CSarchitects

Lindisfarne Road, Albert Grove and Circle Gardens

2011-08-01T14:46:00.000+01:00

We introduced a couple of contemporary specifications including a concealed lighting strip to the underside of the main support beam to provide a new extension and satisfy their requirements. Lindisfarne Road was an exercise in attic space creation for a detached house.

The front and rear dormers are traditional in detail to sit neatly on the roof – the client was delighted with the result and the effort involved to make the stair access a feature and natural extension of the main house staircase.

Our quota of domestic scale work has been increasingly steady over the past year. Just finishing off with local contractors doing a good job are Albert Grove and Circle Gardens.

At Albert Grove we remodeled and updated an existing rear extension with some clever steel support to allow more freedom to plan a kitchen, music and breakfast room in a contemporary manner.

At Circle Gardens the emphasis was outside to inside for the client to enjoy the landscaped garden and their young family.

On the Drawing Board: Whyteleafe, Croydon

2011-07-04T13:01:00.000+01:00

Just completed for a local developer a pair of 3 and 2 bed semi detached houses – to code 4 sustainable standards and 15% renewable energy criteria above the local council requirements.

The sloping site and restricted plot width provided a good measure of attention to detail that satisfied NABC criteria and planning approval conditions.

This was an interesting exercise for the practice in close association with the builder to understand development costing and sustainability issue. Rainwater harvesting was a consideration at an early stage!

Projects: Wimbledon Hill Road

2011-05-31T16:49:00.001+01:00

Wimbledon Hill Road

Dates: 2010
Location: Wimbledon
Gross Area: 400 sqm
Sectors: Conservation and Regeneration

A mix of new and refurbishment residential flats, over a high street office location in Wimbledon.

In conjunction with the developer/contractor, we provided detailed drawings and project management experience to assist the build out of this residential scheme.

Site constraints in this urban context made co-ordination and management with the project team and neighboring businesses essential to the successful outcome, particularly the rear site new build units.

CSarchitects Goes Global..

2011-05-03T16:06:00.004+01:00

Over the Easter period Danuta, our engineer, went on holiday to Hong Kong to visit her boyfriend and his family. We've uploaded several photographs of her trip to share the impressive architecture of Hong Kong and Cheung Chau Island.

The first photo illustrates bamboo stick scaffolding...

View more..

Forgotten Spaces 2011

2011-04-18T15:04:00.002+01:00

With all of the admin flying around from projects on site and party wall matters, it will be nice to allocate some time to this years' RIBA "Forgotten Spaces" competition. We've a local A3 underpass in mind for attention.

Grott Scott , winners of last years' "Forgotten Spaces", came up with the idea to provide Reservoir Roofs in the middle of Lee Valley, between Tottenham Hale and Blackhorse Lane. The propose was to provide a series of interventions that allowed people to connect with the sublime location.

- Colin

Ecobuild - A Sustainable Future

2011-04-12T10:48:00.006+01:00

Back in the beginning of March, Ecobuild held an exhibition at the ExCel Centre, London. CSarchitects went along for the afternoon to find out about the latest developments in sustainability and the newest product launches.

With over 1,300 suppliers showcasing sustainable construction products, the team came home with bags full of brochures and the odd free pen!

Following on from the recent office visit, we are bidding for a residential project where the house owner is hoping to utilise “sustainable” techniques for a major refurbishment including monitoring equipment – not quite a straw bale house but a good start if we win the project.

- Colin

Climate Week at Morden Hall Park - 'Heart of the Park' project

2011-04-04T16:33:00.004+01:00

CSarchitects believes that it is very important to get involved with the local community, and joining the Climate Week at Morden Hall Park was a great way to do so. The team visited Morden Hall in March for an introductory talk about the 'Heart of the Park' project, and attended a tour to gain an insight of all the renovation work taking place in the stable yard.

As an architecture practice, we are always working towards building a more sustainable future, and therefore getting involved in projects like 'Heart of the Park', a scheme using natural and recycled materials, means that we are able to extend our knowledge on eco-friendly design.

One main feature of the projects, once built, is to provide a learning centre for visitors to find out about sustainable living and renewable energy. The building itself will be highly energy efficient with the use of photovoltaic solar panels on the roof, as well as an air source heat pump, which will enable them to generate their own energy.

The project will open in October 2011 and intends to reduce the use of fossil fuels for heat and electricity by 50% by 2020. In addition to this, the project will be installing an Archimedes screw turbine in the bank of the river to generate electricity for the stable yard.

The aim of the project is to promote and implement sustainable renovation practices in the 19th century building. Some examples of energy saving techniques are various types of insulation, water harvesting, using water power to generate electricity, solar panels to heat water and ceramic stoves to provide additional heating in public areas.

On the drawing board - Lancaster Road

2010-11-24T16:16:00.005Z

Lancaster Road | SW19

Having gained approval for the reversion of this property from flats to a main single residence we were recently successful with a planning approval for the substantial two storey rear extension to the building.

Building on traditional skills and experience and applying a contemporary approach to layout through client patronage we are currently taking the project to tender stage for the construction of an extended lower ground to include gym and media room facilities.

Projects - Hill Court

2010-11-24T12:46:00.005Z

Hill Court | SW19

Dates: 2007 - 2008

Location: Wimbledon SW19

Gross Area: 250 to 499 sqm

Sectors: Conservation - 1920's 1930's Buildings, Houses and Housing - General

Key Services: Architects' Service & Fee Advice, Full Architectural Service, Interior Design, Party Wall Advice, Refurbishment, Rights of Light Advice, Site Administration, Surveying, Sustainable Design

Description: Special project requirement for the design and construction of three new build contemporary penthouse flats on the roof of an existing 1920's mansion block on Wimbledon Hill.

