News and Articles from Ormerod Sutton Architects Ltd

Conservatories aren't quite as flexible as a well designed house extension

Sat, 02 Nov 2019 11:18:04 GMT

Requiring increased living space, our clients approached us to design a contemporary extension for their Yorkshire family home

We are certainly noticing a trend recently, whereby in order to access more usable space, families are choosing to modify their current dwelling rather than move home entirely. Conservatories, which are often under utilised, have the potential to offer a useful amount of floorspace to a home extension. When converted to an extension, the floor area gained can often allow the architect to completely redesign the internal layout of a home, as is the case here, with this stone build family house near Leeds, Yorkshire.

Client Brief

We were contacted by our client to investigate the possibility of replacing their conservatory with an extension, to allow the creation of an open plan living/dining area. The conservatory had fallen from use due to lack of flexibility and because of its design, cleaning externally had become tiresome.

The Design

The internal layout will provide an open plan living dining and kitchen area whilst maintaining a separate reception room, which can also be used as a cosy snug on cold winter days.

The design takes the orientation of the existing building into consideration. As can be seen in the sketch below, the roof light is formed by using the increased depth of the roof to allow sunlight from the southern elevation, creating a flood of natural light into the new living space.

A log burner has been integrated into the space to ensure the extension is usable year round.

The roof overhang is our response to the request of the owner that cover be provided when moving from the garage to the house. It provides additional shelter from the elements, which is useful if making multiple trips from the car on shopping days, particularly in Yorkshire!

A side door is provided as a main access point to the house and is close to the rear pedestrian door of the garage. A further pair of double doors provided on the western elevation open to create a connection between the garden and interior space.

One of the key desires of the client was that there would be a distinct contrast between old and new, a principle we are familiar with due to our work in conservation. The existing property, being of cream stone and generally neutral in tone overall, now contrasts well with the new extension, which has standing seam cladding and timber panelling.

The New Layout

Are you considering an extension for your house?

If you have a project in mind or you would like to speak to a member of our team about a planning application or other architectural project, please call us on 0113 289 3763 or email architects@ormerodsutton.co.uk

For more information on the benefits of choosing a registered architect to assist with your project, please see: Why use an architect ?

This building used to be a complete pigsty - now its being converted under permitted development

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 10:36:34 GMT

A local client approached us with this unusual conversion to residential under class Q - challenge accepted

It's fair to say that converting pigsties into high quality dwellings is not something we are asked to do every day, although not being ones to shy away from a challenge, we took a dilapidated and rather sad looking old building and turned it into something we felt was rather special, considering the constraints within which we had to work. Thankfully, our client agreed and the project is now progressing nicely.

What is class Q permitted development?

Permitted development rights under class Q were introduced in 2014. Class Q permitted development allows the repurposing of certain buildings from agricultural to residential use, without the requirement for a full traditional planning application.

For more information, please see the following link:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/3/crossheading/class-q-agricultural-buildings-to-dwellinghouses/made

Client Brief

The property is situated in a semi-rural area in Yorkshire.

Rather than have it continue to decay, our client wanted to make use of the disused former pig sty and turn it into a well appointed guest house for use by visiting members of their family.

We considered several options in conjunction with our client, including two cottages with one bedroom, however it was decided that a three bedroom family dwelling would be the most appropriate given the specific needs of the family.

The Design

The property is very close to the eastern boundary line, however the site opens up to the west and south with great views of the meadow nearby, which we were conscious of when positioning the large glass fenestrations and door openings.

The property was conceived as a three bedroom family dwelling with open plan living, kitchen and dining area in the centre. The open plan living area, created to be the heart of the home, provides access to all bedrooms.

The open plan area has large bi-folding doors connecting the internal to external area with the fantastic views of the nearby meadow and open countryside. The aim was to create a seamless transition from the inside to outside, connecting them. We added little architectural touches to the design focused around convenience, such as recessing the bi-fold doors and creating a canopy above which will mean that the doors can still remain open even if there is a spot of rain, something not unheard of in Yorkshire!

As this is a single storey considerably lower roof height property we have designed the windows as part of integrated roof lights to give as much height and roof space as possible.

We have a boot room at the entrance for muddy wellies, something which are almost inevitable after a walk in the Yorkshire countryside.

External Appearance

The appearance is pretty much the same as existing barn which is stone masonry built with timber cladding details and metal roof. The metal roof has been lost to high winds so will be replaced with standing seam powder coated roofing panels which will mimic the original barn roof. The aim is to try and keep the barn external appearance as close to the existing as possible.

Even the new windows are within the existing openings although some have been extended to the floor level or continue on to the roof.

Are you considering a class Q permitted development conversion for your agricultural building?

If you have a project in mind or you would like to speak to a member of our team about a planning application or other architectural project, please call us on 0113 289 3763 or email architects@ormerodsutton.co.uk

For more information on the benefits of choosing a registered architect to assist with your project, please see: Why use an architect?

