Video Walkthrough of a Concept Design

As part of our deliverables, we produce as standard floor plans, elevations, and 3D perspective images to express our design ideas and concepts. However, for some this could be quite limiting in visualising what the final design could look like. To accompany the standard drawings, we also share the 3D models developed through the design stage so clients can ‘walkthrough’ the design proposal from the comfort of their own home. This is a very interactive experience and can allow for the exploration of the design by using a keyboard and mouse to move around, much like a video game.

To provide a more immersive experience we have also begun developing short video walkthroughs which focus on the main area of the design proposal. The video walkthrough above focuses on a rear garden extension that we are preparing for planning and provides a detailed understanding of the volume, scale, materiality, movement around & connections to adjacent spaces, exterior views, access to natural light, etc. We really enjoy working in a variety of mediums to provide our clients with the most immersive experience and look forward to posting more of these short walkthroughs.

Planning achieved for a new storey above a bungalow

Existing	Proposed

Following a few planning obstacles, we are very pleased to announce that we have succesfully achieved planning permission for the construction of a new storey to a bungalow in Portishead.

Two prior extensions have created a very fragmented interior layout and a number of exterior material finishes. Part of the design process was to create a building that has more coherence to the habitable spaces and the exterior finish. We believe we have achieved this rather well by reorganising much of the existing ground floor to work with the new storey and by proposing stone to clad the lower ground floor walls, maintaining the existing render and introducing timber for the ground floor, and using cork to clad the walls of the new storey above. The clients had a very good idea of the external material finishes they wanted to use and we made sure to work with them to achieve their ambitions.

We are now preparing to move this project into the technical design stage in which we will begin detailing the building fabric and the external materials to be used. The additional storey will be built to the highest quality finishes and materials which justify the spectaclar site position which has views overlooking Bristol Estuary to the north and west. Solar panels are planned for the south facing roofs to generate energy on site

We will continue to post news and updates to this project as work develops. You can read more about this project here, or explore all of our projects here.

Planning submitted for a dwelling in Stoke Bishop

Perspective sketch of the proposed extension

We have submitted a planning application for the approval of a ground floor extension to a property in Stoke Bishop. Careful consideration to the external appearance was required as the dwelling is located within a Conservation Area. This means the Local Planning Authority have created an appraisal highlighting the special characteristics and historical character of the area which generally need to be maintained in any new construction. This appraisal was used to inform our design choices and develop the proposal into something achievable.

Our design is very sympathetic to what is currently in place. We have continued the design language through the use of similar materials and expressing the structural elements and pattern that currently exists. The pattern of the exposed structural reinforced concrete beams that support the first floor set out the footprint of the extension. New timber beams are proposed to align with the existing reinforced concrete creating a softer and natural feel to the extension whichprojects into the garden.

Interior view of the kitchen & dining spaces

A big part of this project was undertaking a sustainability assessment to understand the existing building fabric and building services. We produced a report detailing the features that are currently in place and how these can be upgraded to provide a more comfortable and energy efficient dwelling. The sustainability assessment begins its focus on the building fabric and details possible upgrade options i.e. this house has solid masonry walls with no insulation so we have proposed a number of routes to upgrade the walls each with varying costs, benefits, and feasability. You can read more on the sustainability assessment here.

We look forward to taking this project through planning and onto the technical design stage. We’ll continue to publish updates as they develop. You can read more about this project here, or explore all of our projects here.