Newbuild Studio - Kelmscott village, Oxfordshire, 2006
Summary: A newbuild structure of stone with a Cotswold stone tiled roof, incorporating a double garage, a guest suite and a Studio/Workroom within the roofspace.
Detail: This project involves the replacement of an existing double garage with an enlarged structure incorporating additional accommodation. On the ground floor there is to be a double garage approximately the same size as the existing, but in addition there is to be a guest suite incorporating an ensuite shower room. At first floor level there is to be a Studio/Workroom suitable for up to four workspaces.
The additional accommodation, particularly that within the roof, is made possible by a moderate increase in the footprint of the older structure, plus the use of a steeply-pitched roof of Cotswold stone. The roof incorporates four Conservation Rooflights from the Rooflight Company which lie inconspicuously flush to the rooftiles and provide much of the light and all of the ventilation to the Studio.
An unusual feature of the structure is the tall bay window which faces almost due West over agricultural fields. This bay provides natural light to the staircase and entrance lobby area and gives long views to the countryside from the Studio area at first floor level.
The Studio structure is to have floors incorporating underfloor pipework fed by a ground source heat pump. It is to have an exposed truss and rafter ceiling with timber boarding over. The entrance steps outside the Studio are to be contained by a columnar stone wall incorporating a steel sculpture made of circular plough harrow discs.
Planning Permission was obtained in May 2006. Construction commenced in summer 2009.
Eye level perspective view from West. The large bay window looks to open countryside and 'greets' ramblers who enter Kelmscott via the Buscot footpath which runs past the Studio's North wall. In this sense it is a 'gateway' building to the villageAn early sketch of the Studio block. Here there was a definite break in height between the Garage and Studio elements. Later the break was dropped in favour of a more integral approach.
Northwest aerial view of the structure. The building definitely 'faces' West with its large bay window. The other elevations are very restrained in comparison.An insight into the sketching process. Considerable effort was put into getting the West elevation to look calm and uncluttered. These were some of the rejected ideas!Northwest eye level perspective view. A public footpath runs alongside the North elevation, so windows are minimal here, for privacy.An aerial perspective showing the beginnings of the roof structure being erected. All of the roof trusses are designed to be seen as well as......all of the rafters. The Studio space at first floor level can accommodate up to four people. The existing stone boundary wall joins the Studio at bottom right of this view.Aerial perspective of the Studio with the roof completed. This roof view shows how the plan is kinked to follow the North boundary.The roof of the Studio is unusual in being gabled on one side (the West side) but hipped on the other. The hipped East end is intended to minimise the presence of the building within the site.This internal SketchUP CAD view of the Studio shows the sense of scale and space a 3D model can give. The ballustrades to the staircase are glass, and the all of the structural rafters and trusses are visible.This high aerial view (with roof removed) illustrates how the first floor has been galleried (cut back) from the end gable to facilitate the tall window there.