Nottingham architect, working throughout the East Midlands, specialising in houses and extensions from a green-oak dream home to stunning kitchens.
Green-oak framed low-energy house on a site protected by an area Tree Preservation Order.
Clad in green oak with a stainless steel low-pitch roof, the private garden elevation has a very different character to the public view of the house.
Garden-facing elevation with living room and master bedroom panoramic windows.
Completed: 2011
Approximate value: £725,000
Built in the grounds of the old vicarage, the local authority were initially resistant to planning permission for this scheme because of the area Tree Preservation Order on the garden and strong local political opposition. With input from arboricultural and planning consultants, the design was fine-tuned to answer potential objections and was granted planning permission at the first attempt.
Approximate value: £725,000
Built in the grounds of the old vicarage, the local authority were initially resistant to planning permission for this scheme because of the area Tree Preservation Order on the garden and strong local political opposition. With input from arboricultural and planning consultants, the design was fine-tuned to answer potential objections and was granted planning permission at the first attempt.
Side-garden elevation with panoramic window onto dining space.
The house is super-insulated to 'Passivhaus' standards, has whole house mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, an air-source heat-pump and underfloor heating. Though the building area exceeds 320 square metres (3400 square feet), the annual energy costs are in the region of £400. A rainwater-harvesting tank supplies water to the toilets, washing machine and outside tap.
The main entrance elevation reflects the shape, scale and detail of the nearby coach-house.
The foundations are above-ground concrete beams sitting on four-metre long piles to minimise disturbance to nearby tree roots. The internal green-oak frame transmits floor and roof loads directly to the piles. The frame has grit-blasted stainless steel rod bracing and joints which contrast with the rough-sawn oak beams.
Because both the foundations and oak frame required specialist contractors, these works were carried out under separate contracts before the Main Contractor was appointed.
Because both the foundations and oak frame required specialist contractors, these works were carried out under separate contracts before the Main Contractor was appointed.
The combination of traditional shapes and modern detailing is repeated throughout the house.
The exterior walls are a mixture of oak cladding to the rear and through-coloured render to the public elevations whilst the roof combines slate and standing-seam stainless steel. The windows are Swedish, aluminium-clad, softwood framed and triple glazed.
The entrance hall is double-height with a frameless glass balustrade to the oak/stainless steel stairs. The living room, dining and kitchen space are open-plan, using the grid of the oak frame to define each space.
The entrance hall is double-height with a frameless glass balustrade to the oak/stainless steel stairs. The living room, dining and kitchen space are open-plan, using the grid of the oak frame to define each space.
The rough-hewn oak frame and modern detailing make a delightful contrast.
The master bedroom has the bath and shower in the main space to increase the sense of space and take advantage of the sculptural forms of the glass and sanitaryware. The shower backs onto a walk-in wardrobe. The green oak framework gives order to the spaces.
Extension and alterations to 1950s house
Completed: 2010
The house has wonderful elevated southerly views over the Trent valley. My builder-client wanted to make the most of the view and built a new living room and double garage with two bedrooms and bathrooms above. The bedrooms have ceilings open to the ridge to maximise the sense of space and the full-height glazing takes in the view. The over-hanging roof gives privacy from neighbours to the bedroom and the balcony offers a stunning spot for occasional summertime breakfasts.
The build was mostly traditional brick, block and timber, though some steelwork was used for the cantilevered balcony and roof.
The house has wonderful elevated southerly views over the Trent valley. My builder-client wanted to make the most of the view and built a new living room and double garage with two bedrooms and bathrooms above. The bedrooms have ceilings open to the ridge to maximise the sense of space and the full-height glazing takes in the view. The over-hanging roof gives privacy from neighbours to the bedroom and the balcony offers a stunning spot for occasional summertime breakfasts.
The build was mostly traditional brick, block and timber, though some steelwork was used for the cantilevered balcony and roof.
Bedroom and ensuite bathroom above garage to a 1950s house in a conservation area.