Barn conversion Yorkshire - Class Q Permitted Development approved

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 10:23:08 GMT

Re-use of disused Kirklees agricultural barn received postively by council planners

We were approached by a family from Yorkshire who are from a farming background. Their changing needs as modern farmers had resulted in the future use of a barn being in doubt. A growing family meant their housing needs were changing at the same time, so rather than seek to develop a new property entirely and jeopardise the landscape of the rural setting, they wisely chose to repurpose an existing building in a sustainable way.

As architects, we love appropriate use of class Q permitted development as it is literally architectural recycling, so were keen to explore the possibilities of the barn.

What is class Q permitted development?

Permitted development rights under class Q were introduced in 2014. Class Q permitted development allows the repurposing of certain buildings from agricultural to residential use, without the requirement for a full traditional planning application.

For more information, please see the following link:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/3/crossheading/class-q-agricultural-buildings-to-dwellinghouses/made

Client Brief

Family with two children.
Open plan living kitchen and dining area.
A snug for those days where the family could enjoy a more relaxing and intimate setting.
Bedroom for each child, guest room and master bedroom with small office space on the first floor.
Natural light was important within the design brief.
Hard floor surfaces throughout the property and a very minimalistic approach to finishes.

The Design

We introduced a mezzanine within the existing footprint of the barn due to it being double height, with the internal structure to be free standing within the barn ensuring minimal interference with the original building fabric, a principal derived from our experience in conservation architecture.

The orientation of the property was carefully chosen, taking into consideration the location of the property and outward views. The location of neighbouring properties was also a key factor in decisions regarding orientation.

An open plan kitchen, dining and living area was introduced, with the latter two taking a double height space combined with tall windows overlooking the countryside to create magnificent views.

A small den was created under the mezzanine, for the days when family wanted to gather together in a cosy atmosphere for some family time playing board games or watching films.

The guest bedroom was strategically placed on the ground level, with access to a separate bathroom for privacy but able to double as a separate home office or study room in the future if required.

The floor finishes were specified as hard surfaces, most helpful in a countryside setting!

The family enjoys a spot of home-made pizza making, so to accommodate this we introduced an extra-large island in the kitchen creating a space more than sufficient for some energetic dough kneading by family members of all ages.

External Appearance

The appearance of the proposal draws directly from the existing materiality and appearance of the existing agricultural building whilst upgrading the existing building fabric to meet the current building regulations requirements. The proposal embraces the semi-rural location and character, utilising existing attractive features to ensuring it fits seamlessly into its surroundings.

The replacement natural finish timer cladding will be to match the existing profile of the existing, in specific areas where privacy is required the cladding will double as louvers, retaining the appearance of a continual timber façade of an agricultural building to the neighboring properties.

New openings have been restricted to only where necessary to retain strong appearance of an agricultural building.

The existing portal frame will be retained and encapsulated externally to meet current building regulation standards and decrease the likely hood of cold bridging between building elements. The encapsulation will be finished externally with a metal flashing which will retain the external appearance of a steel frame.

The proposed roof finish will mimic the profile of the existing.

Each element of the proposal has been developed with the sole aim of not altering the external appearance and character of the existing agricultural building.

Are you considering a class Q permitted development conversion for your agricultural building?

For more information on the benefits of choosing a registered architect to assist with your project, please see: Why use an architect?

Planning permission Leeds - Residential house extension gets go ahead from planning officers

Sun, 19 Aug 2018 12:08:41 GMT

Our plans create over 25% extra living space for our clients with only a 1.6% increase in the footprint of the property

The property is located in north Leeds and is a 1970’s two storey detached residence with a dormer to the first floor, typical of the local residential architecture of the time. The structure is almost entirely original, having only benefited in the intervening years from the addition of a conservatory to the rear. The property is sited on an almost triangular plot, the nature of which forms a large rear and small front garden.

The family has been living in the area for many years and wished to continue to do so, however, a growing family meant they required a home with more living space. A house extension would allow them to prolong their use of the existing property well into the foreseeable future.

The client initially approached Ormerod Sutton Architects as we had previously provided architectural services for several of their neighbours.

Client Brief

We were asked to develop a two storey extension to the east elevation in order to provide a ground floor study, children’s play room and two additional bedrooms on the first floor, one of which would be a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom required to house a full size bath and separate shower.

The client also desired to make the house more energy efficient and include provision for the future installation of solar panels.

The Design

The extension is to be constructed primarily over the footprint of the existing property, increasing it by only 1.6%. The total gain in internal space over both floors being approximately 27sqm (290sqft). By utilising the existing footprint, there will be minimal loss of usable external amenity space for the dwelling and the design will therefore surpass requirements set out by the Leeds City Council “Neighbourhoods for Living” urban design guidance.

The key design elements were to ensure that the new layout met the current and future needs of the family, whilst ensuring that the development did not adversely affect neighbouring properties.

The use of windows will meet the Leeds Householder Design Guide and any essential windows to the side elevation were obscured to ensure strict adherence with the council recommendations.

The conversion of the original integral garage will create a new study and enable reordering of the newly enlarged living space on the ground floor.

