2023 in Review

2023 was a really busy year for the practice and we thought it would be interesting to provide a brief snap shot of our work and what we might have in store for 2024.

Complete Projects

Our completed construction projects this year included building an additional floor to a Grade 2 listed townhouse in Kensington; extending a flat in Putney into the roof space to provide two additional bedrooms; domestic rear extensions in Lancaster and East Ham; and the renovation and extension of a bungalow in Slyne, Lancashire.

Planning Approvals

As urban design advisors we obtained planning permission for a block of nine flats in Islington. We also gained planning approval for residential extensions in Welling, Oxford, and Haringey, and for a garden office in Sunningdale.

Sustainability

We improved our attempt to enhance the energy efficiency of all our projects and developed our partnership with Transition by Design where we are providing passivhaus modelling for projects in Islington and Faringdon. We are also working on a passivhaus almshouse in Hounslow alongside South Bank Architects.

Work in Progress

Amongst other projects a building of six flats and two offices is under construction in Hither Green. Planning is being sought for two projects of 13 and 16 residential units for housing co-ops in Hounslow, and for the de-conversion and extension of a house and flat in Brighton.

Practice and Culture

We are proud to be part of the RIBA student mentoring scheme for another year, this time with students from Oxford Brooks University. We also managed a ‘research’ trip to Legoland and the Lego House in Billund Denmark this year.

Certified Passive House Designer

Our architect Fergus Alexander has successfully passed the Passive House Institute examination and is a now a Certified Passive House Designer. We have high hopes that all our projects can now move towards Passive House accreditation as part of our ongoing efforts to tackle the climate emergency and create better and more comfortable buildings.

Planning Approval

We have received planning approval to add a roof terrace to a modern townhouse in Haringey, London.

Roof Addition to Grade 2 Listed Building

We have handed over our project to add a roof extension to a Grade 2 listed building in Kensington now that the works have been completed.

The upper three floors were fully renovated creating two beautiful new flats of one and three bedrooms. Both have generous open plan living rooms with kitchens and fantastic views across London. The upper flat is flooded with light from two rooflights in the new mansard structure and has a south facing terrace to the rear of the building.

Climate Crisis

On the hottest day on record in the UK, with wildfires burning throughout southern Europe I am sitting at my computer starting the journey to becoming a Certified Passive House Designer. The course will take the next few months and will enable the delivery of certified energy efficient buildings to the Passive House standards which far outstrip the current UK building regulations. These buildings are a step towards addressing the huge changes we need to see in order to survive into the future.

Westminster School of Architecture End of Year Show

This year we have mentored two 3rd year students from Westminster School of Architecture through the RIBA Student Mentoring Scheme. Their degree exhibition took place last week and showcased the fantastic range of work being produced by the School. The students have had a tough start their architectural careers but from the evidence on show they both have exciting futures ahead.

This is the third year we have mentored part 1 students and we hope to continue in the future. Hopefully it is as enriching an experience for the students as it is for us.

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Weekly Roundup

We are so busy that posting online always seems to get pushed to the bottom of the to do list, but we thought it would be useful to start posting a weekly roundup to capture our achievements. Hopefully we’ll keep it up!

Planning Applications

We have had approvals on three projects this week. The first is for a large rear extension and a loft conversion in Newham. The second is for a change of use and alteration to a shop front in Islington. We are looking forward to shopping at Dofu Mart! The third was for some post planning alterations to a barn conversion in Anglesey where we are converting a historic barn into a holiday let.

Applications have also been lodged for a new roof extension in Haringey.

Onsite

The work to our flat extension in Putney is progressing a pace. The builders are doing a great job and now the plastering is complete you get a great view of how the spaces will finally work.

Inspiration

This year’s RIBA Gold Medal Award was presented to Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi on Wednesday. It was an inspiration to hear about his approach to architecture and life and his amazing collaborations with Le Corbusier and Louis Khan. Check out some of his work here.

Roof Extension to Flat in Putney

Planning Permission Granted

Planning permission has just been granted for the extension and renovation of a home in a Lambeth Conservation Area. We look forward to delivering an amazing transformation for our clients.