Garden elevation 'after.'
Completed: 2009
Approximate value: £40,000
The panoramic bedroom window looks over the dayroom roof towards the back garden. The ensuite bathroom is divided from the bedroom by a half-height wall so each room benefits from being open to the other.
The existing solid brickwork garage walls were strong enough to take the additional weight of the bedroom above them. We built up with solid brick and block and insulated the walls internally. The plain-tile roof is supported on exposed sand-blasted Douglas fir trusses and purlins.
Approximate value: £40,000
The panoramic bedroom window looks over the dayroom roof towards the back garden. The ensuite bathroom is divided from the bedroom by a half-height wall so each room benefits from being open to the other.
The existing solid brickwork garage walls were strong enough to take the additional weight of the bedroom above them. We built up with solid brick and block and insulated the walls internally. The plain-tile roof is supported on exposed sand-blasted Douglas fir trusses and purlins.
Garden elevation 'before'
Road elevation 'after.'
Being in a conservation area, the design for the front of this extension had to blend in with the existing. In order to give the design the lift it needed, the bedroom and en-suite bathroom have a cathedral ceiling and full-height glazing overlooking the back garden, where it cannot be seen from the road.
Road elevation 'before.'
Green-oak framed conservatory to a 1950s house.
Completed: 2011
Approximate value: £61,000
They must have liked the bedroom because they had me back to do the conservatory! This space filled in the rear courtyard and linked the day room to the living room. Green-oak trusses with stainless steel tie-bars was used for the primary roof structure. Self-cleaning solar control glazing was specified for the roof because of the southerly aspect. The walls and floor are well-insulated and double 'low-e' glazing mean that the space can be heated economically and used year-round.
Approximate value: £61,000
They must have liked the bedroom because they had me back to do the conservatory! This space filled in the rear courtyard and linked the day room to the living room. Green-oak trusses with stainless steel tie-bars was used for the primary roof structure. Self-cleaning solar control glazing was specified for the roof because of the southerly aspect. The walls and floor are well-insulated and double 'low-e' glazing mean that the space can be heated economically and used year-round.
Kitchen and day-room extension to a 1960s house in a conservation area.
Panoramic living room windows looking onto garden.
Completed: 2009
Approximate value: £142,000
We used a glulam frame to create a vast cruciform open-roofed kitchen-cum-'party-room,' adding a new dimension to the house. Site access was difficult for bulk materials, so the walls were built from timber frame and rendered using Knauf Aquapanel and glass fibre-reinforced render.
The windows and doors were made from seasoned oak by a local, high-quality joinery company.
The extension is super-insulated and has underfloor heating which makes the space warm and draft-free all year round.
Approximate value: £142,000
We used a glulam frame to create a vast cruciform open-roofed kitchen-cum-'party-room,' adding a new dimension to the house. Site access was difficult for bulk materials, so the walls were built from timber frame and rendered using Knauf Aquapanel and glass fibre-reinforced render.
The windows and doors were made from seasoned oak by a local, high-quality joinery company.
The extension is super-insulated and has underfloor heating which makes the space warm and draft-free all year round.
Loggia and front door with French door open into kitchen.
Kitchen and bedroom extension to a 19th century farmhouse.
Completed: 2008
Approximate value: £110,000
Whilst not a listed building or in a conservation area, the original farmhouse has considerable architectural quality and demanded a sympathetic approach. The scale, shape and materials of the extension reflect the existing farmhouse, though the detail of the steel frame and glass balustrade are unashamedly modern. I designed and detailed the project, got planning and building regulations approval and then my client managed the builder and sub-trades through to completion.
Approximate value: £110,000
Whilst not a listed building or in a conservation area, the original farmhouse has considerable architectural quality and demanded a sympathetic approach. The scale, shape and materials of the extension reflect the existing farmhouse, though the detail of the steel frame and glass balustrade are unashamedly modern. I designed and detailed the project, got planning and building regulations approval and then my client managed the builder and sub-trades through to completion.