Key Services:
Architects' Service & Fee Advice, Building Management, Conservation & Restoration, Interior Design, Materials Advice, Planning Applications, Production Information | | | Description:
Project: New build house and garden to replace a dilapidated light industrial unit, located in the conservation area of Lewes.
Client: Private
Architect: BakerBrown Studio Limited
Structural Engineer: IE Engineers
Interior Designer: Chalkspace
Landscaping: BakerBrown Studio Limited
Contractor: Brian Huntly Builder Ltd
Construction Value: £330k
Total Floor Area: 121m2
This new 121m2 three-bedroom, two-storey dwelling replaced a single storey storage structure on an extremely tight and ancient site in Lewes, East Sussex with demanding technical and planning constraints. It was carried out for repeat clients but unlike their previous briefs, this project was carried out as a speculative development and so the financial parameters were also heavily constricted. The result is a very compact design with some innovative features to overcome the front and rear facing overlooking issues and excellent attention to detail. Despite its compactness, it has been complimented for the light and open feel and by making the new footprint smaller than the original, a discrete rear garden space was created. Thanks to the enlightened approach of the Clients, the integrated photovoltaic roof was kept in the build and along with a thermally efficient envelope this should help afford the future occupants something close to cost neutral energy bills and near carbon neutral performance.
Because of a long-standing relationship with the Client, the architects were afforded a relatively free-hand in setting the architectural response. This included careful detailing and excellent standards of execution. Notable points include the stair with its combination of metal work and oak joinery, the neatly recessed meter boxes and the routered nameplate formed in the front façade.
The Contractors, Brian Huntley Builders should also be commended for the deft handling of neighbours, who were unavoidably effected by the proximity of the build, and the ingenuity they deployed in managing such a tight site compound. In the early stages of the build they also had to carry out excavations with an archaeologist on hand but luckily only minor changes to the substructure were required.
Many locally believed a new house on this site was not possible, that something was built here which was remarkable.
BB’s approach to the energy strategy was to exploit the ‘solar aperture’, which for a tight urban plot was surprisingly open. An early decision was to rotate the ridge line 90º to that of the original structure to suit a photovoltaic roof (rated 2.4kW peak). Unusually for a speculative residential project the PV BB managed to retain an ‘integrated’ system which was far more suited to the visually sensitive setting off Southover High Street. Passive solar gains were also built-in by including generously sized glazing on the southern façade. To protect against overheating the first floor ribbon windows were set back within a deep reveal to catch the low angle winter sun but provide shade from the high angle summer sun. A pergola does a similar job for the ground floor windows.
Knowing that this was a speculative project, BB had to work hard on the external envelope to deliver a thermally efficient solution for a commercially realistic build rate. The following u-values were achieved for the key elements: Ground bearing slab: 0.11 W/m2K, External walls: 0.15 W/m2K and Roof: 0.11 W/m2K
With mains gas available, BB went with the pragmatic solution of a gas fired condensing boiler with a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. A wood-burning stove provides an alternative form of space heating on cold winter days.
The materials palette aimed at finding a contemporary language that pertains to the place of Lewes with its famous mix of timber, brick and slate as well as concentrating on the carbon locking potential of timber for the majority of the superstructure. The specification adopted a responsible and pragmatic approach to sourcing and minimising environmental impact. |
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Key Services:
Architects' Service & Fee Advice, CAD Services, Drawing Service, Ecological Architecture, Energy / Environmental Expertise, Sustainable Design | | | Awards:
Shortlisted for The Guardian's Observer Ethical Award 2006
| Description:
Architects BakerBrown Studio have designed a new Art and Science extension for this Grant Maintained primary school. The school governors, led by artist Tom Hammick and Head Teacher Angela Ferns, presented BakerBrown with a wonderfully inspired brief to design a new building with the smallest negative effect on the natural world. The project was deemed so innovative that it attracted the attention of the governments’ DfES Innovation Unit who awarded the school £15,000. This money has allowed pupils to film and document the design and construction process of this new building. Together with a local film-maker Mick Hawksworth this information is currently being edited to create an interactive CD ROM to be distributed to all primary schools in England and Wales. The CD will document the construction of this innovative low-impact school extension that has been designed to act as a learning aid during construction and beyond.
This project is of particular interest as BakerBrown have worked very closely with parents, staff and pupils on the design development by undertaking 3d design workshops with all classes. BakerBrown have designed a school building utilising completely environmentally benign materials, sourced locally. These include locally grown sweet chestnut for the ‘glu-lam’ structure (the first of its kind in the world we believe), sustainably-managed cedar shingles (from The Duchy of Cornwall Estate), sheep’s wool insulation and non-toxic paints for a healthy internal environment. Even the timbers use to construct partition walls were treated with a non-toxic insect/ fungus repellent. The scheme also utilizes one of the first ground source heat pumps used in a school building in the UK.
