Red Raven Design

Winner: Restoration of a Georgian Building in an Urban Setting

2011-11-02T09:58:00.005Z

I'm very pleased to be able to post that this Monday at Christies in London I received on behalf of the Cockermouth Civic Trust from The Georgian Group an award for winner of "Restoration of a Georgian Building in an Urban Setting".

The award was in recognition of all the improvements to Cockermouth shop fronts since the floods. 15 shops so far have gone through major improvements as part of the grant aided scheme with the majority of them designed by me!

A small selection of some of the shops designed by Red Raven.....

Arts Centre Feasibility Study

2011-08-03T20:11:00.005+01:00

Earlier this year I was asked to carry out a feasibility study for an arts centre, it's still in the early stages and I can't reveal who the client is or where the site is located but I can show a visualisation of the proposal.

The proposal extends an existing building with a single storey addition which will house a large function room, entrance foyer/display space and small cafe. The scheme attempts to link the existing domestic type building with the landscape and create a more welcoming functional space.

Nearly the last shop

2011-06-12T13:35:00.005+01:00

Despite my quiet blog things continue to be ongoing with improvements to Cockermouth Main Street. The latest completed shop to add to the long list of shops Red Raven has designed since the floods is Bryson's, the bakers.

Prior to the floods of 2009 Bryon's where based on the other side of Main Street nearer to Market Place. Moving to the old Blockbuster shop gave them the chance to make more of the passing bus stop trade.

The job was more than just a shop front enhancement as the whole building has been gutted and its layout changed to improve both the shop and the flat above. The previously centrally located staircase has been moved to the side so that the shop and flat above are no longer cut in half and have their own idependent entrance. The result is, even if I do say so myself, much better.

The new Bryson's Shop on Main Street, Cockermouth

As it was prior to the works.

Strolling4Shoes - shop number 2

2011-03-27T13:01:00.003+01:00

The New Shop at 35 Main Street

How it used to look

The success of Strolling4Shoes re-modelled shop at 29 Main Street has been so successful that they have now moved to new larger and more prominent premises on the corner of Main Street and Station Street.

I'm pleased to say it's yet another re-vamped shop I can add to my list (...and there are still more to come!).

Extension to The Kirkgate

2011-02-15T17:54:00.006Z

Late last year I was invited to submit proposals for the extension and improvement of The Kirkgate Centre in Cockermouth. For those that don’t know Cockermouth The Kirkgate is a volunteer run arts venue showing a variety of productions and films in what was All Saints School.

Collaborating with Hayward Associates I proposed a contemporary solution based on a narrative derived from the process that takes place between stage and audience. Using the architectural metaphor of a cube that starts in its pure form and becomes transformed, open and more complex as it journeys through the building to represent the process of ‘education’ art can deliver. The end result is a multifaceted glass atrium that is open and welcoming to the visitor without masking or hiding the Victorian architecture of the existing building.

Sadly, it was too radical and another solution was chosen. Never mind, you can’t win them all! But I hope The Kirkgate remembers that architecture is part of the arts too and plays a very important role in shaping our cultural future. ...playing it safe is not what art is about!

Celia Eddy's QuiltStory

2010-12-11T15:27:00.002Z

Celia Eddy's QuiltStory is one of the very earliest websites I designed and after nearly 10 years it was about time it got updated. The new site is now more magazine-like and uses Wordpress as the back-end to power the CMS (content managment system). This is very useful as now Celia can edit and add pages without the need for my input.

Celia Eddy's QuiltStory

Another New Shop Front

2010-12-04T17:59:00.002Z

Arguably one of the most prominent buildings in Cockemrouth town centre is getting a new shop front. It took a while to confirm but work has now started on what was Marmaris Cafe - now soon to be the new home of Strolling4Shoes.

2 more new shop fronts

2010-09-24T13:41:00.004+01:00

The improvements to Cockermouth town centre continue with the restoration of 2 shop fronts to Market Place - that's 5 completed by me so far and another 3 still to come.

Before

...and after

29 new homes – 10 social rented and 19 family homes for sale

2010-08-14T10:32:00.007+01:00

Last week after almost a year of negotiation with the planners a scheme for 29 houses, including relocated and extended tennis courts was submitted to the authorities.

