Crawford Partnership
Stonechat Mews
Preface
Crawford Partnership was established in 1997 by Alan Crawford as a ‘boutique style’ London based architecture and interior design practice. This new book illustrates the design and construction process for three new build homes in Stonechat Mews, Roehampton, which is one that fuses architecture and art to create a modern and contemporary living environment on a backland site originally occupied by a derelict warehouse. Located at the end of a long avenue of run down lock up garages, the difficult context and conditions of the site were very familiar to us; with restricted access, constrained site geometry, proximity of neighbours on every boundary, and issues of overlooking and privacy to address. However, we relish these challenges, which always inform our creative solutions, especially when working to a tight construction budget. The national housing crisis is most acute within the capital, and we continue to invest our time and efforts seeking ways to address the long term issues of economic housing provision. Dealing with a quagmire of red tape and bureaucracy on every project, within a constantly changing regulatory framework, and with local planning authorities working under dramatically paired back budgets, all of which can lead to projects taking much longer to obtain planning consent, and this in a climate where there is often minimal design and construction budgets available for quality architecture as land prices soar, meaning we are always using our design skills to maximise the potential of every development, and combining this with our knowledge of materials costs to provide our clients with design solutions that offer more for less. This project represents the combined efforts of the design team working closely with enlightened clients - an artist and a journalist - and can be seen as a template for similar landlocked sites which may initially look to have little or no development potential. Alan Crawford 2019
01
02
Contents
01 Introduction 04 02
Brief & Design Development
06
03 Developed Design 10 04 Kitchen Design 14 05 Staircase Design 18 06 Bathroom Design 22 07 Construction Process 26 08 Completed Project 30
03
Introduction Architecture has a strong social purpose to improve and refine the build environment to meet the changing needs of society. Within the context of a national housing crisis, the provision of housing has become increasing scarce and commodified requiring more challenging sites to be developed to meet demand. Working with backland sites introduces additional design, planning and construction constraints all of which require a response from the designers. Our projects are driven by a clear and concise philosophy that is concerned with maximising opportunities to create interesting spaces and forms that combine dramatic use of materials and light, and address issues of sustainability and efficiency. Working from the macro site scale down to the micro detailing of a project, we understand the importance of a holistic approach to all aspects of the design and aim to create a beautiful and functional building to satisfy the client’s brief and budget. We were fortunate on our project in Stonechat Mews to be working with enlightened clients, a husband and wife team, who brought their backgrounds as an artist and journalist to engage with the process. This encouraged our initial designs for a sculpted form with natural daylighting and playful colour, to fuse art with architecture whilst creating a standard in contemporary living. Transforming a derelict single storey warehouse at the end of a tired garage mews, the outlook initially looked bleak, and as with many of the backland sites we work on in London, the key to the success of the design would be a thorough analysis and synthesis of the complex context of the site and immediate surroundings. The constrained site geometry and close proximity of neighbours on every boundary was always going to be challenging, however these challenges inform our creative solutions. 04
Existing Site Plan
Existing Backland Site
05
Brief & Design Development When we were commissioned to look at the development potential for this backland site, hidden from the main street and occupied by a single storey brick-faced warehouse at the end of a shabby ‘avenue’ of tired garages, creative imagination was required to visualise how this space could be transformed into stylish new-build contemporary homes creating a focal vista along a renovated mews. The design went through a process of evolution which began from some initial proposals submitted by the clients that involved the use of a prefabricated Huf Haus. Having extensive experience in planning we advised the clients to follow an alternative route which would produce a design that would have a more contextual relevance and be more sympathetic to the surroundings. “We need more homes and that’s a fact. We need volume, light and character. We need liberated rules. We need imagination to unlock forgotten plots.” Roger Zogolovitch Initial designs for these contemporary townhouses explored variations in the massing of monolithic sculptural block forms with a careful assessment on maximising opportunities for natural daylight and sunlight in the deep plan footprint of each of the three, 3-storey houses. These initial studies eventually led to a massing and facade design that balances simple solid and transparent rectilinear forms stepping horizontally and vertically to provide visual interest working with a limited palette of materials. 06
Precedents used in Concept Formation Stage
502
+24.080=9.110
24.78
Juliet Balcony
COPING
C
29.05.2008 Coping Stone Added To Wall Second Floor Rear Balcony to Canopy. Huf House ridge Level to 24.78
B
17.03.2008 PA Amended
A
07.01.2008 PA Prepared
19.70
+7.430 18.00
Rev
Date
COPING
+7.430
Comment
2450
PLANNING APPLICATION Huf Haus Proposed by the Clients
h) Elevation @ 1:200
PAIR OF SEMI-DETACHED HOUSES
2F +21.130
Potlatch Ltd.
