Assent Building Control

This beautiful detached property in a rural setting was a great opportunity to develop a design that would maximise a traditional home for a growing family. Given the sensitivities to development that come with living in the countryside we were able to leverage the great impact of permitted development rights for our client in creating a very large rear extension and garage building. This effectively doubled the foot print available on the ground floor, to such an extent that we were able to use some of this for an internal courtyard with glazing and planting to bring a piece of nature into the heart of the home.

# Brief
To create more space for a growing family a single storey extension with internal reconfigurations was created. Our designers understood the need to be sympathetic to the style of the original house. To allow for this the right specification for glazing and brickwork was a must.

# Concept
Under Permitted Development a single storey rear extension with some internal reconfiguration could be the basis for extending this home. The family wanted a more open plan kitchen and living area. To experience this the design opens up a through route to the current kitchen and offer views into the new addition of the enclosed courtyard. This will be a real feature in the summer.

![191 10](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/2BpnByvErFCkI63JgJz6sR/0ac873c4ce9e61e96345afcb4c0b0136/191_10.jpg)Ground Floor Plan

# Challenges
Despite the challenges of planning approval in a green belt area we were able to use permitted development rights for our client to gain approval for their home extension and new garage. We needed to integrate the new modern large spans into an existing Edwardian property. Getting the right balance between the old and new was an exciting test for our architects. We kept the design simple; light and open with glazing, clean internal finishes and matching the existing external materials to help blend in the new extension.  

Hill farm house external of single storey extension

Hill farm house external

Option 1 View 1

Option 1 View 2

Option 2 View 1

Option 2 View 2

Hill farm house internal

191 10

West Horndon

Our clients are the proud owners of an old agricultural barn in the Essex countryside, an existing structure than does no justice to its beautiful setting. We were approached to carry out a redesign of this barn. To create a home designed for their families specific needs, a home that served them in just the way they needed it to, and a home that would last.

# Brief
Being surrounded by countryside and fields it is important to orientate our design correctly to make the most of the sprawling views and ensure the large barn structure is generously filled with light. 

An important element of our brief is to ensure the correct balance between open family spaces, and private areas so that this home works for the whole family in the long-term. Also to incorporate a functional palette of materials to make this a hard wearing property. 

![latham site photo](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/6WT0I0f2VxykXf5hGobQLD/66fda71defad4fd5a62e2a5af41be3c8/FOR_WEBSITE.jpg) Existing site photo

# Concept
The resulting design pulls together the important factors given to us in our brief, and adds a strong architectural concept to what was a structurally faulted agricultural building. 

To ensure this modern barn is filled with light, glazing wraps itself around the structures zinc clad surfaces. Bathing the internal spaces with light and creating multi-directional views out from the property. 

The barn has also been sunken into its settings to achieve greater internal head heights, opening up what would have been dark uncomfortable parts of the home. Our design has incorporated bright open and light spaces, with wood burners and internal stone work to create a mix of simplicity and homely touches. 

![196 0](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/F0e6AV3aE9RVMBl3T0vbp/c78c84492e4df37a95f8ad260e2ac58e/196_0.jpg)Ground Floor Plan

![196 1](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/18lr7FPU4PtpJ2UcLNtrJo/e866eda2828286720020683fe1d8d399/196_1.jpg)First Floor Plan

# Challenges
Being in close proximity to listed buildings and having an existing barn to reference it was important to utilise our experience with local planning teams to balance their need to preserve local history with the desires of our client. Also with an agricultural undeveloped site it is important to account for changing ground levels. This is another area of experience we bring to our projects.

# VR
See below for the VR experience we created for our clients! This helps our clients really visualise what their new home looks like, it also helps our clients make further decisions with kitchen design and overall finishes. See more about our VR and design process in our [Stage 1](https://method.studio/process) guide. 


Hallfarm Ext 03

Hall Farm Ext 01

Hallfarm Ext 02

Hallfarm Int 01

Hallfamr Int 02

Hallfarm Int 03

Hallfarm Int 04

196 0

196 1

Bishop's Hall

This tired and simple bungalow needed a bit of love and our client wanted to create their forever home. More floor space and a fantastic living breathing kitchen with a courtyard were the key items on the brief.

