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Keeping Busy!!

We have been particularly busy over the last few weeks, completing and submitting three significant planning applications.

Manor Farm, Andover

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Firstly, working with Adrian Barker at Lucid Planning we completed the design proposals for the redevelopment of Manor Farm, nr Andover. We have been employed directly by the site owners on the development of the former farm building site for residential use.

Situated in open countryside between the villages of Monxton and Abbotts Ann this has been a long process which required some innovative thinking to resolve the strategic planning issues. This has also involved extensive negotiation with the Planning Authority at Test Valley and local residents pressure groups. It has been a lengthy project extending over the last 18 months and the application is now heading towards a committee date in the middle of June. Fingers crossed.

The design has been developed in close co-operation with the landscape architect and has played particular regard to the setting and context with the open countryside. The original farmyard buildings have been retained to create a sense of continuity and the shared open space will act as a landscape buffer as well as creating opportunities for allotments and community facilities

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North Brook End House, Steeple Morden

Secondly, by contrast, we have submitted a Full Planning and Listed Building Consent Application for North Brook End House, Steeple Morden. The site overlooks our long-standing project at the neighbouring Stud Farm and is for a private client.

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The work has involved detailed design proposals to reflect the need to respect the historic fabric. We have also involved Cambridge Architectural Research (CAR Ltd) who have prepared the accompanying Heritage Statement.

The proposals are for a two-storey rear extension, which has been carefully integrated with the existing building, as well as internal alterations to create a new en-suite facility. These elements required a great deal of detailed work to ensure they could be satisfactorily implemented without disturbing the existing building fabric.

South Street, Bishops Stortford

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Finally, we have completed the design work on our town centre project in Bishops Stortford. Our client has purchased a former Co-operative Buildingon the corner of South Street and Station Road, which has, frankly, seen better days!!

The existing floors have been re-modelled to suit flexible future uses with an additional floor of residential apartments being added at second floor level. New external treatment to the elevations is proposed in response to the setting of the Conservation Area.

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Detailed massing models have been prepared utilising a 3D base model prepared by Joanna James Ltd. We have inserted our site sketch-up model into the wider context so that the impact can be fully considered.

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Progress on Site in Hertford

Sites at the Former Waters Garage and 66-68 St Andrew Street

Recent site photographs on a very sunny day in Hertford. Construction of two of our projects are well underway on site.

Located in the St Andrew Street Conservation Area, the restrictions of the site are plain to see and have given rise to quite different design solutions. Both schemes are heavily constrained but demonstrate how effective use can be made of even the trickiest of sites to facilitate regeneration and successful development.

The Former Waters Garage site creates two distinct areas – the first has utilised and restored the original coachworks to create a unique frontage with a discreet mews development to the rear which has echoes of the workshop building that it replaced. Secondly the rendered terraced villas pick-up on the original, distinctive semi-detached buildings along North Street.

Diagonally opposite is the site of 66-68 St Andrew Street which immediately abuts a pair of historic grade II listed cottages. By re-forming an original historic street pattern, we have created 4 unique, residential units around a shared courtyard.

Our clients, the new site owners, Leary Developments Ltd, have recently purchased the cottage next door which has given us an excellent opportunity to open up the rear area and will create a great shared private space for the mix of units which surround it.

The close proximity of the busy roads has imposed constraints on the construction process which we helped address within the building methods. As can be seen, good progress is being made on both sites with a number of sales being secured off-plan at Carriage Court (Former Waters Garage) and a great deal of interest being expressed at 66-68.

We look forward to seeing the successful completion of both projects before the end of the year.

Ocean Drive, Turks and Caicos

After a period of gestation, Forge Design Studio have started work in earnest on the design of 2 luxury villas on the islands of Turks and Caicos in the West indies. This fantastic opportunity has grown out of the relationship developed with one of our main current clients, who we have now worked with on several projects in the UK.

The site is near the main town of Providenciales and is on a south-facing slope over-looking the ocean. The attached photographs give a flavour of the uninterrupted views to the ironshore which forms the sea wall.

The creation of integrated inside / outside living space will be key to the success of the villas and the relationship to the main spaces to the external terraces and swimming pool is very important. A multi-level approach, stepping down the hillside with a suite of guest bedrooms at the lowest level, the ‘grand salon’ at upper ground and a luxury master bedroom suite on the top floor with its own private sun deck, are the initial ideas.

Consideration of climate with shade required from the sun and shelter from the prevailing trade winds being a strong design criteria. Liaison will take place with a local partnership contractor and engineers to develop the form of construction and inform the choice of suitable materials and detailing.

The design is being developed in our usual sequence of hand-drawn sketches and 3D modelling.

Looking forward to the site visits!

Royal West Indies, Turks and Caicos

Forge Design Studio have been commissioned to prepare a Vision Document for the Future Redevelopment of the Royal West Indies Resort site on the Turks and Caicos Islands. Fronting onto the world famous Grace Bay the existing site is renowned for its beautiful setting and landscape, however great potential exists to develop some residual areas of land.

We have worked closely with our Client to develop the initial concept to reorganise the entrance and arrival experience and to shift the centre of gravity of the site further away from the existing beach frontage. Ideas are now focussing on the site fronting the road to create a new, high profile impact building for visitors to the resort.

Photos attached show the benefits of a drone for achieving great quality aerial shots with the flexibility of fixing on specific heights to create realistic viewpoints.

The opportunity for a site visit is getting closer!!

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