Completion at the Old Coach House

Cowper Griffith Architects has recently completed a series of alterations and extensions to a former worker’s cottage at the Coach House in Hertfordshire.

Cowper Griffith were approached in 2018 to reorder the building and create some more space for the evolving family’s lifestyle. The key was to introduce some contrasting spaces that countered the existing small cottage’s proportions. A large open plan living/dining area now leads directly off the kitchen, which is has been relocated to the centre of the house meaning all areas of the living space now have a direct relationship with the garden and views out across the landscape.

Further information can be found within the project page of our website

Photography: Matthew Smith Architectural Photography

Contractor: Bridgeman Construction

Completion at the Canal Museum

Cowper Griffith Architects has recently completed a series of enhancements and interventions at the Grade II Listed Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne, which houses part of the Canal & River Trust’s nationally important collection.

This former corn mill, standing on the Grand Union Canal, has brought canal history to life since the early 1960s. 

The new works refresh front of house and café, and reimagine artefact display, whilst sensitively restoring and adapting historic fabric.

 CGA was delighted to collaborate with Beverley Wood Design, The Firebrace Partnership and Sheriff Tiplady to deliver the scheme in conjunction with Main Contractor FK Restoration of Bedford.

Images: El Wood Photography

Exploring Sustainable Materials In Cambridge

We have been working on designs to replace a fire-damaged house just outside Cambridge. Sustainability was a heart of this project’s brief and from the outset the client wished to use Weinerberger’s “Porotherm” clay blocks for the walls. 

 These are an innovative masonry solution, more commonly used on Continental Europe but growing in popularity in the UK as their benefits are becoming more widely recognised. We are lucky to have experienced installers locally who have been working efficiently under the local main contractor, Godfrey & Hicks.  As a practice we are keen to explore and understand the most sustainable methods of construction and often use Porotherm blocks for their various environmental and practical benefits: 

• They are lightweight, requiring about 60% less material than traditional brick & block wall. This lighter weight can also offer safety benefits for the workmen who unload and install them, reducing the risk of back injuries or repetitive strain injuries

• Requiring only a thin 1mm mortar bed between courses, they can be laid much faster than bricks & blocks, using a specialist roller. This also means that the installation process requires substantially less water than traditional 10mm mortar beds, which reduces pressure on the local water supply. This has environmental benefits, particularly in summer months in East Anglia where hosepipe bans are often implemented

• Extremely durable, requiring little to no maintenance, with an expected building life of over 150 years, and recyclable at the end of life

• As clay products they are inert, they present no risk to the environment or the end user. Almost all clay blocks are “fired” in an oven to give them their rigidity and strength, but because Porotherm are hollow, these require less energy to produce than other traditional types of bricks and block.

• They are inherently non-flammable and achieve the best possible fire rating

• Breathable, allowing vapour and moisture to pass through the wall construction when combined with breathable insulation, preventing risks of condensation and mould which can occur in airtight modern buildings.

• Excellent thermal properties, reducing the amount of insulation required to meet and exceed building control requirements, and helping to create a stable internal environment year-round.

• An innovative profile allows the blocks to “lock” together (a bit like Lego!) offering a high level of accuracy and allowing a fast installation

Curwen Print Study Centre

Cowper Griffith is delighted to be supporting the revered Curwen Print Study Centre in their move to new premises in rural Suffolk.

Partner Simon Redman is a Trustee, and has been advising on matters of design and construction.

The new facility will offer studio space and an archive for Curwen’s precious body of work and historic artefacts.

You can find out more about the initiative and how you can support it here:

https://www.curwenprintstudy.co.uk/site/page?d=about&p=make-your-mark

CGA longlisted for Homerton College Design Competition

We are pleased to announce that we recently took part in an invited design competition for Homerton College, Cambridge. Our design, which was longlisted from the designs of 28 well-known architectural practices sought to create a new landmark entrance building along the Hills Road site. The proposal was to rationalise the existing porter’s lodge & library accommodation, whilst redirecting visitors through the parkland setting. A tall lantern tower acted as a landmark to guide visitors around the busy site.