The additional floor space created on the first floor has provided the opportunity for an additional large master bedroom and the reconfiguration of the remaining space has facilitated a more efficient internal arrangement of bedrooms, the number of which has increased from 4 to 6.

External Appearance

Design cues for the exterior were derived directly from the existing materials and features to remain in keeping with the existing character of the streetscape. The extension will be constructed in matching brick and smooth render to achieve a modern look at reasonable cost. The objective was for the new house extension to seamlessly integrate with the original dwelling.

Are you considering an extension for your house?

For more information on the benefits of choosing a registered architect to assist with your project, please see: Why use an architect?

Planning permission Harrogate - Modern mixed use development approved providing perfect work/life balance for our clients

Tue, 07 Aug 2018 14:51:14 GMT

A dilapidated mechanics garage to be turned into dream property for two local entrepreneurial brothers

Our clients were delighted to be informed that after several months of negotiation with Harrogate Borough Council, Ormerod Sutton Architects Ltd . had secured planning approval for their ideal property. The brothers run a successful import/retail business and were seeking a property which enabled them to live separately but work together on a single site.

The previous use of the land was somewhat of an eyesore, as can be seen below. The new property will combine one commercial unit of B8 classification and two residential C3 elements to enable the brothers to expand their business and simultaneously settle into their first homes.

Planning permission was approved with conditions regarding noise protection for surrounding properties and due to our involvement, no tie was stipulated between the commercial and residential elements, despite the council environmental officers initial recommendations to the contrary.

If you feel you may need professional assistance for your own development project, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at architects@ormerodsutton.co.uk or telephone 0113 289 3763 .

The development site

Consisting of an eclectic mix of industrial steel portal frame, portakabin and brick buildings surrounded by vehicles of all shapes and sizes in various states of repair, the appearance of the site was detrimental to the overall street scene.

The total site area is slightly over 0.25 acres.

New site layout

The key design generators with regard to layout were to ensure the proposed development had; no adverse effects on adjacent properties, adheres to/ improves the pattern of development and minimised the impact and scale of the development on the site.

The positioning of the existing building on the site interrupted the street scene and caused the neighbouring residential properties to become fragmented. In order to improve this and create a continuous link in the street scene, the angle of the North East and South East boundaries/ neighbouring properties were used to define the angle and shape of the proposal. The proposal can be split into four distinctive sections, all of which either; run parallel to the boundaries or at 90° from them and fall in line with established lines of development.

The proposal is slightly offset from the centre of the site allowing for parking/ access to the front and amenity to the rear whilst maintaining established lines of development along Station Road. An access road will be maintained along the Southern boundary for the safe access and egress of the neighbouring property.

Architecture and design

The principles and material pallet utilised on the proposal were extracted from buildings in the locality in order for it to tie seamlessly into the streetscape. The main principles/ materials used include; red brick, pressed metal cladding, white render, pitched roofs and dormers. However, the design of the proposal is a modern interpretation on these principles and uses some materials which also key back to the historical industrial use of the site.

Along the boundaries, ‘wing units’ sit at a lower level to the main building and act as a buffer for neighbouring residential dwellings before a step up in form to the main building. This minimises the impact on neighbours and reduces the overall mass of the building on the site. Reclaimed red brick parapet walls face neighbouring properties, mirroring their materiality whilst a standing seam light bronze pressed metal link, flowing from the roof into a façade, ties the parapet wall to the main building.

The main body of the building utilises a clean white render lower portion with a reclaimed red brick upper portion. Flat roof dormers are proposed along the front elevation, something which is well documented in the village, and more appropriately, in the immediate vicinity. The designs of the dormers are a minimalistic take on the traditional flat roofed dormers which can be seen in the immediate locality and will be finished in a light bronze seamless pressed metal along with the pitched roof (standing seam).

The entrance tower, which will provide access to apartments at first floor, acts as a focal point to the front elevation, and is clad in natural timber. Natural timber will also be utilised on large sliding ‘barn style’ doors adding an aesthetically pleasing finish while creating a visual link to the original industrial building.

Conservation Architecture - Masonry repairs to a Lincolnshire church tower built nearly 1,000 years ago - Part 2

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 09:47:51 GMT

Introduction

Following on from Part 1 where we looked at the repair process up to the point of raking out the decayed mortar, we will now look at the methods used for repointing and the practical steps used to achieve a high quality, long lasting finish.

Whilst the practicalities of repointing and interaction with the materials are certainly the preserve of the experienced and skilled stonemason, the conservation architect is typically responsible for decisions on specification such as the type of mortar to be used and the desired aesthetics of the final finish.

Perhaps surprisingly to some, architects tend to spend quite a lot of time on site, especially when involved in a conservation architecture project. It really does require a hands on approach to be successful in building conservation. Ancient buildings need to be seen, heard and touched to really understand how to work with them. How else would you detect the distinctive sound of spalling limestone when tapped, for example? There is only so much you can do from a computer screen. Conservation architects and indeed most professionals who work on them, consider these ancient buildings, which were of course made entirely of natural materials, as living and breathing entities.

Architects are also known to get their hands dirty on the practical side of things from time to time, as you'll see later in this article.