In consultation with Structural Engineers as lightweight metal frame system was utilised to reduce the loads on the building and provide for fast track construction.

Specification of dry façade materials and rain screen cladding was inherent in the form of construction and the process of constructing 'flats on the roof'

Projects - Hill Court Continued

2010-11-24T12:29:00.004Z

An unusual and challenging project to design and build 3no.penthouse flats on the roof of a 1930's mansion block on the slopes of Wimbledon Hill.

Fraught with the usual statutory requirements, flat owners in residence below, and technical and logistics exercises to get the materials on the roof for construction we took the project through to completion with the main contractor.

A little early to be a show piece for sustainable design, the research and development of the residential units with large areas of glazing on a roof did give us the opportunity to embark on what is becoming a central theme for the practice aiming to contribute to the reduction of energy use in buildings.

Projects - Spencer Hill

2010-11-24T12:23:00.003Z

Spencer Hill SW19

Dates: 1992 - 1993

Location: Wimbledon SW19

Gross Area: 250 to 499 sqm

Sectors: Conservation -Victorian Buildings

Key Services:
Architects' Service & Fee Advice, Building Technology, Client Representative, Conservation & Restoration, Construction Techniques, Contract Administration, Drawing Service, Full Architectural Service, Interior Design, Party Wall Advice, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, Site Administration, Valuations

Description:

single residential house refurbishment, alteration and extension work including full architectural service.

The clients wanted to create a contemporary internal approach but to remain sympathetic to the exterior character property in a conservation area.

The extensive basement tanking and construction was technical with land drainage and pumping involve to divert a stream course running through the property.

Access to the lower floor was by an internal spiral staircase strategically located internally to allow for the provision of the new raised floor breakfast room.

The kitchen was moved to the centre of the house and linked to the front dining room.

The property underwent extensive renovation including the front elevation brick cleaning.

Projects - Spencer Hill Continued

2010-11-24T11:57:00.006Z

Full refurbishment, alteration and extension work including a new basement for a family home on the village hill. The clients put their trust in us to provide the best use of the space for them and their young family and a desire to maintain the classical look and proportions of the building.

Following several meetings and discussion of draft schemes they joined the challenge to convince the planners to form the rear central staircase and large breakfast room - unlocking access to the lower ground internally and creation of a large centrally located kitchen.

Phase two involved the insertion of a spiral stair to connect the lower ground to the breakfast room and create a much enjoyed two storey space that was central to the growth of the family and shared activities

Projects - Roland Way

2010-11-24T11:38:00.005Z

Roland Way | SW7

Dates: 2009 - 2010

Location: London

Gross Area: 100 to 249 sqm

Sectors: Houses and Housing - One-off Houses

Key Services:
Acoustics, Architects' Service & Fee Advice, Building Management, Client Representative, Design Management, Energy / Environmental Expertise, Full Architectural Service, Interior Design, Landscape Design, Party Wall Advice, Planning Applications, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, Refurbishment, Remedial Work, Site Administration, Valuations

Description:
Full Architectural service for the refurbishment and extensive external and internal alteration of the existing mews property including the excavation of a basement to the property.

Husband and wife had very strong ideas about the look and layout they required but through a lengthy design period that include the decision to excavate and move the kitchen into the new formed basement, a more than satisfactory outcome was achieved with a very proactive and conscientious contractor.

The design service included for the inclusion of several niches to contain their sculpture and art works and an interior design service that was complemented by a local interior designer to specify furniture and furnishings.

The new staircase was achieved in full consultation and design drawing checks of the sub contractor production information.

Projects - Roland Way Continued

2010-11-24T11:31:00.004Z

SW19: an unusual redevelopment brief from a Swedish client who had seen other examples of the opportunity in this popular mews off Gloucester Road.

We had to take out the whole interior and re-plan four storeys to include a lower ground kitchen and utility room.

After many meetings in showrooms around Chelsea and Kensington, the elegant and classic specification appeared.

The interior is being finished currently to house the clients art collection and cannot be photographed!

About CSarchitects...

2010-07-08T11:49:00.016+01:00

On Site and Progressing

Locally based in Raynes Park SW20, CSarchitects design and manage projects primarily in the residential field of architecture.

With a broad based experience had worked on larger residential developments and commercial design and construction work. CSarchitects was formed late in 2009 to provide a well rounded service to clients.

Design led from the outset all commissions will be approached in a collaborative manner with:

- Creativity that is practical, effective and memorable,

- Content that is focused, relevant and succinct,

- Design that is usable, coherent and detailed,

- Management that is reliable, viable and transparent.

We have a chartered practice status and are busy creating a studio and management system to deal with projects.

Welcome to the community architects site........

2009-12-23T16:13:00.003Z

Welcome to the community architects site........

think I'm showing my age as training in mid 70's I worked for one in Birmingham in Part I year out........

skip to today and quick survey for local shop rear extension ......

trying to prepare for Christmas in professional manner - pressies- turkey etc and office busy so I went and lo and behold - nothing is straightforward - shared u/g drain with neighbouring shops and mh right in middle of proposed extension.........ok, I know the BRegs changed last year for residential and no more internal mh's even with double seal traps but what about shops?

this blog site is about the day to day life of a sub urban architect and his office - more to be revealed later but for now get actively involved and help please

as I need to go and buy some wine for a drinks do tonight, pick up post from old office and sort a fee proposal. C