Contemporary self-build low energy ‘SIPS’ house completes in North Norfolk

This new family home replaces an inefficient 1970s house, in a North Norfolk village setting.

Our client carried out much of the work himself alongside his regular job. An amazing achievement.

The house has a free-flowing ground floor, fully glazed to face the wonderful gardens.

A simple, rectangular timber-clad first floor sits on top, cantilevering out to limit ground floor solar gain.

Flint and red brick help connect the house to context.

The house is super insulated and airtight, with negligible running costs, and secured consent under delegated powers.

New art gallery, Cambridge

This new, CGA designed contemporary art gallery in central Cambridge is tucked away down a narrow lane, in the former yard behind a barber’s shop in a Victorian villa.

The new building plays with industrial forms; a sawtooth zinc roof sitting over simple, textured brick elevations and an exposed, internal timber roof structure.

Smaller timber and brick elements connect the gallery space to the rear of the Victorian house, which has been opened up internally, providing further generous and characterful accommodation.

The gallery happily co-exists with the retained barber shop to the street frontage.

The building was commissioned by a local patron of the arts and the occupants, ‘AKA Contemporary’, offer a range of stunning works across assorted media. They also support a non-profit, ‘Arts & Minds’, a Cambridge based arts and mental health charity. 

https://www.akafineart.co.uk/

https://artsandminds.org.uk/

CGA secures consent for new, bespoke dwelling in Uttlesford

This new five bedroom house in rural Uttlesford was consented just before Christmas. In design terms, it seeks to reinterpret the defining forms, materials and details of the best, local houses.

To the street, it has a linear form with small, randomly placed openings and a jettied first floor. To the rear, it opens up to the landscape, with dramatic glazing and contemporary dormer windows.

Its multi-level plan responds to site topography and creates spatial interest.

Feature brickwork to the street elevation reimagines the local tradition of geometric, lime pargeting.
We look forward to collaborating with the project team to deliver this low energy ‘forever home’ for our clients.

Success at Planning Commitee

Cowper Griffith Architects have recently secured a planning permission for extensions and alterations for a family home in a Cambridge city conservation area.

The project received much scrutiny by planners, the conservation team, and local residents given its relevance to the local Conservation Area context and the requirements to preserve the original Arts & Crafts character. With the help of a Planning Consultant and the support of the Planning Officer, the project has been given the green light for development in a successful Planning Committee Meeting.

In response to client’s brief, CGA’s proposal brings the existing house in line with contemporary family living standards while also celebrating and enhancing the original Arts & Crafts character. Proposals include thermal upgrade to the existing building fabric and utilisation of latest low-carbon technologies.

The new Southern extension houses an integrated garage under a ‘cat-slide’ roof, replacing the modern garage on the Southern boundary and staying faithful to the Arts & Crafts appearance of the front house elevation.  The rear extension with a flat green roof, secluded from the street view,  houses a contemporary open-plan living area overlooking a private garden. The contemporary extension is distinctive from the original part of the dwelling.

The presented image is an early conceptual sketch of the proposals.

CGA Staff Trip

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.

Success at planning committee

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.

Planning Success In Melbourn

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.

New faces at CGA

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.

Progress At Youngsbury House

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.

Curwen Print Study Centre Campaign

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