Our thanks to the experienced team at Heritage Masonry and in particular Stonemason Stephen Hindmarch, who's patience during the research for this article was appreciated.

The Repair Process Step Two - Mortar Formulation

One of the most important stages of the repointing process during architectural building conservation work is the selection of the correct mortar mix.

Hot lime mortar was considered initially, but was judged to be too difficult to prepare on site in sufficient quantities and its use as being of limited significance overall. Whilst it is true that hot lime, being the mortar used when the church was built, would appear to be the most appropriate choice, specifying hot lime would not necessarily result in an accurate reflection of historic building methods. Lime available to stonemasons in the middle ages had a different chemical composition to modern lime, the latter being very pure by comparison. The cost of attempting to replicate the original mortar would certainly have been prohibitive also.

The closest available practical alternative was NHL.

NHL stands for Natural Hydraulic Lime and is produced by heating limestone that contains natural impurities such as clay and silica. Following heating, the chemical structure of the impurities changes, causing them to become reactive with water. This process is ultimately what provides the initial "set" of the mortar once mixed ready for application. The initial set means the resulting mortar is relatively easy for the stonemason to work with contact tools such as a tuck pointer, which is important on conservation projects, where time is often a factor.

Three grades of NHL are available. 2, 3.5 and 5. The grades refer to the compressive strength of the product in Newtons per square millimetre (N/mm ²) .

It was decided that NHL 3.5 would be used as a suitable alternative for the base of the mortar mix.

The NHL of course needs to be mixed with both sand and water to become mortar. The ratio of ingredients is extremely important in determining the final outcome and needs to be tailored to the specific project in hand, whilst taking into account local environmental considerations.

The mortar should not be harder that the stone it is applied to as it must both absorb water from the surrounding stone and also allow the penetrating moisture to evaporate. In addition, a good mix should be tolerant of thermal expansion and natural structural movement whilst not being hard enough to wear away the limestone in the process. The mortar must be weather resistant, although it is worth noting that the purpose of the mortar in repointing is to degrade over time, whilst the limestone remains protected. In other words, mortar is to be considered an expendable material.

As can be surmised from the above, it requires a stonemason of considerable experience to prepare the correct mix for a given situation.

The Repair Process Step Three - Application

Lime mortar is traditionally applied by hand and this will almost always be the case when work is performed on historic buildings.

The first stage of application is to wet down the joints between the stonework which helps to prevent moisture from the mortar being drawn directly into the limestone. This step is necessary to prevent the newly applied mortar from shrinking by loss of moisture, which would potentially lead it to becoming detached from the stonework. Wetting down is performed with a simple hand pumped pressure sprayer which distributes water in a gentle but targeted stream. Wetting the actual face of the limestone is to be avoided so care is taken to ensure that water is only sprayed into the mortar joints themselves.

Following wetting down, fresh mortar is taken from a bucket using a trowel and the repointing can begin. As can be seen in the image at the top of this page, our masons preferred to use an inverted bucket trowel and tuck pointer for the application. As well as serving as a suitable method of holding the mortar whilst pointing, the trowel it enables a secondary check on the consistency of the mortar. Well prepared mortar will stick to the underside of a trowel whereas if the mix is too wet or too dry, it will not.

Mortar is applied liberally using a pointer and is pushed deep into the exposed joints until full. As can be seen below, excess is left in situ at this stage.

Once the section of wall is complete, a waiting period of between 4 and 6 hours begins, whilst the mortar begins to set, known as "going off".

The Repair Process Step Four - Brushing Off

Once the mortar has "gone off", the excess is removed by brushing. To test whether or not the mortar is ready for brushing, a small section will be tested. If the mortar clings to the brush in lumps, clogging the bristles, or smears, the mortar must be allowed more time to set.

It is imperative that the mason use either a stainless steel or brass brush for this process. Other brush types are liable to damage the limestone or lead to staining.

Whilst the task of brushing appears to be a simple one, in actual fact, a considerable amount of skill and experience is required to ensure a quality finish. If too much of the mortar is removed, the mortar joint and arris (edges) of the limestone would be too exposed, leading to unnecessary damage. Conversely, if excess mortar is allowed to remain, its effectiveness is diminished. A fine balance must be struck, whilst considering the aesthetics of the finish.

As can be seen in the image below, the brushing action of the mason follows the contours of each stone block, ensuring that the mortar conforms to the stone and not the reverse. This leads to the best possible visual presentation of the original limestone.

Following another period of setting, the applied mortar is ready to be further refined.

Fine finishing for lime mortar involves using a brush known as a churn brush. It may also be referred to as a "tickling" brush. The purpose of this additional brushing is to expose coarser parts of the aggregate and ensure that the arris of the stone is revealed insofar as is called for in the conservation architecture specification.

In the video below, a stonemason working on our conservation project can be seen brushing out and then immediately refining the finish with a churn brush. The final result will complement the limestone structure and reveal its form. The section of the church being worked on here is the oldest part of the tower.