The pupils have been made aware of the sustainable development issues associated with creating a low-impact, low-energy building. They have visited many of the suppliers providing building products; even visiting the coppiced woodland providing timber for the scheme.
Despite all this innovation the project is coming in at about £1,400 per m2, which is very competitive especially as the building is only 225m2.
We believe that this project is pretty unique is terms of the inclusive design process undertaken to develop it, as well as the us of local non-toxic sustainably-managed construction materials and, of course, the overall cost which relates very well to current government ‘PFI’ requirements. We have proven that you can combine the ideals of Jon Sorrell’s ‘joined up thinking for schools’ initiative, together with truly sustainable construction techniques to deliver a wonderful school building on time and on budget.
The building opened in January 2006. There was an official naming ceremony in May 2006 attended by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.
Awards:
2006 Short-listed for 2006 Observer Ethical Award |
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| 3: Project Name | Little England Farm |
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| Dates: | 2008 - (ongoing) | | Location: | Hadlow Down | | Gross Area: | 1,000 to 1,999 sqm | Sectors:
Houses and Housing - Conversion & Extensions, Houses and Housing - Extension, Houses and Housing - General, Houses and Housing - One-off Houses, Houses and Housing - Renovation, Power Generation | | |
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Key Services:
Architects' Service & Fee Advice, CAD Services, Computer Graphics, Conservation & Restoration, Contract Administration, Drawing Service, Ecological Architecture, Environmental Impact Analysis, Feasibility Studies, Full Architectural Service, Planning Advice, Planning Applications, Quantity Surveying, Refurbishment, Sustainable Design, Value Engineering | | | Awards:
2016 Best Individual New Home at The LABC Grand Finals
2016 Best Individual New Home at The LABC Building Excellence Awards
2016 RIBA South East Regional Award
2016 RIBA South East Regional Sustainability Award
| Description:
BakerBrown were commissioned in 2008 to propose a sustainable master plan for a country estate in East Sussex. Our client wanted us to consider the viability of developing a derelict 1940's dairy, retrofitting and extending a 1970's house and a 19th Century Oast House situated next to each other. Working with Studio Engleback, who produced a parallel strategy for the surrounding landscape, the challenge was to create a low energy development from a brief that is traditionally extremely energy hungry, i.e. a new heated swimming pool with steam room and sauna, an external 'natural pool', and a high specification country house set in 275 acres of Wealden countryside that includes a lake and 150 acres of standing coppice woodland.
Awards:
1. 2016 Winner of “Best Individual New Home” at The LABC Grand Finals
2. 2016 Winner of “Best Individual New Home” at The LABC Building Excellence Awards
3. 2016 Winner of RIBA South East Regional Award
4. 2016 Winner of RIBA South East Regional Sustainability Award |
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| 4: Project Name | Waste House |
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| Dates: | 2013 - 2014 | | Location: | Brighton | | Gross Area: | 100 to 249 sqm | Sectors:
Community Participation, Education - General, Education - Higher Education | | |
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Key Services:
Architects' Service & Fee Advice, CAD Services, Cost Estimating, Drawing Service, Landscape Design, Model Making, Principal Designer, Sustainable Design | | | Awards:
2015 Shortlisted RIBA Stephen Lawrence Prize & Special Prize winner
2015 RIBA South East Regional Award winner
2015 RIBA South East Regional Sustainability Award winner
2015 Winner International Green Apple Awards for the Built Environment
| Description:
The brief for this project was to design and construct a permanent academic building that was also an open studio for use by local community groups, businesses, schools & colleges. The ambition was also to construct the building using material discarded by others and crucially to do this including students and other young people in the design and build process; to use these processes as a ‘live’ pedagogic tool.
The Brighton Waste House as it became known was opened in June 2014 and continues to be a ‘live’ on-going research project and permanent new design workshop (it is not a dwelling) focused on enabling open discussion and understanding of sustainable development. It is situated on campus at The University of Brighton’s College for Arts & Humanities at Grand Parade. Designed by Senior Lecturer & Architect Duncan Baker-Brown, together with undergraduate architecture & interior architecture students, this project was built by apprentices from The Mears Group, students from City College Brighton & Hove and The Faculty of Arts as well as volunteers. In all over 350 students helped with the project.