The scheme is, to say the least, a little controversial but then these things tend to be as everyone wants new housing but not in their backyard.

The existing site sits on the edge of Cockermouth adjacent to the Cockermouth Rugby Club. Part of the site is occupied by 3 sub-standard tennis courts and a pot-holed unfinished car park. These facilities are to be moved to the south eastern edge of the site and undergo some major improvements. An additional mini-tennis court is also proposed that is hoped will encourage a younger generation’s enthusiasm for tennis.

By moving and upgrading the existing courts and car park space for 29 new houses is created, 10 of which are for the social rental market and are likely to be adopted by an appropriate RSL. The remaining 19 houses are for sale on the open market.

There is a mixture of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses with the larger houses spread over 3 stories. These larger houses have been designed with roof top and first floor terraces to provide better more integrated access to external space and take advantage of the views towards Scotland and the Fells.

3 New Shop Fronts

2010-07-25T17:22:00.008+01:00

Designing traditional shop fronts is a bit of a departure from normal as I usually advocate more contemporary design. But any good designer will explain it is the medium that directs what is the most appropriate response. And in this case the small Georgian and Victorian fronted buildings that make up Cockermouth town centre are more appropriately dressed up as they where originally intended.

So far I’ve completed three new replacement shop fronts with another 3 on site at the moment. The first two shop fronts to be completed were Strolling4Shoes and Lee’s Takeaway. Lloyds TSB came a few months later and was as a response to the corporate image driven restoration Lloyds TSB had only just completed. After lengthy negotiation they agreed to my design and implemented it faithfully. I’m sure I made no friends in the process but it is fair to say that Lloyds TSB were far more flexible than I imagined and responded positively to the will of the people - they should be recognised for doing so.

Strolling4Shoes - before

Strolling4Shoes - after

Lee's Takeaway - before

Lee's Takeaway - after

Lloyds TSB - before

Lloyds TSB - after

Things have certainly changed since the floods and Cockermouth is well on the way to being a better town than it was before. http://redravendesign.blogspot.com/2009_12_01_archive.html

UPDATE: Hall Court, Tallentire - almost complete.

2010-04-24T09:45:00.009+01:00

The 4 cottages at Hall Court in Tallentire are now nearing completion and this short post is an update on the last update.

Interesting in buying one? Then contact Cumbrian Properties

UPDATE: To boldly go!

2010-03-21T13:20:00.002Z

Another short update to report the progress on site of a large timber framed extension first blogged in September 2008 (To boldly go! ).

The timber frame is now erected and fit out will start next week.

UPDATE: Hall Court, Tallentire

2010-02-25T10:21:00.006Z

As previously blogged in the post “New life to 4 existing cottages – Hall Court, Tallentire” work has started on the remodelling of the cottages. That work has progressed well and the first of the 4 cottages is now on the market.

A better town following the floods

2009-12-20T12:23:00.002Z

Wearing my Civic Trust hat I’ve been rather busy promoting the potential opportunities for improvement to the built environment the floods of the 19th November have provided. The effort has been somewhat more time consuming than I’d anticipated but to miss the chance of a lifetime to dramatically improve the architectural heritage of Cockermouth would be inexcusable.

The task to enthuse and bring together all parties from businesses to statutory authorities is not an easy one but it has been achieved and everyone involved is of the same mind I am – Cockermouth can and will be a better place.

The stage we are at now has moved from a desire to the first stages of actually achieving the goals set. Red Raven has been commissioned to replace the existing shop front of 29 Main Street improving the presence for Strolling4Shoes when they return in early spring, and probably the most criticised shop front – that of Mills - is to be replaced with something a lot more in keeping. RR is not involved in the design but through the Civic Trust I am one of the consultees involved through the planning process. Other shops are also in the process of contemplating replacing their not-so-great street presence.

This is all obviously not cheap but the efforts of the committee/team (chaired by me!) have managed to secure some grant aid which can be used to top up insurance claims and allow something better to be built. I hope we can secure more money and help and to that end the regeneration committee made up of councillors, planners, building control officers, local architects, the Chamber of Trade etc have had several successful meetings with those that, if cannot directly contribute, can influence those that can. At the risk of being accused of name dropping (and also giving a laugh to those that know me) Prince Charles is one of those who is involved along with advisors with post-Katrina experience and some other influential individuals.