The Results

The contrast between the 19th century mortar and the recently applied lime mortar is clear to see. Hopefully you will agree with us that the new mortar is far more pleasing to the eye. In the image below, it is of course still setting, and will lighten in colour over time as it cures and dries out. Once the main sections of walls have all been repointed, the stonemasons will move on to work on the quoins (center of image) which require very detailed work.

Interestingly, despite all this work, it may be that the final result does not in fact reflect the original appearance of the church in Saxon times. Many experts believe that churches of this period may have actually been rendered externally with lime render, giving them a completely white appearance. Whilst not entirely proven, it would certainly seem to be appropriate if one imagines being an Anglo-Saxon villager, gazing over toward the village whilst toiling in the fields on a hot summers day, your eyes being met by the gleaming white tower of your place of worship, which you most likely helped to construct.

Hands on experience for the Project Architect

Armine Sutton, one of our directors and the project architect for All Saints' Church, Winterton, was fortunate enough to be offered a few hours of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) by Stonemason Stephen Hindmarch. A small test patch was set aside by the masons and direct tuition was provided in both raking out and the application of lime mortar. She took to it rather well, too. Stephen suggested it might even not have to be redone. Praise indeed!

These opportunities are important to conservation architects as in order to lead a conservation project, it is necessary to understand the skills, roles and responsibilities of each member of the project team.

Here is a video of Armine trying her hand at repointing on the upper section of the church tower.

Retail Architecture - Site works completed for new WEX Photo/Video store in Bristol

Thu, 12 Jul 2018 10:34:50 GMT

Wex Photo/Video continue to expand and we are on hand to take care of the retail architecture

We're delighted to be working as retail architects for Wex again

Following the amazing success of their flagship retail store in London, which we also designed (case study is here ) , premier photographic retailers Wex Photo/Video appointed Ormerod Sutton Architects to undertake the retail architecture and interior design for their brand new Bristol store.

Whilst we're not allowed to reveal the final design just yet, we can say that we are happy to announce that work on site has now been completed and the client are almost ready for launch! It's always excited when projects reach this stage as it's when we see our designs come to life.

The look and feel is carried over from the London project to create a national store identity for the Wex brand. As always, the focus is on the customer experience and with Wex having the largest stocks of premium brand photographic equipment in the UK combined with the interactive nature of the store, we're sure that strong sales will follow.

Our frequent collaborators Delta Light UK provided the architectural LED lighting whilst furniture manufacturing was undertaken by global leader Wanzl UK . The site works were in the hands of main contractors NBC with our very own Armine Sutton RIBA as project architect.

We will of course follow up with some real photographs following the launch.

Conservation Architecture - Masonry repairs to a Lincolnshire church tower built nearly 1,000 years ago - Part 1

Thu, 05 Jul 2018 20:33:06 GMT

Introduction

All Saints' Church in Winterton, Lincolnshire is a Grade I listed medieval church which is currently on the Historic England heritage at risk register . The church is in receipt of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to remove and replace 19th century mortar, the use of which has caused substantial damage to the fabric of the building. The initial works will cover repairs to the oldest part of the church - the 11th century tower - and restore access to the church yard for the general public. Access was previously suspended due to the danger from falling masonry. A protective walkway has allowed the church itself to remain open for worship.

As project architect, our practice director Armine Sutton RIBA, has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the repair works and is working closely with renowned conservation specialist Lindsay Cowle RIBA AABC.

Background

During repairs to the roof of the south aisle in 2015, it was noted that masonry had fallen from the tower. Further investigation revealed that there was significant deterioration to large sections of the tower, particularly the western and southern elevations, and that urgent intervention was required.

A visit by Historic England confirmed that the fabric of the building was at risk and that repair works should be undertaken as soon as funding could be sourced.

" The masonry generally is local limestone rubble of poor quality, in need of repair and repointing. The tower is a concern as pieces have fallen onto the footpath and the newly slated roofs. The middle stages to the south elevation appear the worst affected. "

Historic England

Funding for the conservation work was secured in 2017 and works commenced on site in March 2018. Completion is due in mid August 2018.

Causes

During the 19th century, it was common for a cementitious mortar, that is, mortar containing cement, to be applied where repairs to historic limestone masonry were required. Such repairs would now generally be considered inappropriate, although at the time it was believed that these mortars were superior due to the low shrinkage and good adhesion of natural cement. It was not understood that the impermeability and strength of such cement would over time prove detrimental to the underlying stone work.

Cement based mortar is impermeable. In other words, it does not allow moisture to pass through. Limestone, however, does. The resulting effect is that moisture is able to collect between joints and break the bond between the mortar and stone. Cracks will then appear, allowing the direct entry of moisture into the building fabric. Over time, the mortar will decay and fall away, exposing the jointing in the stone work and compromising its integrity.

Ancient limestone walls need to breathe to allow the evaporation of moisture which is present in the building fabric. As rain falls, it is slowly absorbed through the limestone and must be allowed to evaporate again. It is for this reason, that a porous mortar such as hot lime should be used in the conservation of a building of this type. Evaporation can then take place more evenly across the entire exterior surface, ensuring that the internal moisture levels are well regulated. Lime mortar is also more flexible than cement and less prone to cracking as a result.