# Brief
Our clients were looking to extend their home to include a generous open plan living and kitchen space. It was important to include a lovely big kitchen island for gathering around and a wine fridge. We also looked into trying to integrate a courtyard with the living space as our clients really loved shared indoor/outdoor spaces. Items like this are a luxury that with the right detailing and planning can flow seamlessly. 

![Sloman site photo](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/Kx96A2VrKWozCZqAElwQv/b46b24c2603811892e617d073e189dd9/For_website.jpg) Existing Site photo 

# Concept
Our design is centred around a warm heart of the home in the form of a glazed courtyard with a fire pit in the centre. When all the glazed doors are open this courtyard becomes part of the house bringing in loads of beautiful sunlight and fresh air making the house feel bigger. 

We also designed a home office space that looks out to the courtyard and has a big crittall style partition which looks modern and can close for privacy. We also provided a reconfiguration and refurbishment for the bedrooms. We created a spacious Master suite with a Master ensuite. 

![209](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/2OJnj16XQhsQDnXMxOkfUn/90838710713f6de746499141ad76dfd6/209.jpg)Ground Floor Plan

# Challenges
We used the different planning policies to our advantage for this build. With our in-depth knowledge we are able to submit multiple applications in order to get the most out of our client's building! Shared access for the garage can become a sticking point, it was important we specified a tidy upgrade to our client's section of the garage and 'made good' the neighbours spaces where applicable.  

01 garden

05 kitchen

07 kitchen

04 dining

06 kitchen

02 garden

Writtle

A loft conversion and extensions over two floors allows this property to become a fantastic family home. Large open plan living on the ground floor is the order of the day with reconfigured bedrooms throughout this home.

These sensible additions to a home add usable space as well as increase your property value for the future. It is incredible how these well designed elements have the ability to transform your way of living. 

# Brief
Our clients had a clear vision of intelligent floor plans accompanied with beautiful design that could transform a house into a home. They needed an open plan kitchen/living/dining space and a connection through to the living space at the front of the house. The first floor extended slightly to encompass a larger bedroom and a relocated larger bathroom. We were also asked to look into a hip to gable extension in the loft which would contain a Master bedroom suite. 

# Concept
With some very thoughtful design we created a sanctuary for our clients family. Working from top to bottom our impact on the current layout was simple yet incredibly effective. Method Studio Architects tweaked internal spaces to make the open plan light and spacious dream a reality. We tied the new kitchen/living/dining into the existing living (which was repurposed into a snug), and into utility space. 

![238 0](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/6g17EGmRVgekp3ZI6VuPRo/dfd168e8a3586670a02b5b93a6a04bcd/238_0.jpg)Ground Floor Plan

![238 1](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/2F2BjQOPtQqVja3EZzbP3q/c7d377d37fc9e85ee68bf3954ba8eaf7/238_1.jpg)First Floor Plan

![238 2](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/65OpXon0CJ8TnYZVlj7ve/9a919b3b0842cc3752b4aa954180439c/238_2.jpg)Second Floor Plan

# Challenges
We worked hard on this job to deliver the perfect design with an affordable construction cost. The tender process was a challenge with our current climate and ever changing construction costs. We work with our clients to manage the tender process in order to produce several quotations for comparison. Ultimately to then deliver a successful project and a heathy working relationship with your successful contractor! Please find out more about the process by reading [Stage Three - Specifications and Quotations](https://method.studio/process "Stage Three - Specifications and Quotations"). 

J000238 KITCHEN 3

J000238 DINING

J000238 GARDEN

J000238 KITCHEN 2

J000238 KITCHEN

J000238 LIVING

J000238 PATIO

238 0

238 1

238 2

Alexandra Park

An old, tired barn clad in asbestos and built with a now failing timber structure was the setting for this beautiful conversion. Soon to become a luxury large scale family home with double height vaulted living space. In many cases properties such as this have the opportunity to be converted under simple planning rules so long as the integral structure remains. We can make the most of this guidance and create a fantastic rejuvenated building that fulfils the potential available.