All in all things look good for the future.

An exhibition of shop fronts new, old, possibles and proposed is to open on 21st December (2-6.00pm) for local businesses and then to the public from 22nd at Christ Church, South Street.

Floods – but I’m still in business

2009-11-24T10:54:00.000Z

After a long sleepless night on Thursday I was rescued from the floods leaving a rather devastated ground floor behind. Thankfully the business is on the first floor so suffered no damage other than loosing all power and phones. The clear up and restoration will take sometime and until then I have set up the moveable parts of the business at a kind friends. I’m contactable by email or on my mobile – 07816 643285.
Red Raven – flood experts, but rather not be!

How can they do that?

2009-11-12T15:36:00.004Z

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

2009-10-01T13:58:00.004+01:00

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

2009-08-12T18:33:00.004+01:00

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

2009-07-29T12:43:00.001+01:00

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

2009-04-26T15:49:00.010+01:00

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

2009-04-19T13:16:00.007+01:00

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

2009-03-25T13:43:00.004Z

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

2009-02-16T19:04:00.006Z

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

2009-01-15T18:25:00.006Z

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

2008-11-22T16:04:00.001Z

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.

To boldly go!

2008-09-29T18:55:00.004+01:00

It’s not often, in this quiet provincial land of ours up here in Cumbria, that you get the chance to create something different. ‘Radical’ around here is more often than not a bungalow with one of those modern en-suite thingies so to be commissioned to extend and revamp a drab 1970’s bungalow gave an exciting opportunity to do something different.

The boxy original layout of the bungalow has been re-designed to allow for an open plan family room with a mezzanine level at one end to provide a ‘quieter’ area that can also take advantage of the views of the Cumbrian Fells.

The overall layout has been kept simple and barn-like to keep construction simple and costs down. And if I’m allowed some architectural speak… the approach to the design was to produce something that took on the form of a converted barn but in a way that was unmistakably contemporary. Rather than it being a barn converted to house it is house that could be converted to a barn.

The construction is also a departure from what is usual to the area with the whole structure and cladding being in timber. The form of timber frame construction is one I have used before and I have chosen to use it again here to achieve a more energy efficient building and one that can be constructed much faster than a normal block and render building therefore reducing costs.

All we need now is a favourable view from the planners. I hope future posts about this job can be in a positive tone!

A New Website for GDG

2008-08-14T19:26:00.002+01:00

It’s been a while since I updated my blog so I shall make amends by reporting the launch of a new website for one of my oldest clients. Green Design Group commissioned their first website in 1999 making them one of the first architect practices in the north to get on line. So, you can imagine the site needed a little updating. The new site has been designed to allow the easy addition of extra pages so that new jobs can be added when they are complete, it also incorporates a blog which gives the ability to post information not always appropriate for a presentation site. As most of my work the site is clean and simple with ease of access to information being the primary design ethic adopted.

The new site - www.greendesigngroup.co.uk
…and the old site – www.redraven.net/gdgold

New Year New Website

2007-12-30T11:11:00.000Z

After many broken promises to myself to find time to update the old website I have eventually done it. The old site (positively ancient in web years) was designed back in the last century so was in serious need of an overhaul. The new site is similar in that it continues the minimalist approach to design allowing the information to remain ‘king’. All too often web designers over dress a site to the extent that the message is lost, it may look flashy but does it really work? …That’s for you to decide - here it is...

House For Sale

2007-11-26T09:59:00.000Z

I seem to have neglected my blog for a few months – to make amends I have added a couple of completed schemes and I shall plan to add to the list of new years resolutions to put time aside to make regular updates to this blog.

I wrote about the first scheme in an earlier post (Publication). It gets a mention again as the house is for sale and comes with a juicy brochure full of glossy pictures which you can download here.

The second scheme is a development of 4 three bed houses designed around a courtyard adjacent to a listed building. The close proximity of the listed building and the sites past fraught history with the planning department caused some serious delays. However, with the use of timber frame some time was made up and the result is a group of 4 super-insulated buildings that utilise the sloping site to produce one-and-a-half storey height open plan living spaces.

For a 360 degree fly round click here.

All five houses are being sold by Grisdales of Cockermouth (Tel: 01900 829977)
(top image and 360 fly round by Grisdales)

Just an update!

