January and February News 2015

• 2015 started at running pace for Kay Pilsbury Thomas Architects, and we are very busy working on existing and new projects.  Sibyl, Kay, Richard and Monica have also visited more exciting potential projects and clients throughout January and February, and we will tell you more of these in the months to come.
• Renovations are now complete to a house in Clapham, with Fairhurst Ward Abbotts. The design includes beautiful new double doors, echoing the design of the original Victorian window details. 
• At Galleywood Church, Lodge and Sons have installed the magnificent new oak screen, with oak tree carving.  The design and construction of the new Organ Gallery and North Transept Room continues.
• We have prepared feasibility sketches to produce a larger tea room and social space; exciting exhibition space; and storage areas for a local museum.
• We are preparing working drawings for alterations and conversion of a wash house at a C.17th Farmhouse in Essex.  John W. Younger Ltd is to carry out an investigative opening up of the roof.
• Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent have been approved for the erection of an extension to the house and conversion of an outbuilding at a C.16th Hall House in Essex.  The Archaeology Team is due to start some trial digs this month; and we are negotiating with builders with a view to starting on site this summer.
• Planning Permission has been granted for the erection of a chimney, the insertion of windows, and internal alterations at a C.16th Farmhouse in Essex. 
• Concept design is complete for internal alterations to a thatched C.17th former shop in Suffolk, and an application for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent has been submitted to the local authority. 
• The concept design for a new Servery has been submitted to the P.C.C. of the Grade I Listed church of St. Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, and will be discussed at their next meeting.
• Pre-application advice has been sought from the Local Authority for their approval in principle to a kitchen extension, internal alterations and re modelling to a C.17th house in Cambridgeshire.
• Working drawings are progressing for an exciting Orangery, swimming pool, gym, games room and media room extension to a Grade II Listed C.19th house in Hertfordshire.   Sarah is assisting the client in their choices of flooring, light fittings, and for designing all the interior spaces. 
• Pre-application advice has been requested from the Local Authority, asking for their approval in principle to an extension providing a ground floor kitchen with breakfast and sitting areas; and master bedroom and en-suite at first floor level, so that a C. 17th cottage in Essex can provide the much needed extra space for the family.
• Ovington P.C.C. has applied for an HLF grant, to help them carry out the very necessary re-roofing of the Church of St. Mary. 
• Drawings have commenced on a former Grade II Listed Rectory in Bedfordshire, and the Conservation Officer has agreed the proposal in principle. 
• We are seeking pre application advice from the local authority for their approval in principle for a single storey, highly glazed family garden room extension to a 1½ storey thatched house in Essex.  
• A feasibility design is underway for the reconstruction of former stables and kitchen garden buildings to a Country House in Suffolk to create a thriving business within this rural location.
• A planning application has been submitted to the local authority for refurbishment of a C.15th Hall House in Essex, and also for the construction of a kitchen, bedroom and family garden room extension. The frame has been stripped already, revealing a whole host of delights, such as the former mullioned windows which the owners are reinstating.  A barn in the grounds is also being converted to rent out.
• The concept designs are complete for the Kitchen extension into the cloister of an abbey and conversion of the attic spaces.
• The contemporary design for an indoor swimming pool building with oak cladding and slate roof, adjacent to an Arts and Crafts building is complete and ready for submission.
• Concept designs for a rear two storey extension onto a handsome brick Victorian house are in progress, with alterations to the existing kitchen to make it bigger and more amazing.
• Work is about to progress on the on the conversion of the Grade II Listed former stables of a Country House in Cambridgeshire.  
• We are currently negotiating with a conservation builder over the careful repairs to a lobby entrance house in Suffolk.  The approach is to sensitively repair the cottage using traditional techniques and materials, and the owner is particularly interested in using local craftsmen.
• We are now the DAC Approved Architect for The church of St. John the Baptist, Epping.
• There was great excitement in the KPT office towards the end of February, as Sibyl and Sarah were flown by private helicopter to a fabulous location to carry out research for one of our projects! See some of the sensational photos.
• We are very pleased to announce that former employee, Leah, gave birth to baby Joshua, on 6th March.  Mother and son are now both doing well.