Site Address:
Large Store Roehampton Close London SW15 5LU
Architect:
Peter Huf M.Arch., Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Darien House Seven Hills Road Cobham Surrey, KT11 1EU Tel: 01932 586 550 Fax: 01932 588 775
380
Client:
2000
2275
2700
1000
FF +18.050
White Render Infill Panel
Timber Stained White
Double Glazed Infill Panel 15.40
fixed/pained glass panel
Evolved Design
1000
) Elevation @ 1:200
2578
b110
Plan:
Rear (North) Elevation Side (East) Elevation
Scale:
1 : 200 @ A3
Rain Water Gutter
19.70
502
CAD Used: Huf.de :
Drawn By:
Date:
S.Y S.Y J.W
14.01.2008 17.03.2008 29.05.2008
Checked By: S.A.S S.A.S S.A.S
Date: 14.01.2008 17.03.2008 29.05.2008
2569
1100
1100
Contextual Design Approach with feature ‘Picture windows’ Grey Concrete Roof Tiles
Job No.: Drawing:
10632/10635 b111c
fixed/pained glass p
Finalised Frontage Detail
07
Proposed Second Floor Plan
Proposed First Floor Plan
08
Proposed Site Plan
Proposed Ground Floor Plan
SECTION THROUGH WALK ON GLASS OUT
724 Landscaping Sketch Plan
290 100 150
current build EPDM level on the rear side of opening
100
UPSTAND
walk on skylight
150 30
FINING AND FINISH TBC /
IN
Patio Development Sketches
09
Developed Design The blend of sculpture and art runs throughout the interior spaces with neutral wall and floor finishes allowing individual occupants the opportunity to fashion their own choices of furniture and art, animating the neutral backdrop of each room.
Side Section
The enclosed double height winter garden at the rear opens up and frames views of the sky above the high garden walls retained from the original warehouse structure. The bespoke kitchen designed by the architect and made by the contractor, has a large south facing window onto the private forecourt, and can be entirely closed when required with concealed pocket doors. Polished concrete is the finish throughout the ground floor, and natural light from the rooflights above provides constantly changing reflections within the interior. A bespoke cantilevered white polished concrete and glass open riser staircase rises from the open-plan living and dining space as a simple sculptural statement connecting each floor in the gallery-like space. The invisible support structure of individual concrete treads provides an illusion of lightness and a focal point within each house. Three bedrooms are located at first floor, one of which opens partly onto the double height winter garden, providing additional views out over the garden and connecting to the living space below. The top floor accommodates the master suite with an open plan living room and study between the bedroom and a private external terrace area, and with a ‘zen’ like master ensuite, with a freestanding bath set in front of a fully glazed wall and a backdrop of bamboo, and at the other end, a walk in shower with a large skylight above. 10
Front Elevation
Front View ‘As Built’
11
Frontage View
12
Front Entrance
Aerial View
Rear Patio View
Frontage View Photomontage
Aerial View Photomontage
13
laquered folding door with hidraulic hinges
Kitchen Design
Kitchen Elevation Drawings
We initially explored concept ideas with the clients on how to provide each home with a unique kitchen design, whilst remaining within the framework of a standardised layout and configuration for each kitchen space in addition to the budget. Having an artist as one of our clients led us to exploring the introduction of colour as a unique signature within each of the three kitchens. This evolved through various concepts to provide individual contrasting colours for each of the houses through varying splashback finishes. These bold injections contrast with the grey colour of the main kitchen units, using back-painted glass facing the breakfast bar and further highlighted by LED lights below the wall units above. The grey kitchen units were made within the contractors joinery workshop and spray painted to achieve a smooth matt finish which contrasts with the lighter grey Corian worktops. The colour of kitchen units was selected to harmonise with a polished concrete floor finish that runs through the entire ground floor level and both the pendant lighting and the black and stainless steel Miele and Siemens appliances combine to provide an minimal and partly industrial chic that is both practical and vibrant.
