BadgerBodger

Architect, architectural “designer” (aka technologist) or wing it. Context target build cost 450k for listed building conversion with an extension. Floor area 330m2. Planning permission granted. Quotes for design development, building regulation submissions & detailed drawings from architects, circa 15k + vat. Technologist, 6k + vat. Winging it 0… working under a building notice. I’m sure this has been debated previously and I’m sure experience is varied but has anyone just gone for it without a designer of any sort and what was the experience like? The adventurous side of me says I have the experience, I’ve been working with building control for 15 years and have a good understanding of the problems and details. The risk averse side of me says go with the more experienced of all of them (an architect with heritage experience). Note i’m erring on the side of the latter if only for better ability to let packages with certainty and generate a decent BOQ…

Hmmmm frameless. I hadn’t put much thought to that being an option but worth investigating. The internal opening is actually larger than the external. They are fluted with a full half brick margin either side. I was thinking of removing one brick above and below so that the window sits within the rebate and doesn’t impede on the opening. Lends itself quite nicely to the ability to reglaze in the future and deal with thermal bridging without excessively reducing the clear opening. I’ve found some upvc ones that might do the trick too but call me sentimental, I want wood.

For me. Yes.

Interesting problem. A lot will likely depend up the wall itself. A 100mm block wall will unlikely withstand an eccentrically applied load but this is entirely dependent on span and all sorts of other factors. I think a “floating” structure using steel stringer spanning the half landing to the upper floor will be most efficient. This solution would result in minimal deflection and the wall loads would be imposed as planned. An engineer will tell you quickly enough the section size, weld detail and end plate/locating detail i.e pocketed or plated and bolted. A timber leg as indicated by your X or centrally in between the flights with a timber famed landing bolted to the walls (it will likely be a significant section size) would also work. It would be worth running the proposal by your engineer either way.

Ha, I typed BadgerBadger … username taken. I thought that’s a first. Yeah, I think I’m not going to have much luck with getting them manufactured by whoever I go with for the main windows… probably have to get a local joiner or make them myself.

I’m inclined to agree, architecture can and should demonstrate the past and the present concurrently. The very nature of this barns change of use (and an argument for permissions being granted) is due to its lack of relevance for its original purpose resulting in the building being in a general state of disrepair. We may seek to may subsequent applications to make additional changes but I’m inclined to believe that once we have opened each of the vertical ventilation slots (80+) you see in the photo and installed glazing to each the building will be reasonably well lit. For now it’s a compromise I’m happy to make to get moving!!! It’s a blank(ish) canvas inside.

Of course, more detail another time but it was not necessarily overly onerous, effectively a heritage statement putting the building and its surroundings into context, the proposed design was presented with the sole purpose of getting permission/consent and as such the existing features were proposed to be re-instated in all cases and no new openings were to be formed with the sole exclusion being the gable to the LHS of the building which will receive two storey height windows which was only permissible due to the previous collapse of the gable and subsequent rebuilding in block. There was a proposed extension which was eventually approved but it mimics all the features and is to be built in the same style as the existing structure.

Yes, listed building consent and planning permission. The design has had to be extremely sympathetic to the surroundings (i.e no new openings and no out of character materials externally) and there is a measurable positive impact due to the proposed demolition of an adjacent agricultural building. In fairness I can thank my father and his partner for the work that has gone into that. It certainly didn’t come first time around and there was, how to phrase it, a significantly protracted review period. Sure, I don’t have many but here’s a teaser, there will be more due course!!! I’ll be back in a few weeks to meet some architects to tender for stage 4 so I’ll be taking some then.

Rightly or wrongly a self build is what I have always wanted to do. More to the point there was a very specific property that I yearned to build on. This week, almost 25 years after fist imagining it I agreed the purchase of the plot, a listed threshing barn with a smidge under 1 acre surrounding it. And so with my Wife and 3 year old son beside me we will set about making the property an economical, comfortable family home which will provide for us in years to come. Excited isn’t the least of it. Interestingly, despite my existing knowledge of the construction industry as a PM (and everything which is required prior to get to this point - Joiner, Supervisor, Site Manager etc) and the long standing desire the opportunity is also extremely daunting. Wish me luck, I’m sure we’ll need it!!!