The proposal has been published today in the Architects Journal, BD Online and Homerton’s website as a part of a press release for the final award. Congratulations to Alison Brooks Architects for their fantastic scheme which ultimately won the competition.

https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/alison-brooks-wins-homerton-college-contest-showcase-of-all-finalists

https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/alison-brooks-wins-cambridge-college-competition/5112660.article

Progress At Youngsbury House

It’s an exciting month at our Youngsbury House project, as we see the early stages of the historic roof form being reinstated. Our contractors are currently battling the wet and windy Spring weather to try and get the 400m2 roof installed.

Youngsbury is an early C18 Grade II listed house in Hertfordshire built in 1745 and designed by James Paine, one of the most respected architects of the time. It is thought that it may be his first major commission. The house had been extended to double its original size and then suffered the misfortune of losing its original roof and top floor in the 1950s.

The project, due to complete next year sees the reinstatement of its historic form alongside a number of modern alterations to improve the building for contemporary lifestyles.

These three photographs show the property as seen from the Stable Yard in 1872, 2017 & 2021 during construction.

Progress with the Landmark Trust's Calverley Old Hall Project

We’ve been busy working on Calverley Old Hall with the Landmark Trust. The project has recently been submitted for planning and listed building consent to convert the Grade 1 listed building into a short term holiday let.

The project is highly significant given that the Grade 1 house was built and inhabited by the Lords of the Manor of Calverley from c.1250 to the late 18th century, placing it in the top 2.5% of all listed buildings in the country. CGA were appointed following an national competition run by the Trust in 2018.

As a part of the recent archaeological recording a digital 3D laser scan survey was conducted of Calverley Hall by Marcus Abbott at TJC Heritage Ltd using a Faro Focus laser scanner. A total of 170 individual scans were made and registered together using Faro Scene software to create a single point cloud model. 

This digital model of the Hall and its immediate landscape provides the metric data for the creation of elevation plans and cross-sections of the building. Fine details such as carved timbers and mouldings were then scanned at 1mm resolution allowing these elements to be visualised in detail.

Image credit to Marcus Abbott at TJC Heritage Ltd

Photo credit to John Miller

Uncovering The Past At Youngsbury House

Works are picking up pace at our Youngsbury House project, with lots of exciting things taking place over the next few months. This week our contractor managed to find 3 old cigarette packets and a newspaper within the floor structure of the house. The cigarettes are believed to be from the 1930’s to 1950’s and the newspaper is a copy of the Daily Express dated 23rd June 1959, these dates broadly align with the last known major works at the house. Other finds include footprints in historic lime puggin, historic fireplace openings & historic structural repairs.

Project Highly Commended in Civic Trust AABC Conservation Awards

We’re pleased to announce that our David Parr House project in Cambridge has been highly commended at this year’s Civic Trust AABC Conservation Awards. Congratulations to all the winners.

Credits to the project team below;

Client David Parr House

Conservation Architect Cowper Griffith Architects LLP

Main Contractor F.A. Valliant & Sons Ltd

Paint Restoration Huning Decorations

Paint Conservation Tobit Curteis Associates

Electrical Subcontractor Secelec

Specialist Plaster Simon Swann Associates

Paint Analysis Hamilton Kerr Institute

General Plaster G.Cook & Sons Ltd -

Architectural Paint Research Jane Davies Conservation

Photography Matthew Smith Architectural Photography

Works start at Burnham Rise

CGA are delighted that construction has started on a new dwelling ‘Burnham Rise’ in Burnham Market, Norfolk. The house sits at the crest of a hill and has been designed to enable dramatic long distance views of the Norfolk coastline and surrounding countryside. We look forward to the house taking shape over the next 18 months.

The site itself is challenging due to the presence of many mature trees that have Tree Preservation Orders, so they are being carefully protected throughout the build.

The works are being undertaken by contractor Grocott & Murfit.

https://grocottandmurfit.co.uk