The Brighton Waste House is the first permanent ‘carbon negative’ public building in Europe to be constructed from approximately 90% waste, surplus material & discarded plastic gathered from the construction and other industries, as well as our homes. It has Full Planning & Building Regulations Approvals. It tries to prove “that there is no such thing as waste, just stuff in the wrong place!” The project continues a line of research by BakerBrown considering truly sustainable sources of materials and construction systems, or to be more precise truly ‘circular metabolisms’ that will one day help create a ‘Circular Economy’. Baker-Brown’s experience on this project has enabled him to write a book ‘The Re-Use Atlas: A designers guide towards a Circular Economy’.
AWARDS:
1. 2015 RIBA Stephen Lawrence Prize Special Prize winner
2. 2015 RIBA South East Regional Award winner
3. 2015 RIBA South East Regional Sustainability Award winner
4. 2015 Winner International Green Apple Awards for the Built Environment
5. 2014 Highly Commended in Blueprint Awards Best Sustainable Project
6. 2014 Winner of People Environment & Achievement (PEA) Award ‘Best Eco Project Working with Schools’
7. 2014 Winner in 2degrees Champions Awards for Waste & Resource
Management and Building or Property Project of the year
8. 2014 Finalist in Climate Week Awards |
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| 5: Project Name | Eton Cottage |
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| Dates: | 2012 - 2015 | | Location: | Compton | | Gross Area: | 100 to 249 sqm | Sectors:
Houses and Housing - General, Landscaping - Gardens | | |
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Key Services:
Architects' Service & Fee Advice, CAD Services, Drawing Service, Feasibility Studies, Interior Design, Sustainable Design | | | Description:
After an extensive feasibility study which involved close discussions with the planning department at Chichester District Council, the starting brief had to be reigned back in terms of the number of bedrooms which could be achieved and the new southern extension went from a two storey proposal to a single storey. Thus the Clients sensibly reconsidered how they would live in the house, how family and guests would stay and in so doing opted for well-proportioned spaces over the urge to cram too much in.
The house was typical of many older cottages in Sussex with compact spaces and very low ceilings, particularly over the first floor where the sloping ceilings significantly interfered with headroom. It had undergone some alterations and extension over the years with an unsympathetic long dormer facing the drive, a lean-to side extension and a white painted timber clad kitchen extension with a flat roof added in the 1960’s. It also had two outbuildings in the form of a large shed and a garage. The client’s starting brief was to rationalise the amount of built volume to create a larger house, as the garage and shed were no longer needed and the rather stark flat roofed extension, the poorly conceived lean-to extension and the long flat roof dormer would be rebuilt with more sympathetic additions.
The location of the house is stunning. Set within the small village of Compton, its garden and adjoining field expand south and opens out to broad views of the South Downs. This made the architectural handling of any new built form subject to particularly close scrutiny. The proposition had to be considered for its contribution to the context. Distant views from the Downs had to be taken into consideration and in particular the high sensitivity to any change in visual impact. Although the sixties extension was relatively small, its shape and white colour made it stand out from the village setting. The new proposal adopted an asymmetrical pitch to optimise the potential energy harnessing of solar panels and vertical timber cladding in natural finish, the colours of which recede into the general patina of the village. |
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| 6: Project Name | Grand Parade |
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| Dates: | 2004 - 2007 | | Location: | Brighton | | Gross Area: | 1,000 to 1,999 sqm | Sectors:
Culture & Entertainment - Concert Halls, Culture & Entertainment - Conference Centres, Culture & Entertainment - Theatres & Opera Houses, Education - General, Education - Higher Education, Landscaping - General, Retail - General | | |
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Key Services:
Architects' Service & Fee Advice, CAD Services, Contract Administration, Contract Advice, Feasibility Studies, Full Architectural Service, Landscape Design, Model Making, Planning Advice, Planning Applications, Sustainable Design | | | Description:
In the summer of 2004, BakerBrown were approached by the University of Brighton to act as lead consultant and architects for a major refurbishment and building programme at the Grand Parade Faculty of Arts and Architecture. The aim of the works was to create a new research centre (CETLD) and exhibition space for the school's 20th Century collection of art and design, as well as the creation of new state of the art I.T. and research resources, a new catering block, offices & student union facilities, in addition to creating a major new 'Link' space and an extensive overhaul of the Sallis Benney Theatre. The works are seen as part of a visionary development of the way in which the School accommodates and provides learning services for its students. The project was delivered on budget and on time.