2007-05-22T19:57:00.000+01:00

A small update to my very first post: "Planners can approve modern design". The scheme has gone back to the planners to seek an amendment to incorporate a basement. Why, when no external alterations will be apparent and no change of use is sort? The volume is different, so the wonderful process of the planning act has to be invoked again!
In the meantime while we wait for the cogs of bureaucracy to clunk into motion you can enjoy the movie. Hopefully the real thing won’t be quite as fuzzy!

The whole package!

2007-04-08T15:37:00.000+01:00

For the first time I have had the opportunity to encompass all the services Red Raven offers into one project. From architecture to web, including a Google marketing campaign.

The project was to renovate an existing holiday barn, first converted in the mid 80s, to provide an upgraded facility that will be rated 5 stars by the tourist board.

The practical problems that needed resolving were to enlarge the bedroom and make the inside/outside connections stronger. This meant the ground floor - where the bedroom is situated - needed a lot of alteration, but the result was to enable a much larger bedroom with direct access to the garden and the installation of a much needed new bathroom. Upstairs, with its open plan layout, gained a better positioned kitchen and a much stronger link to the garden. An existing window opening was lowered to allow a French balcony to be installed opening up the living area to the adjacent elevated garden.

The result works well, even if I do say so myself, and I’d thoroughly recommend a holiday there. Make a booking now – http://www.lakelandbarn.co.uk/.

Contemporary Extension

2006-12-01T18:44:00.000Z

…and for the next post.
Today I was pleased to receive confirmation of planning approval for an extension to an early Nineteenth Century semi-detached house. The brief was to provide 2 extra bedrooms, a larger kitchen, dining space, integral garage, utility room and sun lounge that exploited the dramatic views of the Cumbrian mountains as well as creating a strong visual and physical link to the garden.

The approach was to provide a traditional solution to the side, using the same style as the main house, but to adopt a contemporary approach to the rear single storey element, that houses the kitchen and sun room. The client and I would have liked more glass but the planners insisted on less. However, the compromise doesn’t diminish the intention of providing a building that expresses the modern lifestyle, whilst not being too challenging.

Life to an old school

2006-09-16T17:06:00.000+01:00

One of the larger schemes I have been involved with has been the conversion of the old school in Bigrigg, near Whitehaven. The traditional red sandstone building with high vaulted ceilings was designed around the concept of ‘loft’ style apartments – something new to the West Coast of Cumbria. Each unit (a total of 9 in the school building and 2 new-build detached ‘town-houses’ to the grounds) has at least 2 bedrooms with the living space at the first floor level to allow full appreciation and use of the vaulted ceilings. Mezzanine floors are used in order to allow the large vertical windows to be kept intact and clear from any obstruction. The original mono pitched lean-to roof to the rear of the building has been replaced with an accessible flat roof which forms first floor terraces to each of the main units, providing views to the fells behind. For more photographs and details.

Why, why do we have to put up with second best?

2006-09-11T17:15:00.000+01:00

I know we live in the provinces, I know we have more restricted budgets and I know our aspirations are different from other areas, but why do we have to accept such poor quality design? Particularly when it comes to public buildings paid for with public money. The proposed festival hall (Destination Maryport), as reported in The Times and Star (8 September 2006), is to put it very bluntly a pile of sh*te. I apologise for such language but how else can you describe what is presented as a ‘futuristic festival hall’. It is nothing more than a B&Q shed with a curvy bit added as a pitiful token gesture toward design. This is not architecture, it is certainly not worthy of any label associated with design and what is more important – it is not a fitting or worthy proposal for Maryport. We can do better, much better, so why settle for second best all the time…
The image above is taken from The Times and Star (8 September 2006).

Prompted by a colleague who suggested I should give a more intellectual critique of the proposal, I have added this second part to the post.

