Monthly Archives: April 2016

Wicklea Academy (formerly St Anne’s Junior School)

April 23, 2016 by Ben Smith

Background

We were commissioned to build a new, three-form entry junior school on the site of a former youth centre site to accommodate 360 pupils.

Design

Responding to the geometry of the site and southerly orientation, three pairs of classrooms are set out in an echelon across the back of the site, with the central street in the middle of the plan. A library and small open plan teaching area inhabit the street with daylight flooding in from above.

A two-storey block runs along the north side of the internal street containing all the admin staff learning support and ancillary spaces.

Technical

With only 9 months to construct the building, a steel frame enabled the roof to go on quickly with the follow on trades overlapping below. With cedar boarding, a metal roof, and robust brick base there are no finishes to deteriorate and the building will weather naturally and improve with age.

Designed by: Chris Ball, George Batterham, John St Leger

Built by: Skanska

This gallery contains 22 photos

Upper Seagry

April 22, 2016 by Ben Smith

Background

Located in a beautiful village surrounded by meadows and woodlands, the clients required the elegance of an oak frame and the technology of a modern sustainable home. The small, challenging site offered an opportunity for an architectural gem

Design

The design is based on the sculptural elegance of the oak frame and is split on two levels –  the open living space above enjoys the view over the meadow, whilst the bedrooms are snug below.

The detailing is designed to incorporate the different sustainable materials used, with the structural capacity of the oak frame  counter levered to maximise the internal spaces and offering larger openings to the landscape.

Technical

Using ground source heating technology, wood burners and natural materials, the building is  sustainable and in keeping with its surroundings.

Designed by : George Batterham, Ricardo Assis Rosa

Built by: Peter D Bilder

Oak frame by:  Carpenter Oak and Woodland

This gallery contains 13 photos

The Old Vineyard

April 22, 2016 by Ben Smith

Background

A 1960s bungalow in a stunning south facing elevated site provided the opportunity for a sustainable, contemporary oak framed house.

Design

A simple curved plan form with a traditional slate pitched roof embraces the view and creates a split level sun terrace overlooking the valley. The green oak frame provides a steady rhythm ordering the internal composition, whilst five different levels respond to the site levels and brief in detail.

Technical

A ground source heat pump, solar panels, sedum roof, high levels of natural wood fibre insulation and rainwater harvesting ensure that the sustainability of the house is maintained for the life of the building.

Designed by: George Batterham and Ben Smith

Built by: Quarry Stone

This gallery contains 16 photos

Secondary School Architecture – St Bernadettes Catholic

April 15, 2016 by Ben Smith

Secondary School Church

Background

An existing 1960’s main secondary school building which had been poorly extended, and surrounded with eight temporary classrooms, provided the need and opportunity for a substantial re-modelling and three new extensions.

Design

A new central dining and drama space were designed as a new heart space and, together with generous circulation routes, succeed in breathing new life into the school. A new Art and Music facility, along with six new science classrooms clustered around a central Super Lab for up to 90 pupils, provide state of the art learning environments.

Technical

A steel frame and lightweight construction enabled the majority of the building to be built within ten months and provided for future flexibility. Ninety per cent of the new buildings use natural ventilation and daylight. Solar shading to the south elevations prevent overheating whilst articulating the facade.

Designed by: George Batterham, David Burne

Built by: Skanska

This gallery contains 26 photos

Market Lavington Community Hall

April 10, 2016 by Ben Smith

Background

The site was purchased by the Parish Council to replace an existing hall. The new village hall is prominently positioned on the western approach to the village with St Mary’s Church beyond and sheltered by six large listed Lime trees.

Design

The design pairs a single hall with a small circular meeting room both being served by a centrally placed kitchen. The building has a strong sustainability agenda using low embodied energy materials throughout.

Technical

The hall is formed from a portal frame glulaminated structure and a timber roof with high levels of insulation. A ground source heat pump with ground loops passing under the parking areas provides hot water and underfloor heating system.

Designed by: George Batterham, Ben Smith

Built by: Gaiger Brothers of Devizes

This gallery contains 19 photos

Willowcroft Farm

April 3, 2016 by Ben Smith

Background

On a stunning plot in Gastard, the challenge was to replace an existing bungalow with an oak-framed family home while best using its expansive south-facing views.

The clients wanted both double-height living space,  as well as the intimacy formed by inhabiting the roof space within the oak framed trusses.

Design

The simple volume of the new house is very carefully positioned on the site to create a new circular arrival courtyard to the front. Continuous glazing at the ground floor provides transparency and uninterrupted connection to the landscape. Cotswold stonework walls anchor the house to its context.
Internally a dramatic double-height living space leads to the first-floor bedrooms and a central roof light floods the space with natural daylight.

Technical

Natural materials, natural lighting and natural ventilation are the sustainable themes of this house with a ground source heat pump providing all the heating and hot water. The use of timber for the walls, oak frame and windows, local stone and a sedum roof to the garage, all help to reduce the building’s carbon footprint.

Designed by: George Batterham, Ben Smith

Built by: P J Harrington

Oak frame by Carpenter Oak and Woodland

This gallery contains 8 photos