Cowper Griffith have recently taken some time away from the office to enjoy a staff trip to London.
One particular highlight of the day was a personal tour of St Paul’s Cathedral by practice founder Chris Cowper, who was able draw from his role as Member of the Cathedral’s Fabric Advisory Committee.
The day concluded with some cocktails outside the newly refurbished Grade II* Battersea Power Station.
Cowper Griffith Architects have recently secured consent at Committee for a contemporary three bedroom, low carbon pavilion-style home, built on a back garden plot within a South Cambridgeshire Conservation Area.
Multiple previous attempts to secure consent by others have failed owing to the challenges presented by the Conservation Area and Protected Village Amenity Area designations.
CGA have worked tirelessly with the Local Authority to develop a thoughtful design that sensitively responds to and embraces each of the site’s many constraints, resulting in a contextually responsive contemporary family-home. We look forward to seeing this project delivered by skilled, local builder Arnold & Willis.
Following a long period of negotiation with the local authority, Cowper Griffith have recently been granted planning permission for a new build house within the Melbourn Conservation Area. The very sensitive back land site is set directly behind Grade II Listed terraced houses known as No’s. 151 – 155 High Street Melbourn.
Prior to our involvement the owner had been seeking permission on this site for over 15 years with many schemes dismissed at appeal. Working with the local authority CGA developed a sensitive low-key dwelling that sits unobtrusively behind the historic terrace of houses. The plot of land has since been put on the market and sold within 48 hours.
CGA is delighted to announce the arrival of new members of staff.
Molly joins us as a Part I Architectural Assistant, having graduated from Norwich University of the Arts.
James and Charley join us as Part II Architectural Assistants, having completed their studies at Nottingham and Nottingham Trent respectively.
Meanwhile, Marco Fiorino begins his Part III course this autumn, at the Architectural Association.
In addition, Rohana joined CGA during the summer, having previously worked for a leading conservation practice in Scotland.
Rohana helps broaden our project delivery capability, and shares our passion for combining conservation with crafted intervention.
Works are nearing completion at our Youngsbury House project. while our contractors are making the final touches to the house and extensions, the estate team are preparing to undertake the surrounding landscaping and planting works.
Our proposals removed Late Victorian extensions and crude 1950’s additions, restoring the house to its early design. The project includes the restoration of the classical pediments, modillioned eaves, stone entrance portico, joinery and indented brickwork detailing.
CGA has a long-standing association with the Curwen Print Study Centre. CGA Partner, Simon Redman, is a Trustee.
The Centre has recently created a new studio and archive, and is seeking funding to help catalogue and display its incredible collection of prints, both online and in situ.
Please take a look at the campaign page, which lists the fabulous experiences and artefacts available to donors at a variety of price points.
You can help this important institution continue to preserve the tradition of fine art printmaking in the UK.
Thank you for reading!
Link:
https://www.artfund.org/donate/art-happens/reveal-the-curwen-archive-for-everyone
Our recently completed Buckinghamshire Residence has been added to the website.
This classical house sits on the rural edge of a Buckinghamshire town, with beautiful beech trees at the rear of the site. Our clients required more accommodation, including a pool house. An existing house of low quality, had been built by a developer in 2004, so it was agreed that it should be remodelled to save waste & energy caused by demolition. The facades, roof and interiors of the new house are therefore all reconstructed around the retained walls & floors within.
This substantial replacement dwelling near Ely has recently been consented by East Cambridgeshire District Council.
The house takes visual cues from the large, simple barn forms which dot this sparse landscape of flat fields and endless skies. A palette of zinc and dark brick echoes barns built in cladding sheet over a robust, masonry base.
The house sits within a low-lying landscape, benefitting from flood defences. A full Flood Risk Assessment informed our approach to safe and resilient design. In addition, we were required to demonstrate that the house it replaces is not a ‘non designated heritage asset’.
The scheme was approved under delegated powers.
With thanks to Parker Planning and Geoff Beel Consultancy for their technical support.
CGA and Hill have recently received reserved matters approval for the development of 50 new houses just outside the village of Finchingfield. The proposals were unanimously approved by councillors on the 8th March, following a period of positive engagement with Braintree District Council and the local parish councils. This application granted permission for the detailed design of the scheme, further to an earlier outline planning consent which established the principle of development.
The design evolved over the course of several months, with the close involvement of Braintree District Council, who were in agreement with the design team and developers regarding the need for a high quality, carefully detailed design at the site which acts as a gateway into the village of Finchingfield. A wide range of house type designs were developed, which respond to the varied and historic architectural styles in Finchingfield, taking cues from the organic pattern of development, brick and render material palette and the celebration of green spaces.
The design incorporates over 1.1 hectares of public open space, including a central green, a landscaped perimeter walk and a planted buffer zone to the east which creates visual separation between the houses and the adjacent Bardfield Road. All houses face onto green landscaped spaces and are connected to the village with new footpath links. 40% of the houses will be affordable homes and the developer will be providing financial contributions to support the local health centre and sports facilities.
Each new home will have an air source heat pump, providing efficient renewable energy. Sustainable drainage systems are carefully integrated into the landscape design, creating attractive features which also serve as flood mitigation measures.
Image by Bradley Dyer
We are pleased to announce that the Carlton Marshes Visitor Centre has been shortlisted for the RIBA East Awards 2022.
The visitor centre is the Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s flagship building, it will have a dual role being both a visitor gateway and an education centre. It is a space to encourage more people to learn about the Broads unique landscape and wildlife.
All shortlisted projects will be assessed by a regional jury with the winning projects announced later this spring.
Photograph by Peter Cook