case studies
Below is a summary of a range of projects to give you a feel for the diverse nature of our work in recent years.
Crowborough - New Dwelling
Project Background
Client had a one-bedroom lodge/annexe in the garden that had been rented out for several years. It had been converted from an office space and before that an old chicken run. The client’s plan was to create a single house in its own right. Budget was £350K.
Problems Faced by the Client
The main hurdle was securing planning as the property was outside of any defined development boundary and in an AONB. Through careful negotiation with the planners, approval was obtained under the permitted development route.
The Tangent Space Solution
Once we were instructed, we drew up detailed plans for a new house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the 1st floor, and a living room, kitchen, utility room and garage on the ground floor. We applied for change in use to a dwelling to enable the project to go ahead.
The location of the property lent itself to a barn-type building and the client was open to the style, materials and character of the new building. We were also careful to be sensitive to the landscape of the site which was sloping and so we designed the building to step down to follow the existing topography.
The Result
The final building was a fully exposed oak frame post and beam construction, which used structural insulated panels (SIPs) in the walls and roof. SIPs have a high performance of insulation and energy efficient qualities that allow for a low energy structure.
The oak frame was manufactured off-site in the West Country and the SIPs panels were built in the Midlands. Thanks to cloud technology, both companies could download the 3D model we built of the house and begin their manufacturing process. We had allowed a tolerance of 20mm between the two components and they fitted perfectly! The oak frame was assembled in just five working days and the SIPs fitted in a further eight days to leave the building watertight.
The client is now very happily living in his warm, energy efficient new home and his only wish is that he’d made the decision to transform the original chicken run years ago!
Crowborough - New Dwelling
Project Background
Client had a fairly extensive garden plot of around 1.5 acres. They approached us with the idea of dividing their site into two plots and building a new residential dwelling on the divided section. Budget was £600K.
Problems Faced by the Client
The site is located in an AONB with ancient woodland bordering it on one side. We had to secure planning permission to separate the site and build the new house in the divided plot. Planning was carefully negotiated by first securing outline permission to establish the principal of residential development. Working in an AONB can be planning-sensitive and we find it best to approach this in stages so we can build a relationship with the planners.
The Tangent Space Solution
Our initial brief was for a barn-style structure, a style the clients were very keen on. However, the site was sloping and this didn’t lend itself well to a barn. The idea was developed at the concept stage and discussed with the planners to seek their opinion and input. They agreed a barn wasn’t the best option considering the site and size of dwelling required, which was a five-bedroom family home. Instead, we developed a subsequent design based on the Arts and Crafts theme, more sympathetic to the lie of the land and size of property.
The Result
We incorporated many local materials, including cut and split faced stone, handmade local bricks and clay roof tiles. On the outside, the house looked like vernacular architecture but it was built in a fabric first approach which achieved a low energy dwelling. New technologies and building materials were used in all aspects of the build, resulting in a home which now has very low running costs and energy needs.
The client is now living in the new dwelling and has sold the original house.
Southborough - Two Storey Side and Rear Extension
Project Background
Clients had purchased a semi-detached property that required complete refurbishment as well as extending to suit their family needs. Budget £250K
Problems Faced by the Client
Although the site had a generous rear garden, there was fairly limited space to the side. Any design needed to work with this and also limit the impact to the street scene.
The Tangent Space Solution
At concept design stage, we developed a larger footprint to the ground floor and one that was sensitive to the existing building at the first floor. This limited the impact to the street scene and enabled the brief requirements to be fully met and planning secured.
The Result
The end result was a generous four-bedroom family home with fantastic family space to the ground floor linking directly to the large, rear garden. Off-street parking was provided to the front and the overall look of the house was updated to make for a desirable family home. We looked closely at the primary energy demand and took measures to reduce and better insulate the existing building fabric. The careful use of natural daylight has created a perfect family home, meeting the clients’ needs precisely.
The house is almost unrecognisable from the outdated property the family bought and they have loved growing into their new light and airy – and seasonally efficient – home.
Rotherfield - Commercial and Residential Development
Project Introduction
Our clients had purchased a grade 2 listed building (circa 1450) in a conservation area and AONB. The property was laid out as a single dwelling and integrated antiques shop on the ground floor with further habitable space on the first floor. It had been neglected and disused for a number of years. The idea was to reinstate the commercial property as a café with a self-contained flat above and a separate three-storey house. Budget £500K.
Problems Faced by the Client
The building was in a very poor condition following lack of maintenance and several years of neglect. It is difficult to secure a mortgage for a property above a commercial space which means a clear, physical division between commercial and residential use needed to be established in the building. This would effectively create three independent units. Additionally, the building was located on a challenging High Street so any works needed careful planning and thought to minimise impact to local adjacent services and residents.
The Tangent Space Solution
Firstly, it was necessary to collate and compile a series of studies on the building to know what we were working with. This included a full measured survey of the existing building using the latest laser measuring technologies, an archaeological assessment of the building to understand its historical context and phasing, and a full structural assessment of the main oak frame. Working closely with the local authority conservation team, negotiations were undertaken to conclude the best way forward with the project and secure the required change in use applications, and planning with listed building consent.
To circumvent the potential commercial/residential mortgage issue, we built a separating party wall within the existing building.
The Result
The end result created a four-bedroom family home – we converted the loft space to make a master suite -, a café fitted out with a commercial kitchen and a self-contained two-bedroom apartment over with a small courtyard garden. The building works included a major overhaul of the main buildings oak frame with numerous repairs. The roof was completely stripped and renovated, including a new linking roof structure between the medieval and Victorian parts of the building. A new party wall was constructed from basement level right up to the roof space ensuring the required separation of the buildings uses.
Overseeing the works for the clients ensured we were on hand at all times to answer and deal with the construction works, including further local authority and specialist consultant negotiations. The project went on to be nominated by the village parish council for the Sussex Heritage Trust Award and gained a highly commended award for its use of sensitive materials alongside new technologies.
It was one of the first commercial buildings in the UK to use far infrared heating and structural resins to limit the impact on the historic building fabric.
Mayfield - Commercial and Residential Building
Project Introduction
Clients were a board of trustees who had for many years rented the entire property to the current tenant, a local practicing pharmacist. The building was grade 2 listed (circa 1830) in a conservation area and AONB. It featured a pharmacy store at the front with storage space to the rear and a kitchen and further storage at basement level. Then with 4 Bedrooms so the first floor, as historically, the Pharmacist would have lived on the premises. It was all in a fairly serious state of disrepair having had little to no maintenance for many years.
Problems Faced by the Client
The agreement in place with the tenant included a maintenance clause, which meant the building required a dilapidation survey to allow for a commercial valuation before then reporting back to the board of trustees to enable them to decide on what to do with the property. A change of use and listed building consent was then sought to create more sustainable residential units to serve the community needs. We also incorporated extensive refurbishment of the current commercial space, including provision of a disabled access ramp.
The Tangent Space Solution
We were drafted in to draw up plans and secure all the required planning permission. We created two residential units, one below and one above the commercial ground floor space. The commercial space had its own independent access factored in along with a major internal and external overhaul. The residential units then benefitted from independent outside recreational space and off-street parking.
The Result
The permissions sought secured a future for the building and provided the owners with both commercial and residential income – maximising the building’s potential. Through careful negotiations with Historic England (formerly known as English Heritage) and the conservation team, a disabled ramp was designed which made accessing the building comply with current modern day standards and equally serving the community needs better.
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