Planning Permission Granted For Shop Conversion in Southwark

We are pleased that we have been granted planning permission for a shop to residential conversion in Southwark. The shop has sat without occupation for a year so we are pleased that it can now be put to a new purpose and the tired shop front can be renovated.

In a previous life the shop was the site of the music video to ‘Come on Elieen’ by Dexy’s Midnight Runners!

Planning Granted For Mixed Use Development of Six Flats and Two Offices in Lewisham

We are pleased to have been granted planning permission for a four storey, mixed use development in Lewisham. The project as had a difficult history with previous applications for the site having been refused by the local authority and the planning inspectorate under the former architect, so we were pleased that we have been able to achieve consent for our client.

Planning and Listed Building Consent Granted

ALU and South Bank Architects have just received an early Christmas present, gaining planning and listed building consent for the addition of a mansard roof and the creation of an additional flat in a Grade II listed building in Kensington. Roll on the new year and the working drawings.

We’re 3d architects

And we’ve been doing it with it on a computer since we stated our practice. Lol

image credit to @christhebaker

Sams Flat Revisited

It was lovely to pop back to Sam’s flat today and see how she had finished things now that she has lived there for a few months. Some of the interior joinery was excluded from the original building contract to allow her to manage her finances, but since we last visited she has built out the shelving and bench seating and understairs cupboards we preempted in the design. The end result is fantastically stylish.

What a transformation from the original flat we visited in 2016.

You can see more about this project here.

Grand Designs - Update

We hope you enjoyed last night’s episode of Grand Designs The Street. You can see our client Godfrey talking more about the house, the process and the inspiration behind the build in this video.

Pioneer Godfrey discusses ancestral inspiration and artistic creativity as the motivation to build a dream-home. As seen on Episode 6 of Grand Designs: The Street: https://www.gravenhill.co.uk/grand-designs-the-street/episode-6/ Read Godfrey's full story here: https://www.gravenhill.co.uk/grand-designs-the-street/pauline-godfrey/ About Grand Designs: The Street - Grand Designs: The Street follows the first 10 ground-breaking pioneers at Graven Hill as they build their individual homes to form a street, and ultimately a community, like no other in Britain.

Grand Designs - TONIGHT AT 9PM

Godfrey and Pauline’s custom build house will be on Grand Designs at 9pm tonight on channel 4.

We worked with South Bank Architects and House Beautiful Magazine to design a series of basic house types using a volumetric construction technology which allows the building to be fully constructed and fitted out in a factory in a series of large, transportable volumes and then assembled quickly on site. You can see the full range of standard homes here.

Our design pushed the boundaries of the technology to allow for a flowing floor plan with vaulted ceilings and large recessed openings creating a light and spacious home.

The basic single storey house type was customised to suit Godfrey and Pauline’s requirements. The plan, internal and external finishes, fixtures and fittings were all individually tailored to suit their needs. The building and was then constructed by Boutique Modern in a matter of weeks.

The building is one of the first houses on the Graven Hill site in Bicester. You can see how the story unfolded and the finished building on Grand Designs tonight, or watch on catch up here.

The Sunday Times and Grand Designs

A house we designed with South Bank Architects was featured in the Sunday Times yesterday. Grand Designs will also feature the project in their new series starting on Thursday night, our project will be episode 6.

If you have a subscription to the Times you can read the article here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/home/the-self-build-street-qbpvf5mgs.

For the details of the Grand Designs show see: https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/htps8y/grand-designs-the-street--series-1-episode-1/

Work Started In Bow

Spring seems to have sprung and work has started on our house renovation project in Bow. The site is in a conservation area but we achieved planning for a mansard roof extension and rear extensions on the first and lower ground floors. It will be interesting to see the project become realised over the next few months.

Sheena's Cellar

Sheena’s cellar in Canterbury is now practically complete. The result is a fantastic transformation and the contractor has done a great job. There are more photos and details here.

Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent Granted

Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent have been granted on our project to renovate a first floor flat in a building built between 1842 - 1855 in the Pimlico Conservation Area of Westminster.

The internal walls of the Grade II listed flat will be altered to create an open plan kitchen, dining and living area. A new bathroom and separate WC will be installed and the flat will be refurbished throughout.