CGA have recently completed a new build dwelling for a couple in Barkway. After a challenging planning process involving a great deal of consultation, the project was delivered on site by PB Doyle Ltd, who managed the construction with great efficiency and professionalism. The design consists of three bedrooms, with all primary accommodation located at ground floor for accessibility purposes and guest rooms above. The roof height was kept low, to minimise the impact of the new building on the surroundings and neighbouring houses. Internally, living spaces are provided with large, full height corner windows, looking out over the generous garden to fields beyond. A contemporary long-format brick was used, with vertical batten cladding in western red cedar. Natural zinc roofing to linking areas compliments the more traditional natural slating on the pitched roofs. Anodised finishes to metalwork and window frames add warmth to the material palette. Photovoltaic panels have been recessed into the slate roof to create a modern, clean appearance. In addition, excellent levels of insulation and air tightness mean that energy demand and therefore running costs are expected to be extremely low.
CLT installed at Suffolk Wildlife Trust
The specialist timber-frame company KLH have successfully completed the installation of their hybrid cross laminated timber frame at Carlton Marshes for Suffolk Wildlife Trust. The quality of the timber and workmanship is excellent. The new centre will be open for visitors to the expanded nature reserve early this summer.
Thremhall Park Buildings 1 & 2 completed
CGA has recently handed over two substantial office buildings for Mantle, at their Thremhall Park site in Essex, further expanding our growing ‘workplace' portfolio.
These two buildings represent the first phase of Mantle’s ambitious plans to expand this heavily wooded and heritage-rich site, to offer greater capacity and variety of commercial floorspace. Consent for these and two further buildings was secured by CGA in 2016. The buildings stand next to a moat, a protected tree belt, a Georgian Mansion and a grouping of Grade II barns, and take some visual cues from the local vernacular in their use of black timber and plain tile, whilst remaining clearly modern, robust and practical. Exposed feature structures on concrete columns and a very dark, low sheen paint finish give the buildings their more contemporary aesthetic.
Planning consent secured for contemporary new house in Norfolk
CGA has recently secured consent for this unusual, contemporary four bedroomed SIPS house in Norfolk, for a local couple.
The design ‘floats’ a timber clad bedroom block above a free-flowing ground floor, with a glazed southern aspect and heavy, masonry wraparound back wall.
We make reference to the local vernacular with our use of flint, though we will handle it in a contemporary fashion. The house becomes increasingly soft and woody as it extends away from the street and into the tree belt.
Views are carefully managed and considered, and the internal planning highly bespoked to our clients.
We look forward to helping them fulfil their long held ambition to create a striking, sustainable and affordable family home, on a beautiful, wooded edge of settlement site.
Concept designs for a Community Theatre in East Cambridgeshire
A concept scheme has been prepared investigating the conversion of a derelict mill in East Cambridgeshire into a flexible, low cost and contemporary community theatre.
Extensions containing an auditorium, backstage areas and vertical circulation are clearly expressed and reference the local ‘black Fenland shed’ typology in their dark, simple, humble and agricultural form, cladding and detail.
Further interest derives from the sensitive conversion of the historic mill building, placing sharply executed new fabric against richly textured and at times dilapidated existing brickwork and timber, and revealing our contemporary auditorium interior through careful handling of existing window openings.
Mersea Barns opens to the public
Cowper Griffith Architects has completed a new shop, café, play and community hub in East Mersea, on the site of a former 'pick your own' fruit farm.
The building takes its inspiration from the modest, black-painted timber barns and sheds which dot this sparse yet stunning landscape of tidal mudflats and fertile lowlands
The shop and café act as a rotating gallery for local artists and craftspeople, and the café showcases the best local produce.
The scheme is the brainchild of a local family, wishing to create a focal point for their community. We wish them tremendous success!
We also offer our thanks and appreciation to T J Evers, local Building Contractor, who were diligent, collaborative and committed to achieving excellent results.
Find out more at: www.merseabarns.com
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National Park & Education Centre at Acle Bridge
Concept Drawings for a new National Park Centre at Acle bridge on the Norfolk Broads have been prepared by the practice. The scheme develops the idea of the building acting as a sound barrier against the heavy traffic on the main road as it crosses the Acle bridge, as well as a ‘marker’ for the river boats.
The simple steep roof extends into a tall keel at the ridge acting as a ‘spine’. Covered in white timber cladding and black rubber it makes subtle reference to the working mill buildings of the broads. The simple strong shapes and open glazing, provide great views over the river. A Camera-obscura with mirrors set within a tower at one end projects an image of the flat reeded landscape on to a table within. The tower acts as a destination point across the fens.
The first floor café can be subdivided by sliding screens to form the education space. Interpretation areas can be reached from the river bank and directly from the embankment of the road via a draw bridge, pulled up at night for security. Less flood sensitive functional areas are placed on the ground floor.
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Winchester College shortlisted for 2019 RIBA South Award
We are pleased to announce that our project for Winchester College has been shortlisted for an RIBA South Award. Further details can be found at:
For more information about the scheme, please visit the project page below:
Wesley College shortlisted for 2019 RIBA East Award
We are pleased to announce that our project at Wesley House Theological College in Cambridge has been shortlisted for an RIBA East award.
RIBA East regional director Louise Todd said: “We have seen some really impressive entries in the East of England this year. The range of projects clearly demonstrates the many specialist skills that practices can offer, from conservation work and re-imagining outdated buildings through to designing highly energy-efficient one-off homes and social housing. All the architects and their clients are to be heartily congratulated on making it onto this year’s shortlist.”
https://www.archdaily.com/913202/24-projects-shortlisted-in-2019-riba-east-awards
Further details on the project can be found below:
Wesley College, University of Cambridge
The Wesley College project is now complete after a two year construction period commencing in early 2015. Wesley College was purpose built in 1928 for the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and this scheme consolidates the College onto approximately half the original site, after an arrangement with Jesus College, to rationalise accommodation.
Fifteen new student rooms are grouped around the north east corner, extending the buildings facing onto Jesus College Fellows Garden. At the front of the site, part of a 1960s building was demolished to form a new main entrance for the College, with a purpose built Porters Lodge and administration provided on the ground floor for the first time in the College’s history, completing the original vision. Seminar rooms, a new library and a new dining hall and kitchens on the top floor complete the main part of the new building facing onto Jesus Lane and back into the main court.
The scheme is carefully stitched into the listed 1920s and C18 buildings adjacent. The highly constrained site, and the close proximity of the new buildings to the College Chapel have made this a challenging project. The high quality of materials in the original buildings have been resourced & matched with stone, hand made brickwork, joinery and Westmoreland slate.
CGA projects shortlisted for four RICS awards
We are pleased to announce that four of our projects have been shortlisted for regional RICS awards.
Anstey Hall and Wesley College have been shortlisted in the ‘Design Through Innovation’ and ‘Residential’ categories, for the East of England.
https://www.rics.org/uk/events/networking/rics-awards-east-of-england/
Heckington Windmill has been shortlisted in the ‘Building Conservation’ and ‘Tourism & Leisure’ categories, for the East Midlands region.
https://www.rics.org/uk/events/networking/rics-awards-east-midlands/
Finally, Winchester College has been shortlisted in the ‘Design Through Innovation’ and ‘Residential’ categories, for the South East region.
https://www.rics.org/uk/events/networking/rics-awards-south-east/
For more information on each project, please follow the links below: