August News

The Olympic and Paralympics Games have made very exciting viewing.  Some of us at KPT were lucky enough to go to the Athletics and see stars like Usain Bolt and many of Team GB win plenty of gold medals!

Summer is always a busy time at KPTA and here’s what we’ve been up to in August:

·         We have received Planning Permission, Listed Building approval and Scheduled Monument consent for works to be sympathetically carried out to probably the most significant group of farm buildings in the East of England at Colville Hall, White Roding.  The buildings within its curtilage are most impressive; a Grade I Courthouse, a Grade I barn of eight bays dating to the C12th, a Grade II* granary, a Grade II* Byre, a Grade II* barn of five bays, a Grade II cart lodge and, as well as all these, a Grade I Tudor gateway – and all sitting on a 12th century Scheduled Ancient Monument. 

      Our clients have brilliantly battled through the complex planning process to ensure that these significant buildings are saved and safeguarded for the future, by receiving approval to use them as a beautiful wedding venue and accommodation. The use they have chosen is ideal for the lovely barns because they can be used without any new floors or partitions and will, therefore, be enjoyed for their beautiful and majestic spaces – hopefully for many generations to come.

      The site was an extremely sensitive one, being in the Green Belt and accessed via a narrow country lane. It is for this that they received so many objectors. But the clients are a remarkable couple and have agreed to build a new access road to the site, plant a new wood and include some sophisticated noise control systems in order to reduce any impact from the proposal.We all look forward to seeing these beautiful buildings being brought back to life again and saved by this ambitious project.

·         The complete interior design and 1 ½ storey extension of the late C16th Grade II former Watermill in Suffolk are now complete. Photos are soon to appear on our website under domestic projects. 

·         At the Grade II * C16th brick and timber framed Hall house in Hertfordshire, sketch designs continue for a single storey extension and alterations to a barn. 

·         The design to a Farmhouse in the Lea Valley continues.  We are looking to reinstate the original lobby entrance elements of the house and former features, such as the large decorative chimney tops, and to replace the existing modern wing with a complimentary one. The old washhouse is also being linked to the house, to create a Kitchen and Breakfast Room.

·         The restoration of Finchingfield Guildhall continues. The sheepswool insulation has been inserted and oak laths applied, with the lime hair plaster scratch and pricking coats going on now. The electric first fix is going well and the reinstated C15th mullioned windows are nearly all in, so now the building is beginning to look as it did in the C15th once again. 

·         Breakfast Room drawings and joinery details continue for works to the Grade I Country House in Suffolk, and the works on-site to open up the Kitchen are going nicely.

·         At the Grade II Listed former public house in Essex the joinery is well under way with the new staircase in and the shutters being fitted. The bathroom fitting is almost finished. The kitchen for the annexe has been chosen and the conversion works to the barn annexe have begun.

·         While on-site at the Hall house in Essex we uncovered a water well, which pre-dates the kitchen, and is therefore thought to date from C15^th.  We are currently investigating the walls of the well known as “steining” to see if they can be exposed. The electrical first fix is well under way.  New sheepswool insulation has been inserted; and laths are being fixed, ready for the new lime hair plaster render.  Scheduled Monument Consent and Listed Building Consent has been given for further works to be undertaken on the moat.

·         The Retreat House, Pleshey is a popular place for clergy and lay-people to go for a week or a few days of contemplation and prayer. The facilities need improving and KPTA have been working with the Diocese to upgrade them.
Once a convent, the early farmhouse was extended in the Edwardian era by the Mother Superior’s brother, an architect of the time. Planning and Listed building approval was gained last year for 26 bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms, including improved wheelchair access and a new loggia meeting room.
The Diocese have been raising funds for this work to be carried out, and we have now been commissioned to prepare the detailed working drawings for the first phase of the work to the Gatehouse.

·         Bush End Church is now at Practical Completion and looking beautiful once more. Their new Kitchenette, WC and balcony are already proving most useful to this church, which has an enviable position opposite the National Trusts Hatfield Heath.

·         At Radwinter Church, scenes of Radwinter, for the new Diamond Jubilee Delft Tiles, have been chosen and are being made by Watson Studio.  Local specialists Auravisions have expertly converted one of the stained-glass windows to an opening casement; and the panelling for the WC and Kitchenette are being constructed by Lodge and Sons Builders, and are based on original panelling in the Vestry by C19th Architect Temple Moore, but with a new Saffron crocus carving.

·         Roof Repairs are due to start soon to Little Baddow Church, we are just waiting for the appropriate timing to ensure no bats are present.

·         We are currently drawing the existing structure plans and elevations of a large timber framed granary and single aisle barn in Essex, which is to be converted to a workshop studio.

·         A little flint and brick outbuilding, which was thought to have been the old washhouse to a beautiful C17th house, has been measured and drawn up, as it is to be used as a home study/office.      

·         We are soon due to meet the DAC advisers at Galleywood Church to discuss the best location for their organ within the building.

·         We are progressing the design for a new Breakfast Room to a beautiful listed arts and crafts house design by the well-known Architect George Sherrin in Essex. The Conservation Officer is happy with the proposal, and we are incorporating lovely features from the house such as an arched timber overhang.   

·         The Planning application is in for a new timber framed stable-block in a local village, and the bat report is complete. 

·         Finally our Director Sibyl is undertaking works to her own Grade II Listed Farmhouse. The frame has been repaired with new oak plates and new tennon repairs to the studs. A new brick plinth has been built using Colliers handmade bricks, and a breather perimeter floor is now down replacing the impervious concrete floor which was causing damp. She found an original doorway on the front of the house, which is to be reinstated to the front garden. The exposed timber-frame is also being insulated to reduce carbon emissions.

July News

• When the 204 individual copper petals were all united, lit and raised to form the Cauldron at the Olympic Games 2012 opening ceremony, what a spectacle of truly fabulous design it was to behold!  All of us at KPT will be following the Olympics, and Paralympics and willing Team GB to win lots of medals.
• At the 15^th Century Hall House in Essex, scaffold has been erected.  As render has been removed, excitingly large beams and mid rail have been exposed. The removal of the cement render has revealed that the house originally had two jettied gables, which must have been underbuilt as flush gables in the Georgian/Victorian period. We’ve also discovered an old C 18^th doorway in the brickwork, with a rubbed and gauged header 
• Working drawings are being produced for the main staircase of the Court Barn.
• The restoration of Finchingfield Guildhall continues with wattle and daub being exposed: The original daub was laboratory analysed in order to ensure that the new daub will be an authentic mix.  The ingredients are clay, chalk, fine quartz sand, lime and a lot of chopped straw. This is thoroughly mixed and then thrown and smoothed by hand.
• The design stage for works to a beautiful brick and timber framed Grade II* farmhouse in North Herts are progressing well.
• Planning Permission, with Restricted Use (ie affiliated with an equestrian business), has been granted for a new-build family house in the style of a timber framed barn in Huntingdonshire.
• Glazing in the Bell Tower at Grade I Listed St. Andrew’s Church, Shalford, (to ensure free access for Soprano Pipistrelle bats to their maternity roosts http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Soprano_Pipistrelle ), has gone out to tender.
• Repairs and internal layout changes at the Grade II listed farmhouse are now complete and the new oak sunroom with copper roof and timber framed utility extension has started on site.
• Designs are underway for a new-build house in the Lee Valley.
• At the Grade I Country House in Suffolk, Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent has been granted for a new breakfast room extension on the service wing with modern bi-fold doors.
• Concept design drawings for a new gabled glazed timber frame sunroom with a veranda style link to the Annexe have been completed for a Grade II, 19^th century house in Bedfordshire.
• We are thrilled to announce that KPT has been shortlisted in the AJ Retrofit 2012 Awards, Listed Buildings/Structures category, for our Spains Hall Entry.
• We are also delighted that HHA/Sotheby’s Restoration Award 2012 have awarded us a Commendation for our work to Spains Hall.  http://www.hha.org.uk/focus-on-properties/hha-sothebys-restoration-award.html
• As part of her dissertation on smock mills of Essex, Nicola will be visiting the fascinating local windmills of Upminster http://www.upminsterwindmill.co.uk and Ashdon http://www.ashdonwindmilltrust.co.uk
• The 10k Race for Life which was to be held at the Chelmsford Hylands Park on Sunday 22^nd July, 2012, has been postponed until Sunday, 16^th September.  Nicola says, with the extra training time, she expects to complete in even quicker time!  If you’re in the area, do go along and shout encouragement to her! Embarrassing photographs will now be posted in September Images of the Month!  http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/nicolahiggins365

June News

• With fond memories of the fabulous Jubilee Celebrations still ringing in our ears, we bring you our June News from the office of KPT.
• At the 15^th Century Hall House in Essex, R & J Hogg are making good progress in preparation for the long task of stripping the modern external cement render prior to re-rending.  
• The Rotunda is now almost finished, with just the final fitting out to be completed.  The positioning of the structure and the materials used have contributed greatly to the fact that this beautiful building looks as though it has been part of the landscape for a very long time.
• At the Grade II Listed former public house in Essex, the bathroom floor tile designs have not been straight forward, but they will look fabulous when in place.
• The restoration of Finchingfield Guildhall continues, and we have now opened up the entire frame, and discovered evidence of an arched head window, two more medieval window shutters and evidence of a shop door.  We will be ensuring that these interesting features are exposed.
• We have designed a Saffron Crocus motif, incorporating ventilation holes, which will be carved into the tea cupboard doors at Radwinter church.  This design compliments the theme of other existing carving already in the church.
• Asbestos removal has been completed on a Grade 1 Country House in Suffolk.  Work has now commenced on the laying of a new breathable hall floor and the installation of new electrics and plumbing.
• Refurbishment of an existing swimming pool and pool house has now been completed on time and within budget, and is now ready in time for the client to use and enjoy for the summer.
• John Izod is using traditional materials and methods to carry out lime plastering in an ashlar pattern to the Regency House.  This will add the charm and elegance this property so richly deserves.
• The Listed Property Owners Club wrote to Chancellor on 12 June, continuing the effort against the proposed 20% VAT on Listed Building Alterations.
• Our Images of the Month Photostream has been added to Flickr.  Please take a look at all our photographs.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/kpt-architects/sets/
• We are very pleased to announce that our entry of Spains Hall has been shortlisted for the Listed Buildings/Structures category of the AJ Retrofit Awards 2012.
• We have been awarded Highly Commended for a Conservation Award entry.   Announcement follows very soon!
• The awards section on our website will be up and running very shortly, and will contain details and photographs of the projects we have won awards for this year. 
• Congratulations go to Sarah Aylmer, head of our Interior Design team, for being awarded a Distinction on completion of her Postgraduate Certificate in Decorative Arts course at the University of Buckingham, (London). 
• Nicola Higgins will be running in the Chelmsford Hylands Park 10k Race for Life on Sunday 22^nd July, 2012, and says she would be grateful for supporters along the way, especially to help push her up the hilly bits!  http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/nicolahiggins365  Embarrassing photographs will be posted in July Images of the Month!

June - Images of the month

June - Images of the month, a set on Flickr.

Check out our new Flickr account

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kpt-architects/sets/

May - Images of the Month

May - Images of the Month, a set on Flickr.

KPT News May 2012

• At the 15^th Century Hall House in Essex, the red clay peg roof tiles are on, and all the structural repairs to the crown post roof have been completed by R J Hogg. We have done the construction drawings for the house renovations, which will commence soon.
• The kitchenette at Bush End church has now been fitted, the glass balustrade is in place, the floor tiling has been finished, and the project is edging closer to completion.
• The Rotunda now has its spiral metal staircase with oak treads, and the mint pebbled flooring looks stunning in the shower room.
• At the Grade II Listed former public house in Essex, the exterior is being lime plastered by John Izod, and Simon and John Iliffe are starting to fit the bathrooms and floors. KPT Interior Designer, Sarah Aylmer, is planning the interior decoration, which involves a contrast of historic patterned and contemporary wallpapers.
• The restoration of Finchingfield Guildhall continues to offer surprises.  As Tony and his team (Fairhurst Ward Abbott) have exposed the later 17^th Century bays, they discovered exciting ghost lines, shutter groves and mortises of five 17^th Century mullioned windows in the old school room bays. These match exactly the salvaged window that came from the 50s restoration. Interestingly the 17^th Century mullions have a different ovolo moulding to them, while the 15^th Century mullions are scalloped. The oak frame has been repaired, and the split oak laths and bullnose render stops are being fixed to the outside, ready to start the lime plastering.    
• A beautiful oak dresser, hand-made by the carpenter Charlie of R. J. Pinnock and Son has been installed in one of our new kitchen design projects.
• Works are continuing on a 15^th Century house in Suffolk with Rose Builders, with the complete removal of the asbestos lagging, put in during the 20s, and the replacement of the plumbing throughout. 
• Radwinter Church works are on-site with Lodge and Sons Builders. They are making the oak panelled joinery for the new WC walls, which incorporates a saffron crocus motif we have designed. 
• Kay, Sibyl, Peter and Nicola attended the “RICS 2012 East of England Awards” ceremony, and were thrilled when it was announced that KPT had won the Building Conservation category, with our entry of Spains Hall! This means we now go National!
• We have also been awarded Highly Commended in another Conservation Award, announcement coming soon!
• Peter hosted a fabulous garden party in celebration of his birthday.  Instead of giving Peter presents, guests gave donations to the Carver Barracks’ Injured Soldiers Fund and raised thousands for this important charity.
• Monica attended the Green Register two day course on Sustainable Building and Services.  It has provided her with no-nonsense information regarding energy and water conservation, specifying sustainably as well as de-mystifying renewable energy sources, and when it is appropriate to use them.  She now joins Sibyl on the official Green Register, check out their website http://www.greenregister.org.uk/about.php.
• Anthony attended a very informative sustainability course on the Responsible Resourcing of Materials, at the Smartlife Centre, Cambridge.
• Gareth Davies, a well-known Photographer, renowned for his portfolio of celebrity photography has taken some beautiful photographs of a recently completed Swimming Pool building we designed, and which was built by Collins and Beckett. We will be uploading this onto the project page soon for you to see. Check out Gareth’s website: http://www.gdaviesphoto.com