To allow the work to proceed an intricate decanting programme was developed with the University to minimise impact to the various departments during and outside term-time. Phase One works included the creation of a new Student Union Shop, a new I.T. Resources Suite with A.V. editing spaces, new photographic dark rooms, and temporary catering facilities. The Phase II Works included a new build 'Link Space' that provides a much needed internal connection between three wings of the campus that allow students to work in an informally arranged space with wireless links to the digital archive and learning resources of the School. A new Catering Block houses kitchen and restaurant seating. |
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| 7: Project Name | Timberyard Lane Housing |
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| Dates: | 2003 - (ongoing) | | Location: | Lewes | | Gross Area: | Not available | Sectors:
Houses and Housing - General | | |
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Key Services:
Architects' Service & Fee Advice, CAD Services, Drawing Service, Planning Applications, Sustainable Design | | | Description:
BakerBrown were appointed to provide architectural design services for the development of five town houses in the historic heart of Lewes in East Sussex for a local property developer. The scheme was developed in two distinct phases, the first of which was a terrace of three dwellings incorporating western red cedar cladding to the upper two storeys and a rendered ground storey. The second block formed in a courtyard to the north of the original phase utilised slate cladding with extensive use of standing seam zinc detailing. The variation of materials articulates the blocks in a way which works well with the surrounding historical setting.
Each dwelling was designed with its own garage and private garden space. The lower storey is designed to withstand flooding from the nearby River Ouse.
BakerBrown's involvement was limited to carrying out a feasibility study and obtaining planning and building regulations approval. |
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| 8: Project Name | The Eco-Station and Eco-House |
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| Dates: | 2010 - 2013 | | Location: | Bordon | | Gross Area: | 500 to 999 sqm | Sectors:
Civic Building - General, Culture & Entertainment - Community Centres, Culture & Entertainment - Visitors' Centres, Houses and Housing - Extension, Houses and Housing - Public Housing, Houses and Housing - Renovation, Landscaping - Gardens, Landscaping - General | | |
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Key Services:
Architects' Service & Fee Advice, CAD Services, Contract Advice, Ecological Architecture, Energy / Environmental Expertise, Full Architectural Service, Graphic Design & Illustration, Planning Advice, Planning Applications, Refurbishment, Sustainable Design | | | Description:
As one of the first projects of the new eco-town of Bordon in East Hampshire, BakerBrown helped deliver the Eco-Station and Eco-House which are serving to demonstrate cutting edge eco-building technologies whilst accommodating the delivery team's offices with exhibition and conference facilities.
The Eco-Station
The former Ministry of Defence fire station which served the old garrison town was converted into a new eco-town headquarters where the emerging plans for the new developments can be directed and communicated. The new facility includes a multi-use exhibition space, a lecture theatre, community resource and meeting rooms and office spaces for the delivery team and commercial tenants. The 679 square metre Eco-Station will demonstrate how a redundant building can be brought back to life to serve a new purpose – as well as being refurbished to reduce its carbon footprint.
The Eco-House
BakerBrown and their team of consultants fused a series of innovative low environmental impact technologies, some of which trialed in the UK for the first time, to present a demonstration house for the eco-town of Bordon. The house employs a double height winter garden and trombé wall designed to provide useful passive solar gains in winter and protect against overheating in summer. The house has a large array of PV’s but its most innovative feature is a 9000 litre underground insulated inter-seasonal heat store which has been design to store excess solar thermal heat from the summer months for use into the cold season. It is anticipated that the house’s operation will be carbon negative meaning it creates more energy than uses. The house construction is almost entirely of renewable materials and of pre-fabricated construction. |
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| 9: Project Name | Hastings Media Centre |
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| Dates: | 2002 - 2005 | | Location: | Hastings | | Gross Area: | 500 to 999 sqm | Sectors:
Offices - General | | |
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Key Services:
Architects' Service & Fee Advice, CAD Services, Contract Administration, Contract Advice, Feasibility Studies, Sustainable Design | | | Description:
Hastings Media Centre was a joint project between the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and The Hastings and Bexhill Taskforce. This partnership is now known simply as 'Sea Space'. The Creative Media Centre is the first architectural manifestation of an ambitious regeneration programme for Hastings developed as part of the Sea Space 'Five Point Plan'. A regional master plan was undertaken four years ago by MBM of Barcelona.
Our clients undertook research that indicated that there was a thriving creative IT community in and around Hastings and St.Leonards. However, this community was poorly served from the point of view of suitable accommodation and technical backup. Sea Space's strategy has been to develop a first class media centre providing flexible affordable accommodation for these SME?s (Small to Medium Enterprises). One of the main outcomes of this strategy is that these local companies are travelling a lot less on a day-to-day basis. The Centre has been designed as a hub for Hastings' thriving creative information technology scene; encouraging collaboration, networking and innovative ideas in Hastings, where previously the community had to travel to London or Brighton for such environments.