14
Kitchen to Dining Room View
la
600
600
600
3,000
600
"Fumo" Matt Lacquered Units
"Fumo" Matt Lacquered Units
aquered folding door with hidraulic hinges
750
750
flush mounted extractor fan above gas hob
"Fumo" Matt Lacquered Units
"Fumo" Matt Lacquered Units
500
laquered folding door with hidraulic hinges
Lift Up High Gloss Units Tall Double Larder Unit
Multifunction double oven
Tall Fridge Unit 2,750
Microwave
Tall Double Larder Unit
Multifunction double oven
Back painted glass spalshback
600
350
Freezer
100
100
100
100
600
Wine Cooler
50
900
800
Recycling Drawer 1
Recycling Drawer 2
350
830
900 50
350
Dishwasher
350
25
25
45
gas hob
25 25
1,900
Back painted glass spalshback
Lift Up High Gloss Units
Microwave
600
Tall Fridge Unit
600
1,200
600
600
Kitchen Elevation Showing Island Units with Tall Units Behind
600
600
Kitchen Elevation Showing Tall Units
ROW OF LED TAPE UNDER SUSPENDED UNITS
flush mounted extractor fan above gas hob
2
Us
Us
Us
H
2
2
H
H
H
Wine Cooler
Sm
Freezer
Tall Larder Unit
900 3,000
900
900 600
FLUSH MOUNTED EXTRACTOR FAN ABOVE GAS HOB
1,200
250
gas hob
2
250
Caesarstone Quartz Countertop
750
900
520
600
2
45
1,200
Artwork
450 600
ID 2
900
900
900 600
H/L MULTI SWITCH PLATE MOUNTED INSIDE CUPBOARD ABOVE TALL LARDER
2,300
450 600
1,590
Caesarstone Quartz Countertop
900
900
1,350
250
900
100
1,350
900
Dishwasher
25
Multifunction double oven and Microwave
900
Fridge
Us
25
Us
690
Us
900
1,800
900
1,800 3,600
900 900
5,400
Kitchen Elevation Showing Island
ID 1
2
Kitchen Plan
GSPublisherEngine 0.0.100.100
Kitchen View
15
16
Kitchen to Living Room View
Kitchen View
17
2850mm Structural Opening 2670mm Finished Opening
Staircase Design
204mm
1350mm Structural Opening
987mm Clear Width
30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 UC 203mm x 203mm x 52mm Staircase Plan (Second Floor) 65mm Gap
20mm Gap
Panel 5
Panel 5
FFL 6.16m 30
2850mm Timber to Timber
29 28
302mm
Panel 1 26
3080mm
25 24 23
28mm x 150mm x 12.5mm RHS Stringer
22
At Stonechat Mews, considerable design discussion was ongoing with the clients during the initial concept stage and detailed development of the staircase with our aim to create a sculptured lightweight design with elegantly floating steps and a glass balustrade that would give emphasis to pure geometric forms and clean coherent lines.
925mm Balustrade
Panel 4
18 17
Panel 4
Nosing at top of stairs formed by main contractor
42°
3100mm Timber to Timber
14 13
16 FFL 3.08m 302mm
230mm Clear
12 11 10
Riser 205mm 95mm Gap
9
110mm Riser
8 7 250mm Going
Panel 1
6 5
4 3 2 Staircase Section
18
15 x Risers 205.3mm
Panel 1
3080mm
The staircase was fabricated by Saxum Stairs using a white precast polished concrete finish with open risers connected to a toughened glass balustrade capped with a steel handrail.
20 19
15
Cantilevering from a concealed structural steel frame set within the main spine wall and ascending to the top floor with an inherent lightness belying the weight of the material, the bespoke staircase is a constant focal point within each house. Set within a glass topped enclosure that is constantly washed with daylight and sunlight, creating an endless pattern of filigree shadows dancing across the monolithic spine support wall.
Panel 1
21
Stringer outline shown with dashed line
2255mm Min Headroom
Within all our designs, staircases are considered much more than simple structures to transition between individual floors of a house. They provide opportunities for sculptural features to integrate between the different storeys, anchoring elements within the two dimensional and three dimensional layout and configuration of interior spaces.
