July 2017 - Batterham Smith Architects

Cranham Lodge

July 30, 2017 by Ben Smith

Background

The opportunity arose to design an elightened contemporary oak framed house from a derelict group of tuberculosis sanatorium buildings, set in an idyllic woodland clearing with a stunning outlook to the South.

Design

A bold, curved house plan cradles the end of a dewdrop shaped lake and completes the enclosure at the front of the house. A simple mono pitched sedum roof is supported on nine tree-like oak columns on the upper floor with the bedrooms below.

Technical

Load bearing masonry gives a refuge like feel to the bedrooms on the lower ground floor, whilst the open plan oak frame on the first floor makes the most of the views. Ground source heat pump, solar thermal and PV panels ensure a Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5 rating is achieved.

Awards

Winner of the RIBA South West Regional Awards 2013
Voted Best Timber Frame, Best Eco Home and Readers’ Choice for the Daily Telegraph Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2013

Testimonial

“We are so happy in the beautiful house that you have created for us. The feeling of space, calm and comfort, coupled with the surroundings makes it the home we always wanted…..

A view to treasure is at night – standing by the bund lights, the house looks as if it is a cruise liner floating on water”

Richard & Catriona Tyson, Cranham Lodge

Designed by: George Batterham, Ben Smith, John St Leger

Oak Frame by: Carpenter Oak

Built by: H B Lewis & Sons

This gallery contains 18 photos

Owlpen

July 29, 2017 by Ben Smith

Background

Situated on a stunning site with its own natural spring supply and woodland, the agenda was to create a low energy sustainable dwelling, utilising natural renewable sources.

Design

The open plan living accommodation is on the first floor including an evening winter snug and study. The bedrooms are on the lower level, dug into the bank, utilising ground warmth.

Technical

Gentle curved glulam beams form the roof structure which is covered with Sedum. There is a ground source heat pump that utilises two bore holes, natural spring water, warm-cell recycled newspaper insulation, and rain water harvesting off the roofs.

Awards

Short listed at the Homebuilding & Revnovating Awards 2009: the Grand Designs effect

Testimonial

” We are still pinching ourselves to make sure it’s real, this fabulous place. I hope we that we will always feel privileged to be here and never lose the thrill we are experiencing now. It is an extraordinary home”

Andrew and Lucy Milne, Owlpen

Designed by George Batterham, Bernardo Mori

Built by HB Lewis & Sons Ltd

This gallery contains 22 photos

Winslade Down

July 28, 2017 by Ben Smith

Background

The replacement of a 1950s cottage and annexe within a walled garden provided the opportunity to design a modern, oak-framed house and lodge, tailored to both the site and clients’ aspirations.

Design

The concept focuses on creating outdoor ‘rooms’. A formal garden to the South East is defined by the two storey component of the house while, to the North, a lower sedum-covered component encloses the arrival courtyard.

Technical

Seven, green oak tree-like structures running through the design form the basis for the internal configuration. Solar panels, a ground source heat pump and highly insulated walls and roof, ensure the building will be energy efficient well into the future.

Designed by: George Batterham

Built by: Heseltine Carp Limited

This gallery contains 14 photos

The Vines

July 27, 2017 by Ben Smith

Background

This highly sustainable house involved rebuilding a new two storey contemporary house with a work studio on the footprint of an existing bungalow using the existing footings.

Design

The design was based around sustainable criteria with south facing glazing, solar panels and rainwater collection. Two simple double pitched volumes creates a large arrival courtyard off which there is a light and airy home work studio. This is separated from a private garden containing the everyday living areas. Large glazed doors spill onto the terrace and garden whilst a balcony provides a connection to the garden from the first floor. The open plan kitchen, living and dining space is arranged off a top-lit central stair.

Technical

Sustainable principles have been key to this project from the outset with super insulation, triple glazed windows, quintuple glazed rooflights, rainwater harvesting and the very first residential multi room natural, passive heat recovery ventilation system seen on the roof by Ventive. Evacuated tube solar thermal panels with thermal store are also incorporated.

Designed by: George Batterham, Sam Pew-Latter, Ben Smith

Built by: P.A.C. Construction

This gallery contains 18 photos

Drum House

July 26, 2017 by Ben Smith

Background

This distinctive house involved replacing an existing bungalow with a building that makes the most of its dramatic views towards Wells cathedral and Glastonbury Tor beyond.

Design

The design originated from an idea that the solid walls of the house emanate from the hillside whilst the floating curved roof mimics the rolling Mendip hills. A circular drum demarcates the entrance and provides a sense of arrival whilst views to the South of the Cathedral are framed with a large circular window upon arrival. Large South facing glazing also maximises the views of Glastonbury Tor and the open landscape to the West over Stoberry Park . A covered terrace provides a sheltered south facing al fresco dining area.

Technical

Well insulated walls and roof provide the backdrop to the dramatic curved roof which is supported on larch glulam timber beams and columns produced locally at Buckland Timber’s yard in Devon. A rainwater tank collects water for use in the garden.

Designed by: George Batterham, Ben Smith

Built by: Chivers and Co. Ltd

This gallery contains 11 photos

62 Thomas St

July 25, 2017 by Ben Smith

Background

The existing 60 St Thomas street had previously been a public house with the ground to the rear used as a car park for customers. The existing house was listed and within the Wells conservation area. Our client’s agenda was to build a new contemporary energy-efficient house, making the most of the long views to the south west towards Glastonbury Tor and Wells cathedral and also to integrate the garden areas into the design composition as a whole.

Design

A single living space was created using the whole site with 1m thick walls on two sides and the site boundary on the other two. Inside and outside areas within the living space are articulated but not separated so as to retain an expansive sense of space. The landscaping is a large part of the living space with the dinning/deck/lawn sequence being reinforced by the 5m wide opening glass wall

The design has very much been tailored to the specific needs of our clients with two studio/guest rooms to enable them to both work from home most of the time creating a live work balance which is more sustainable and less dependent on the car on a daily basis.

Technical

The building materials are in their natural state as far as possible with low embodied energy, integral stone dust render and cedar boarding externally. Traditional materials used in a contemporary way to help the building to belong to its wider regional context.

The dining and main bedroom section of the house has deliberately been orientated to face due south looking towards Glastonbury Tor to maximise the solar gain for the Photo voltaic panels and solar thermal panels on the roof and natural passive solar gain to the main rooms in winter, with an overhanging roof to protect the space from over-heating in the summer.

The rainwater is collected and harvested to use in the garden and for grey water supplying WC flushing. Daylight factors of 8 % to all main spaces throughout the building minimising the use of artificial light which will be low energy fittings. A roof light over the stairs brings light down into the back of the plan through a void in the floor.

Testimonial

“Simon really enjoyed knowing you all and working on the build of Number 62. He was proud that it won awards, not just for us, as we had a minor part in making it so, but for your expertise and skill in creating and building such a lovely home. As a craftsman himself, he knew a good thing and a good team when he saw it.”

Sheena & Simon Loveday, Thomas Street

Awards

Winner, Best Individual New Home, Mendip Building Excellence Awards 2015
Finalist, Best Individual New Home, LABC Building Excellence Awards Grand Finals 2015

Designed by George Batterham, Ben Smith

Built by Chivers & Co Ltd

This gallery contains 13 photos