The specific formulation of lime mortar to use is generally matched to the materials it is being used to bind and the circumstances within which it is being applied. For this project, a bespoke formulation of lime mortar will be prepared by a specialist, ensuring maximum compatibility with the existing limestone. This will be discussed further in part 2.

The image and video below show how serious the deterioration can be if the issue is not dealt with for a long period of time.

The Repair Process Step One - Raking Out

The first stage of repointing is to carefully remove the deteriorated cementitious mortar, whilst ensuring that no damage is done to the limestone itself. This is a time consuming process and must be performed with great care. Our team of stonemasons will work with various specialist tools to remove the mortar, mostly by hand, whilst ensuring minimal levels of intrusion on the limestone.

In this particular example, galleting is present and must also be preserved. Galleting is a term for an architectural technique where small pieces of stone, known as spalls, are pushed into the wet mortar during construction. The intention of galleting was probably to stabilise the stonework, reduce mortar shrinkage and partially negate the effects of weathering.

Raking out results in a remarkable visual transformation. As can be seen below, the underlying limestone, despite being almost 900 years old in the section shown, is in relatively good condition.

The process of raking out is expected to take several weeks.

Once repointed with an appropriate mix of lime mortar, the church will be a step closer to its original appearance, and be able to better withstand the English climate.

A sting in the tail

Our team of stonemasons had the dubious pleasure of discovering and then being subsequently stung by, a rather angry colony of honey bees, who had taken it upon themselves to make a nest inside the stonework of the tower, around 50ft from the ground. Apparently they did not appreciate the fact that the masons had important work to do, angrily swarming around anyone who approached. It was necessary to halt works on this particular section of the tower until a professional pest controller could be called in to move them.

An important point to note is that simply sealing up a nest such as this would result in one of two possible outcomes. The bees may establish a new access elsewhere, potentially leading to building damage, or they may become trapped and get very upset. In either case, the resulting flurry of activity within the colony would generate additional heat, melting any honey present, which can then seep out through the masonry, creating an entirely new set of problems for a conservation team!

Continued in Part 2...

Please click here to read Part 2 of this article

Permitted Development approved - Office to Residential conversion in Wakefield, Yorkshire

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 10:38:29 GMT

Our client wished to convert the upper floors of their newly acquired investment property to residential, using permitted development rights

Our client, a small developer based in Yorkshire, purchased existing retail premises on the high street with offices above. They approached us to assist in the conversion of the building into a mixed use development of retail at ground level and 2 apartments at upper levels utilising permitted development legislation.

The existing building is in a run of terraced properties, which are mostly 3-4 stories high with a pitched roof. There is a small yard to the rear of the property which can only be accessed through the emergency exit “tunnel”.

The existing office space which is spread across two floors benefitted from 5 office rooms, a large kitchen/staffroom and 2 WC’s. The stairs are accessed through the rear of the retail area via a communal stairway.

Client Brief

Retain as much of the existing shell while creating completely separate units for the apartments at first and second floors and the retail units which benefitted from basement storage space at ground level.

The Design

Creation of new accommodation was achieved by maintaining the building footprint and utilising the existing layout wherever possible. The amount of accommodation created is in proportion to the buildings size and done so to least effect the buildings original character.

The additional living accommodation will bring more people to the local area which will support the local businesses whilst also maintaining a building fabric in keeping with the street scape.

The thermal performance of the existing building was to be upgraded as part of the refurbishment to significantly improve the U values of the external shell. This will result in lower overall running costs and a reduced CO2 footprint. The new flats will be to current building regulations standards.

External Appearance

The layout of the proposal has been determined by the existing layout of the property. We have utilised existing walls, stairs and openings where appropriate, in order to retain the original character of the building, whilst still providing a quality living environment for residents.

Are you considering a class Q permitted development conversion for your agricultural building?

If you have a project in mind or you would like to speak to a member of our team about a planning application or other architectural project, please call us on 0113 289 3763 or email architects@ormerodsutton.co.uk

For more information on the benefits of choosing a registered architect to assist with your project, please see: Why use an architect?

Retail design for Wex Photo Video shortlisted for national award

Wed, 23 May 2018 13:02:54 GMT

Retail Focus magazine selects our retail interior design for finals of Creative Retail Awards

We are delighted to announce that our retail design interior for the Wex Photo Video (formerly Wex Photographic) retail store in central London has been selected by the Shop and Display Equipment Association (SDEA) and Retail Focus magazine as a shortlisted entry for the "Best Overall Store Collaboration " category in the Creative Retail Awards .

With a team consisting of Ormerod Sutton Architects, NBC Contracting Ltd and Delta Light UK , the design was conceived in mid 2017 and completed, including the bespoke furniture design and production, both on time and to budget, opening to the public in November 2017. The elapsed time from our initial appointment to completion of the 7,000sqft retail store amounted to only 6 months.

Elements of this project included enhancing the customer experience, space planning, brand prominence, bespoke furniture design and product presentation.

Please see our dedicated case study page for further details on the design process and images of the completed store.

