main roof will require great skill to slate properly.
It has taken a significant amount of engineering input to design the support for the roof. The structural elements have been concealed in the walls. The ceiling heights on the first floor vary to help define and emphasis the various areas of the
different open plan areas. Some of ceilings demonstrate graceful curved laminate beams with stainless steel rigging whilst others are lowered to create more intimate and cosy areas.
The cantilevered deck seems to float without visible support.
The is truly a composite house making use of such differing materials such as steel, traditional block, glass, slate, oak, laminated timber, natural stone and cedar cladding.
Naturally we expect this house to have all the latest conveniences such as electrically operated garage doors to offer direct entry into the house for comfort and security, underfloor heating, solar panels, heat recovery systems, rainwater harvesting system and a computer controlled management system.
The logistics:
Constructing a large two storey house on the site of a small bungalow in an established location was always going to prove challenging. The roads are too narrow to allow trucks to pass and this makes deliveries and removing spoil impossible.
The first part of the project was to demolish the existing building, excavate and set the site levels. Approximately 700 tons of spoil had to be removed from the site. This was done using tracker vehicles at low tide.
A short access period was negotiated with a neighbouring property and over a few days all the materials for the first phase including the concrete for the foundations were craned in.
Storing so much material on site at any one time necessitates keeping an orderly site and the builder has to be commended for his organisational skills.
During the excavations it become clear that a basement workshop could be incorporated under the south wing. So that is what we did!
Project still at relatively early stage.
Completion expected spring 2007
Deciding to build your own home is a big enough
decision. Succeeding in building it properly and under budget without any
prior experience is a wonderful achievement. This couple were so
successful in their first build that they have formed their own
development company and have subsequently instructed us to do the
planning, building regulations and structural engineering for their new
three storey flat complex.
Once upon a time we met this couple who toiled away so
diligently building their dream home. Both of them had full time jobs and
they built this house in their ‘spare’ time.
Our brief was to design a cost effective, easy to build
family home. It needed to have well proportioned spacious rooms and have a
good and practical layout that was effortless to live in. We met this
objective and our clients are absolutely delighted with the result
This project is interesting because it proves that
someone with little, or no experience, can achieve a wonderful result.
One of this homes more unusual features is the vaulted
garden/sun room that is accessed from the living and dining area and leads
onto the patio. The main bedroom on the first floor has a balcony that
overlooks the sunroom. The dual level open plan design produces a rare
feeling of space when the bedroom doors are open, whilst retaining a cosy
private atmosphere when the doors are closed. The standard of finish is extremely high with some
modern contemporary fittings.
Our congratulations to Clients Steve and Dee Elston on
a remarkable result.
For they may live happily ever after in their dream home!
All building projects have their challenges and this one was no exception. Built on a narrow triangular in-fill plot that was once part of the garden next door, this scheme posed interesting design challenges. It has lovely views overlooking the canal.
Access, height, coverage and a large retaining wall were some of the more important aspects. Our clients had outline planning permission for a one and a half storey dwelling. The larger footprint of this type of house when compared to a traditional two storey house meant the driveway access to the road could not meet highway's
requirements.
STREET VIEW
We designed a two storey house on a narrower base, which has a lower ridge height and convinced the local planning authority that it was more in keeping with houses in the immediate vicinity.
REAR VIEW - BALCONY STILL TO
BE ERECTED.
The end result is a house with more useable living space than would otherwise have been the case, as well as having a useful double garage.
The builders were Procon Construction and they have done an excellent job.
Completed end of February 2006.
Another replacement dwelling on a lovely site near Exeter. Local planning policy in Mid Devon favours traditional vernacular proportions. This lovely home has a superb outlook and again the living area makes the most of it.
TRADITIONAL EXTERIOR.
We have established a good working relationship with an excellent local timber frame company and this is just one of a number of clients that we have recommended to them. In this instance the client was an experienced builder who sub-contracted the various elements out.
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CONTEMPORARY
OAK FRAME
WITH MODERN FINISH. |
Completion due summer 2006.
Another timber frame build we designed….
Images courtesy of Self build and Design Magazine as featured in issue June 2004.
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