Summary
Urban design – Conservation infill

Location
Bristol

Concept

A sensitively designed apartment block located within the Cotham and Redland Conservation Area in Bristol. The design renovates and extends a dilapidated Victorian terrace house to form 8 spacious apartments over 4 floors. The project is typical of our approach to urban design. We carry out extensive research to establish the key characteristics of the building, its history and its context. Proposals then reference and reinterpret these features in a modern and creative way.

We focused on the the rhythm of the existing terraces, the size and setting out of windows, detail and articulation to the entrance level and the roof form. A highly detailed design and access statement was prepared at planning application stage to demonstrate our understanding of the building, and to illustrate how closely aligned the design proposal was to existing development patterns.  Traditional details were acknowledged, not copied, using modern construction techniques.

As the project was a self-build the client was keen to use a structural system that would not require specialist expertise. The design uses Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF), with a combination of insulated render and limestone cladding to the exterior. Internal sheep’s wool insulation is used internally to the existing building to upgrade it’s thermal performance without impacting on its appearance. A MVHR (mechanical ventilation and heat recovery) system is also employed to minimise the risk of condensation and to improve heating efficiency.

Team
Client: FBC Build
Architecture: Smith Maloney Architects Ltd
Planning Consultant: Planning Ventures Ltd