Why use an architect?

Thu, 17 May 2018 11:27:44 GMT

We explain why, with an architect, your project is in safe hands

When choosing someone to assist with your construction project, planning permission application or interior design, it helps to know that the person you are dealing with is a professional and that you can verify they have the education and experience to help you achieve your goals.

Highly Qualified - Our education and training

As a minimum, a UK registered architect will have undergone 7 years of formal education and training, which must be completed prior to obtaining their first registration, otherwise known as a Professional Charter. The pre-qualification training period for a UK architect is amongst the longest of all professions.

The education of an architect is comprised of three stages.

The undergraduate phase, Part 1, which leads to a bachelors degree and provides the first stage of technical, legal and artistic training necessary to become a member of the profession;

The graduate phase, Part 2, which leads to a masters degree or post-graduate diploma and focuses on further developing skills in design, engineering, construction and contract administration.

The professional practice phase, Part 3. Typically leads to an advanced diploma in professional practice. Undertaken in the workplace whilst working as an Architectural Assistant, the student is mentored by a registered architect and undertakes a structured programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) whilst gaining project experience and exposure to an actual professional environment.

Once the above process has been completed, the candidate is assessed by the Architects Registration Board and if proven competent, is then allowed to use the legal title of architect.

Following registration, architects are required to participate in CPD activities throughout their career and provide evidence to ARB of their continuing education in the field of architecture.

Duty bound - Our obligations to you

As registered architects it is our duty, both legal and ethical, to serve the best interests of our clients and our clients alone. We must ensure that we avoid conflicts of interest and act on behalf of our clients in a professional manner, to the best of our ability. In the rare event that an architect fails to do so, there are several formal methods of redress for the client. By choosing a registered architect, you gain substantial protection for your money and your project.

National regulation - The standards we must maintain

Architects may further choose to hold themselves to predefined set of national standards over and above the fundamental requirements for being registered with ARB.

Our practice, for example, follows a set of rules laid down by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and we are transparent about our fees and working practices. Any member of the RIBA Chartered Practice scheme must, amongst other requirements:

have appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance;
have an effective Quality Management System;
have comprehensive Health and Safety and Environmental policies in place;
are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with a Code of Practice in a manner appropriate to their status [as registered architects].

We have core tenets which we abide by, in addition to our obligations shown above. These can be seen on our About page. We do not want to merely meet set standards, but exceed them. It is what we believe sets us apart. We want clients who work with us to be more than simply satisfied with our services and to tell their friends and colleagues.

Verifiable - Be sure

To be certain you are dealing with a registered architect, you should always check the ARB Architects Register . It is unlawful in the United Kingdom for anyone who is not listed on the register to use the title of Architect.

Want to know more?

Heres a great resource from the RIBA: https://www.architecture.com/working-with-an-architect/why-use-an-architect

Residential planning permission in Leeds approved on appeal to The Planning Inspectorate

Thu, 10 May 2018 06:54:44 GMT

Inspector accepts our argument that LPA refusal was unjustified

In our 25 years of business we have dealt with thousands of planning applications, for projects across the UK. Fortunately, this experience in handling planning applications and our understanding of planning policy frameworks at a local and national level means that we are able to place an applicant at a significant advantage before a planning application is even submitted to the Local Planning Authority (LPA). As a result, our record of approvals upon first application is excellent and only rarely do we have to resort to using the planning appeals process. In this instance however, the LPA were firm in their refusal, compelling us to pursue an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate . We felt that our client had a very strong case and supported them throughout the process, which resulted in them winning approval, greatly improving the value of their property holding for a nominal fee.

The Case

Despite the planning system working relatively well most of the time and our practice having a good rapport with Leeds City Council planning officers, differences of opinion do sometimes arise between the LPA and applicants. Even with professionally prepared and well researched applications, there are times when agreement is either impossible, or would result in the imposition of conditions which would make a scheme unviable.

In this particular case, a Leeds resident wished to gain planning permission for part of their garden space to be divided off and to construct a single detached dwelling in the newly established plot, a relatively common occurrence in suburban areas of Leeds. The client turned to Ormerod Sutton Architects having established that their previously appointed planning consultant was unable to progress the application following two council refusals and having noted our recent success on similar projects. As the last refusal was more than 6 months prior and the re submission deadline had passed, an entirely new application was to be submitted.

After a physical inspection of the site including assessment of the street scene, we concluded that providing the new dwelling was of an appropriate scale and style, there would be no loss of amenity to the area and the development would have little or no negative impact on neighbouring residences, whilst adding to local housing stock.

A sympathetic scheme was developed, ensuring that the disposition of the new development would be in keeping with the local area. Access to the new property was to be formed to minimise the highways impact and the curtilage of the proposed site was also given careful consideration.

The application generated 3 letters of support, a complete reversal from the previous applications, which had received several objections from neighbours. As a practice, we find the support of neighbouring residents to be of significant importance in planning cases and as such we will always encourage applicants to make reasonable amendments to a scheme in order to accommodate the needs of the wider community.