# Brief
The need for the project is to take an existing agricultural building and create a useful well proportioned modern home, very different to its original intension. Retaining the existing structure is key to ensuring planning permission with this barn and so areas of this need to fit well into the finished design. 

Dividing the internal space in the right way will be key to ensuring a successful home that works for its future inhabitants. Using our expertise to achieve the correct head heights, room proportions and balance between open plan living and sprawling spaces. 

The nature of the structure limits how much the external fabric of the building can be punctured to allow light into the home, cleverly designing the way spaces connect will ensure areas are not forgotten and lost of life. 

![Hill farm barn external](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/4JbQrnLcIZYZUbaSGg8lSF/c87fdb83d200e16c850a1dc33b9dff7f/Barn_View-01_00000.jpg)

# Concept
Our teams design focuses itself around one internal double height space, leaving the true identity of this historic barn exposed, retaining timber beams and revealing a preserved timber structure. To ensure the life of this structure continues to be used for many years to come, additional exposed steel work juxtaposes the more traditional building elements allowing the internal space to tell the barns story. 

Carefully placed glazing, with particular attention to appropriate fenestration pulls light into the barns internal spaces. A mix of curtain wall glazing, rooflights, and discreet windows hidden behind hit and miss timber cladding, retains the identity of the barn when viewed externally. 

![Pemberley site photo](//images.contentful.com/m89aihghrib4/gr5TDQtjOuPfZIylKGKoe/9231c5c02a6bb66ec711edce8a9b5e96/20211109_142649.jpeg) We are onsite!
![J000191 on site](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/0UPhmMNhpksR77bzx2A15/ae292abfdc009be5bc0e2669b06e5c01/IMG_0233.JPG)
![191 -  Pemberley Site photo](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/2nq1u7fBd8mp7qxbkUd1O/b99295940c20162761a5ec67da62663e/20211109_142749.jpeg) On site photo of the newly installed roof

A centralised wood burner creates a focus within the double height living area, with bedrooms using an elevated walkway to navigate the mezzanine level, which wraps around the perimeter of the open living area. 

The incorporation of a generous utility room and hidden below ground wine cellar brings this dilapidated barn back to the 21st century, ensuring it functions as a well designed home for many years. 

![191 0](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/4yVrJhuI9Fie9awqEwkKQM/aed838893c325b195f72977882e8c1f1/191_0.jpg)Ground Floor Plan

![191 1](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/2ibwvxPhgFzYmUHRgKKhsb/f626c8cafb238ecbcca4c595f035c9e1/191_1.jpg)First Floor Plan

# Challenges
It was essential that the timber structure of this barn was retained, not just for aesthetic reasons, but it was also a requirement for planning approval. When our team were brought in to take on this design challenge, it was evident that the structure of the barn was not in good shape. We have had to work closely with engineers to preserve the timber, and strengthen and replace where absolutely necessary. 

Adapting and preserving older buildings can be a difficult process. But our experience in conservation means we can make the right decisions to preserve where preservation is the right method, and elevate designs with carefully selected materials.  

![Pemberley barn site photo](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/24Eo95ptGQ0QpselkxKP3/cf71a2c48a9e7612275c565bbe187b2c/Skype_Picture_2021_09_09T11_10_52_449Z.jpeg)
Site photo of new and old structure

# VR
See below for the VR experience we created for our clients! This helps our clients really visualise what their new home looks like, it also helps our clients make further decisions with kitchen design and overall finishes. See more about our VR and design process in our [Stage 1](https://method.studio/process) guide.

Hill farm barn internal

Hill farm barn external

191 0

191 1

Brentwood

Method Studio have worked with Assent Building Control on a number of projects. They have an excellent reputation and offer a very high level of service. They strive to develop strong long-term relationships with their clients and are a highly efficient company.