How can they do that?

I’m sure everyone has a tale to tell about the wisdom of some planning decisions and this one is probably no different. This tale is an example of how poor and inappropriate design (and I use the term ‘design’ lightly) can be given the go ahead with complete disregard for its context.


As existing. Can you spot the wrong bits, it's not the bird box?

My involvement I hasten to add is to rescue the previous poor attempt by making the best of a bad job. The brief is to utilise as much of the existing extensions as possible, modify the interior so that it works more efficiently and coherently and alter the external appearance so that it is more respectful to its context.

The result is a contemporary yet harmonious grouping of minimal offshoots that make direct reference to the proportions of the existing main building and introduce a modern version of what once stood on the same site – an orangery. The re-working also creates a much improved visual and practical link to the large garden it overlooks. Where once it observed the garden, it now incorporates it.


As proposed.

The result may not be to everyone’s taste and some may wonder what all the fuss is about but I’m confident the proposals are a big improvement on the awful arrangement that exists at present.

New life to 4 existing cottages – Hall Court, Tallentire

Work is now well underway to remodel and renovate 4 existing cottages in Tallentire. All the properties have been completely stripped-out back to the original barn shells they originally were. Despite some impressive roof timbers the original scheme hid them all in a traditional cellular laid out plan of small pokey rooms. My scheme however opens up the layout, places the living spaces at first floor level and exposes the oak roof trusses taking advantage of the barn-like spaces available. Where possible all the living spaces are open plan and uncompromisingly modern.

The work includes new windows throughout (the photograph above shows the existing to be replaced windows), new roof, re-rendering, and the removal of far too much tarmac to the courtyard.

I shall try and keep the blog up to date as the work progresses.

Integrity Office – new website

Earlier this year the computer support service from Armstrong Watson became an independent business and re-launched as Integrity Office. Here’s their new-look website... www.integrityoffice.co.uk

Strolling4Shoes – new website

The old website at strolling4shoes.co.uk has now been replaced by an updated and rebuilt one. Like the old one this new site is a fully functioning ecommerce website designed to reflect the evermore successful Strollers brand. What more can be said? Other than go and buy some comfy shoes …. www.strolling4shoes.co.uk/

Award winning scheme

Sharp Images UK

Middle Farm, Tallentire, a development of 4 energy efficient houses first blogged in the entry ‘House For Sale' has won an award. Allerdale LABC presented the developer, Jadaal Ltd, with the Built in Quality award in recognition of excellent design and build quality in the Multiple Housing criteria on Thursday 23rd April 2009.

The previous blog entry mentioned that the houses are now for sale and I’m pleased to report they have all now sold which is recognition alone in times like these.

It’s good to be recognised and even better to have good design that uses modern building techniques recognised. To save a little time as I’m such a busy man below is the press release which gives a little more background along with some new photos.

Jadaal Ltd Wins Allerdale LABC Built In Quality Award For Multiple Housing Scheme.
Middle Farm, Tallentire, Cockermouth, Cumbria (27 April 2009) – Allerdale LABC bi-annual Built in Quality award is given to Jadaal Ltd in recognition of the excellent build and design quality of 4 energy efficient timber framed houses. The scheme now goes forward to the Northern regional heats.

The four houses designed by Red Raven Design Ltd (Cockermouth) are built forming a courtyard arrangement adjacent to a Grade II listed property. The traditional Cumbrian aesthetic is contrasted with the airy spacious open plan interiors split over two levels. Despite the traditional appearance the houses are built using a bespoke factory constructed timber frame kit to Red Raven’s design. The SupaWall system by Maple Timber Frame Ltd consists of 190mm of polyurethane insulation easily beating the required insulation levels 3 times over with U-values of only 0.113W/m2K . This level of energy efficiency negates the need for central heating requiring only a heat exchange unit fitted to a whole-house ventilation system to provide all the houses heating needs.

Despite the use of bespoke contemporary design, innovative construction systems and high levels of insulation the scheme was quicker and easier to build than a comparative scheme built traditionally achieving only the minimal statutory energy efficiencies required by law.

The scheme commended by Allerdale LABC as “excellent” in terms of design and build quality sets new standards for all small scale speculative development.

From Computer to Reality

Almost 3 years ago I posted an entry about an unexpected planning approval (Unexpected Planning Approval) - that project is now virtually complete. The timber framed building built using Maple Timber Frame’s Ecopack system was erected and finished by the owner client. All that’s left is a little bit of landscaping and fitting of the correct downpipes and it will look just like my original visualizations!

Woolly Art

It was a long time in the making but the only thing woolly about this site is in the name (www.woollyrug.com). This Flash based website has been designed to reflect the works of Jane Exley and her contemporary locally crafted rugs. Based in Ambleside The Woolly Rug Co. makes hand crafted rugs exclusively from Herdwick wool farmed probably in sight of Jane’s studio.

It’s one of the small yet growing number of businesses that take the traditional and turn it contemporary – something I strive to do, particularly when it comes to architecture.

Three New Websites

It seems the interest in having a web presence has been given a new lease of life presumably prompted by the current economic doom and gloom. Over the past few months I have been working on several new sites three of which are briefly described below.

The small but well proportioned site for Duncan Hill Ltd (www.duncanhill.co.uk) provides the logistics specialist with their first online presence.



The second, and is no relation to the first, is for Roland Hill Ltd (www.rolandhills.co.uk). Again this is the building specialists’ first foray into the murky world of the web.



And finally, but not least, is the site for Print Express (www.printex.co.uk). This site replaces their existing one and is my first site to be wholly Flash.

Whitehaven Chic

Biddy Mulligan’s, a long disused Irish pub, in Whitehaven has been transformed in to three 1 bedroom open-plan apartments for sale. The building which was once a dark and damp drinking hole in Chapel Street is now a very light and airy loft-styled conversion by Me Me Me Brighton Ltd (www.mememebrighton.co.uk).



The extensive refurbishments including replacement of the existing tight and narrow staircase within a new stair tower, demolition of the original toilet block to provide parking, full insulation to bring each apartment up to modern energy standards (EPA rated B), and high quality designer bathrooms and kitchens has resulted in something normally only found in Manchester or Leeds.



In order to increase the feel of openness and space, in what is essentially a very small building, internal divisions were kept to a minimum using door-less partitions to create private yet open bedroom areas. It also allowed space to be ‘borrowed’ which increases the feeling of openness.



The properties are currently for sale by Cumbrian Properties (www.cumbrian-properties.co.uk).

To boldly go!.. and succeed

A brief but worthwhile update: The contemporary and bold makeover to the drab, boxy 1970’s bungalow I blogged earlier (To boldly go! Monday, September 29, 2008) has been given full planning approval. I had expected at least some required compromise but my pessimism was unwarranted. It just goes to show if you don’t ask you don’t get.