Despite this, our application was refused. The reason given by Leeds City Council Planning Officer was that the proposed development "does not respect the special character of the area" and "will result in an incongruous cramped and prominent development that is considered to be unacceptable in the street scene". We disagreed with this assessment and felt we had addressed such matters having designed, in our opinion, a dwelling which was within keeping with the character of the area, addressed technical concerns and was supported by precedent for such a development in the immediate vicinity.

Following the refusal, we immediately commenced an appeal to The Planning Inspectorate, having submitted slightly amended plans in order to address concerns highlighted in the initial application, including those of local residents, some of which, following further analysis, we felt had merit.

Findings of The Planning Inspectorate

Allowing the appeal, the inspector found the scale of the development to be consistent with nearby housing and that with the building line respected and the addition of newly planted hedgerow, the proposals would contribute positively to the suburban feel of the area. Separation between properties was found to be respond to and be consistent with the wider context of the environment.

It was judged that "the proposed development would not detrimentally impact on the character and appearance of the wider area" and that our design was consistent with "Policies H2 and P10 of the Core Strategy, saved Policies GP5 and BD5 of the Unitary Development Plan Review, the Guidance contained within the 2003 Supplementary Planning Guidance 13, and the principles of good design contained within the Framework."

Conclusion

The client, initially somewhat despondent following the repeated refusals by Leeds City Council, is of course delighted with the outcome, as are we. This case highlights the importance of seeking professional advice as in regards to planning applications as something that may appear simple initially can quickly become complex. Having specialist knowledge on hand is paramount and will maximise your chances of success.

The cost of professional support for your planning application will vary depending on the complexity and scale of the individual project, although strong return on investment is usual. Even for the project above, which involved multiple submissions and considerable evidence gathering, our fee's amounted to less than 1.15% of the eventual market value of the proposed development (based on a survey of local property values, April 2018).

If you have a project in mind or you would like to speak to a member of our team about a planning application, please call us on 0113 289 3763 or email architects@ormerodsutton.co.uk

Retail Design Expo 2018 - 2nd & 3rd May, London Olympia

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 17:34:40 GMT

We're exhibiting, we have special guests AND it's our birthday.

With all the staff now wrangled up and back in the office after our recent working sojourn to Moscow, we're looking forward to visiting London later this week for the Retail Design Expo 2018 . We have an exciting time planned for visitors to our stand and we will also be celebrating our 25th year of business as a practice!

We will be offering free consultations with both our own architects and also our stand partners for this year, NBC Contracting Limited , who just happen to be one of the best builders in the land.

Also, we're delighted to announce we will also be hosting expert presentations on our stand for the first time. On Wednesday at 1pm, lighting experts Delta Light UK will be giving a free talk on lighting in retail design. They know their onions so don't miss it!

Following this, at 3pm, we will be serving drinks to celebrate our birthday!

As if that wasn't enough, we also have the marketing boffins at CreativeRace stopping by to give a talk on the importance of branding. That's on Thursday at 11:30am. Be there or be square.

Details are in the image at the top of the article and we really hope to welcome you to our stand at the show. It's D202.

OSA exhibits at MAPIC Russia Show

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 19:09:27 GMT

An excellent networking and sales opportunity supported by the DiT

We were invited by the UK Department for International Trade to be part of a trade mission to Moscow. Having previously worked with Russian clients and having Russian speaking architects on our team, it is a natural extension for our UK business.

The MAPIC Russia show, held over 3 days in Moscow, presented a unique opportunity to showcase our retail design abilities and network with retailers from across the Russian Federation. We were fortunate enough to make excellent connections with some of the leading Russian brands and we hope that this will be the start of a programme of international expansion for our practice.

Hyper-realistic 3D Visualisation now a reality for OSA clients

Fri, 30 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Embracing technology is part of modern architecture and we want to be on point at every stage of your project.

It's taken a little while to get results we are happy with, but thanks to some brilliant staff and consultants, we're now in the position to be able to offer high quality photo realistic renders to clients who want just that little bit extra. Visualisation is a fantastic tool, providing the architect understands the technology and ensures that the input is accurate enough to represent the final design. Previously, our renders had been realistic, but we've now taken it a step further. We feel it's important to constantly raise our game to offer the absolute best value to our clients.

As a throw back to a bygone era, here's how we used to "render", with a pen and paper:

OSA wins major planning approval in the hospitality sector

Thu, 22 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Hotelier Mr Jeremy Cassel is delighted with our work

The practice received some excellent news from the planning officers at Cambridge City Council today, informing us that our plans for the £2.5m renovation of the stunning Felix Hotel have been approved. A complicated case which took a lot of effort on the part of all stakeholders. We are absolutely over the moon.

Jeremy Cassel, managing director at Cassel Hotels Ltd, said:
“OSA did a tremendous job with their plans for Felix Hotel and I am delighted that their vision has been approved. The update is going to be a very exciting process which will transform the guest experience for our customers.”

OSA director Armine Sutton said:
“We are extremely pleased that this innovative project has been given the green light. We are confident that this exciting project will more than live up to expectation.”