The brief and design development required extensive consultation, not least with English Heritage, the Conservation Architect, as well as the local chamber of commerce. BakerBrown undertook public consultations, including an all day conference in Hastings where other key developments in Hastings and St.Leonards were presented and discussed. BakerBrown made a number of presentations during the feasibility study to 65 stakeholders.
The project provides a working example of how a contemporary multi-storey building in a very tight urban environment can employ low energy design techniques including utilising locally sourced, recycled non-toxic materials, while still satisfying the Clients brief for a high-tech serviced office building next to the sea. The design team employed a full range of low energy design techniques to create a building with exterior skin that uses construction materials of low embodied energy and fitness for purpose, and accommodates a healthy/ non-toxic interior with a 'long life / loose fit' plan for future adaption.
BakerBrown's Creative Media Centre employs a steel frame bolted together instead of welded so that it can be reused one day. Two thirds of the facades are lime render on waste-timber fibreboard with treble glazed timber windows reflecting the proportions of the original town houses. The third town house is replaced with a new glass and timber structure with cantilevered, treble-glazed bay windows picking up the adjoining building geometries on alternate floors creating a dynamic form providing a focus along the street as well as amazing views for the occupants. It also provides a new pedestrian access that runs below the building linking two pedestrian areas. The south facing facade is layered with external solar blinds (to avoid glare and excessive solar gain) that can be used at night as a huge projection screen; a working exhibit of the centres own output. BakerBrown worked with local artist Alistair Boyd to develop the multi-coloured northern glass facade. |
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| 10: Project Name | Lewes FC Dripping Pan |
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| Dates: | 2011 - (ongoing) | | Location: | Lewes | | Gross Area: | 250 to 499 sqm | Sectors:
Community Participation, Culture & Entertainment - General, Food and Beverage - General, Sport - General | | |
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Key Services:
CAD Services, Drawing Service, Energy / Environmental Expertise | | | Description:
BakerBrown are currently working on a redevelopment of the Dripping Pan football ground, home of Lewes Community Football Club, ‘The Rooks’ which has been based at this site since its foundation in 1885. The Club converted into a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society (CBS) in 2010 and a community share scheme was launched which put the ownership of the club completely into the hands of what is now around 1000 (and rising) mostly local shareholders, placing the club at the very heart of the local community. Each member/owner can only own one share, no matter how much they paid for it and every share carries one vote – the club’s Board is democratically elected. Though this community ownership model is the norm in Germany, Sweden and is the same one used by FC Barcelona, Lewes FC is one of a handful of football clubs pioneering this approach in the UK.
Lewes FC is now governed and guided by a Constitution that enshrines the club’s main function as being to bring benefit to its local community. The stated aims of the client are to regenerate the Dripping Pan site for the wider benefit of the whole community (as well as the football teams who play there), including people with disabilities, reflecting their ethos and motto “Our Club is your Club”. In effect, the ground will be returned to the widespread community usage that it offered for much of its early history.
The intention is to transform what is currently (and typically for a football ground) a site that is only used on a few occasions per week into a multi-functioning community hub combining sports usage with arts and media functions, and bringing together local businesses and young people to allow cross-fertilization of these diverse activities. The development targets in particular the youth sector of Lewes and the surrounding area by providing (in its second phase) a much-needed local venue for multi-media activities (music, theatre, TV and dance) and will provide a home for SYNC (Sussex Youth Network Centre). The location of the Dripping Pan ground in such close proximity to Lewes Priory School and Sussex Downs College is considered ideal for these youth-targeted aspects of the programme.
The general design objectives are to deliver a scheme that:
– provides new high quality, functional and flexible spaces that enrich and complement the existing site usage, achieving connectivity between the existing buildings;
– broadens the use and accessibility of the site to accommodate community-oriented organisations and youth-oriented initiatives;
– improves the Club facilities and the visitors’ match day experience;
– consolidates and keys into the existing multi-sports, educational and recreational facilities in the Mountfield Road/Priory vicinity;
– achieves high sustainability credentials and affords a low/neutral carbon use of the site, whilst setting high quality design standards to meet the aspirations of the Club;
– provides for improved accessibility with improved on-site parking and cycle parking;
– considers opportunities for the exhibition of relics from the nearby Priory Remains and the hosting of community events. |
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