2032mm Min Headroom
27
Staircase Construction Drawing
42°
15 x Risers 205.3mm
1 FFL 0.00m
Three Dimensional Study
Hand Drawing Exploring Tread to Frame Connection
First Floor Floating Concrete Steps Formation
Ground Floor Stair Flight Construction View
Completed Staircase
19
20
Ground Floor Staircase View
First Floor Staircase View
21
Bathroom Design When designing the new build homes in Stonechat Mews our primary goal was to create a building that fuses architecture and art to create a 21st century living environment. The superlative moments for us on this project are the maximum use of glazing where possible to introduce daylight and sunlight and to provide exceptional views to the outside, whilst maintaining cool interiors and a level of privacy for occupants and neighbours alike. Within the second floor we were able to facilitate a large bathroom as part of the master suite, taking advantage of an abundance of light and space. The bathroom features a large picture window situated at one end of the space adjacent to the bath to provide beautiful views out and a connection to nature. Across the middle of the room we specified a long porcelain double basin combined with a panoramic mirror which adds further depth into the space and reflects the natural light into the space. Opposite the picture window we located a wet room shower which features a large square skylight that brings additional natural light into the space. The design concept revolves around a minimalistic style and a coherent language that features pure geometric forms and a specific colour palette which is complimentary to the overall design whilst creating a ‘zen’ retreat from the stress of urban living. Beyond the bathroom there is a private balcony space is decorated with plants that reflect their colour back into the internal space further enhancing the living experience. This is linked to the bamboo visible from within the bathroom.
22
Master Ensuite Bath View
Shower View
23
24
Master Ensuite Drawings & Photographs
25
Construction Process The process of construction is rarely simple, however the constraints of the site made this particularly challenging. Crawford Partnership has a wealth of experience in this type of complex backland development, and working closely with the contractor and the design team throughout the process the works were completed efficiently and the original brief by the clients was realised. The initial works were to demolish elements of the existing single storey warehouse that filled the entire plot, retaining the boundary walls. Installing concrete underpin foundations and then inserting brick piers to support the old brick warehouse walls that were retained made the structure self-supporting at that stage. With limited space for storage and access, the works required a sensitive approach when dealing with neighbours and it was decided that the construction works would be phased by completing the steel structure of individual houses to take account of concerns from neighbours, and also to facilitate the installation of a new large diameter foul drain that was required to run below the site connecting to an existing main drain outside the boundary. As with many complicated and demanding projects significant changes were made to the design during this process, with the construction programme being extended to 16 months but still delivered nominally over the clients budget.
26
Second Floor Landing View
First Floor Landing View
27
28
Structure Formation
Front Elevation Formation
Front Elevation Construction
29
Completed Project The outcome of engaging the artistic characteristics of the clients has created an artistic design, with a monolithic form emerging from the ground being sculpted by the constraints imposed upon the project. The garages and road have been upgraded and landscaped to accentuate the approach towards the houses which have floor to ceiling windows looking back on the mews. An enclosed shared forecourt at the front of the properties and a fullyglazed open plan living space opening out onto the double-height private winter gardens at the rear, incorporating retained walls from the original warehouse, meaning that despite the tight site geometry, the houses are not only spacious internally but externally too. The selection of materials was intended to compliment the form of the building and feature aspects that would act as main characteristics by which the building becomes distinctive and identifiable. The design also explores the relationship between solid and transparent materials by the use of glass elements as well as brick, zinc and concrete. The combination of the two creates an interesting transition within the spaces that results in an enduring design. The finished product is a testament to the original intention and a paradigm to what can be achieved within small forgotten backland plots which, by being given the right attention can be transformed into great opportunities.
30
Front Elevation
31
32
Communal Entrance Forecourt
Integrated Planters, Refuse & Bike Stores
33
34
Entrance Lobby Space
Open Plan Living & Dining Room View
35
36
Open Plan Living & Dining Room View
Internal View towards the Patio
Internal View toward the Dining Area
37
38
Double Height Lightwell View
Sitting Area within Patio
39
40
Rear View of the Houses
First Floor Landing View
41
42
First Floor Bedroom View
Bedroom 3 View
First Floor Bathroom View
43
44
Bespoke Staircase Details
Master Suite Landing & Open Plan Living Space View
45
46
Master Ensuite View
47
48
Master Bedroom View
Master Suite Balcony
49
Afterword
Look out for the next Crawford Partnership book, coming in early 2020 Photography Credit | Adam Butler Photography
50
51
Click to Crawford Partnership Website