Part 2
Architecture can be broken down broadly into 2 parts. The first is context. A building must respond to its location. In its most basic application, a building must be designed to sit on a specific site - for example, a building designed for a flat field cannot easily sit on a sloped site. In the case of the proposal, the context is very dramatic and clear – it being a) on the coast, and b) at the foot of an escarpment (the ancient coastline). These are the basic physical elements of context, but within the design, the intellectual aspects of the site and the area should also be included - referencing back to the archaeological remnants of the past, possibly even the none factual, but none the less important and influential, folk lore that may prevail. Again in this situation we have 2 strong historical references which can be made – fishing and the Romans, but does ‘Destination Maryport’ do that? No. It could be a building sited just as easily in the south of England and not even on the coast. You must not mistake this criticism as a desire to see a mock Roman amphitheatre or a beached ship, as this would be crass and be met with similar disdain as the current incumbent but there should be an intellectual interpretation of the site.

The second element which needs to be applied in the quest for worthy architecture is an economic and clever use of space. That is, the building should be laid out in such a way that it not only allows for its best use but engages the user’s emotions. In this case, the locality should be appreciated by celebrating the views or concentrating the eye on a particular object or message. Nowhere does this proposal do that. It may well be an economical use of space but only in the same way as a B&Q shed.

Lastly, and of fundamental importance, is the drawing together of the two previous parts to produce an architecture that speaks of the locality and expresses its purpose. A contemporary example of this is the original proposal for the Freedom Tower by Daniel Libeskind with its off center spire reaching a symbolic 1,776 feet high which makes an optimistic and defiant gesture with its contextual reference to the Statue of Liberty, as well as being practical by being a communication mast. I hope that helps in way of explanation of my distaste and disappointment for what undoubtedly will be built. However, I will continue to battle in the hope that those in the positions of power (bureaucratic, economic and political) will come round to appreciate the fundamental importance of quality architecture and its positive benefits to all.

Publication

2006-06-01T15:30:00.000+01:00

This month Red Raven is proud to announce that a completed job has been recognised as worthy of publication in the June edition of Concept For Living.

The article Modem Moods (pages 30-38) is a photographic exploration of the interior of a private house designed for the client/builder. Completed in late 2005, the house was designed to have a homely but minimalist feel to the interiors. This was only achievable with the help of a builder that had the same attention to detail as myself.

The photograph below (copyright: Concept For Living) shows the double height living space with the adjoining kitchen/dining room through the glass doors. The glazed balcony areas above form a generous landing space from where the four bedrooms are accessed. The landing overlooks the main living space, and vice versa, without intruding on each other's privacy allowing small 'retreats' to be used for reading or simply avoiding the hurly burly of the family.

Unexpected Planning Approval

2006-04-25T17:57:00.000+01:00

Today we received planning approval for the building of a new large extension to an existing farm house to provide holiday accommodation. Not that unusual outside these areas but this is Cumbria, where planning approval for such things is not the norm.

The design takes as its main influence the barn that once stood on this site and aims to reproduce the massing and feel of this now missing building. The proposed use of the structure is ancillary to the large double fronted Georgian Farm house and is designed to reflect this. This relationship would also have been like this historically, when the homestead was a working farm and the adjoining barn was intact and useable. Fenestration has been reduced and kept to a minimum on the side elevations, with the only large glazed area to the gable end elevation. This has been a conscious decision to allow full benefit of the views and also to allow the architecture to express its contemporary use and be honest to its actual purpose. The positioning of the contemporary elements on the gable allows the more traditional front and rear elevations to be read in context with the existing dwelling and not to be visible from the nearby village. This approach to the design, allows the extension to sit appropriately in its setting without looking out of context and be in keeping with its immediate vernacular.

New Microsite for Theatre by the Lake

2006-03-27T17:57:00.000+01:00

On Golden Pond is this Easter's stage production by Theatre by the Lake, Keswick. I was commissioned to produce a new microsite to sit alongside the main web site (also one of mine) to promote the show. It's a clean simple site, as all mine are!

Click here for the microsite
or here for the main Theatre site

Planners can approve modern design

2006-03-11T14:37:00.000Z

I have chosen for my first post a scheme that gained planning permission a couple of years ago. It has not yet been built.

The scheme is for 2 separate houses and an associated garage block and is designed around a U-shaped courtyard. The scheme addresses the client's desire for a contemporary home and the demands of the planning authority for a vernacular use of materials and the massing to reflect local farm buildings.

I was more than pleased with the overall outcome of the scheme and somewhat shocked that such a controversial proposal gained planning permission with no compromise on design - something that is very rare in this area of the world. My message to others that are practising in the area - good design can prevail.