Projects Archive | KODA Architects

St. Michael and All Angels Church | Stanton

St. Michael and All Angels Church, located in the picturesque village of Stanton in Gloucestershire, is a site steeped in history and spirituality. The church's origins can be traced back to the 12th century, a testament to the enduring presence of Christian worship in this corner of rural England.

This architectural gem, with its distinctive medieval design and impressive stonework, has served as a focal point for both religious and community life throughout the centuries. Its notable features include a Norman doorway and an exquisite medieval font, offering a glimpse into the skilled craftsmanship of its time.

Stanton Church has witnessed countless generations of residents, celebrating marriages, baptisms, and farewells. With its charming location in the heart of the Cotswolds, this church has become a cherished landmark for locals and a draw for visitors seeking both spiritual solace and historical insight. As the sands of time continue to shift, the St. Michael and All Angels Church remains a testament to the enduring legacy of faith and the significance of its place within the community.

Working on old buildings, especially historic churches like St. Michael and All Angels in Stanton, is a profound pleasure for us as architects. These venerable structures are more than just stone and mortar; they are living links to the past, carrying centuries of history and a sense of timelessness. The opportunity to work on such buildings is an architect's chance to play a role in the preservation of cultural heritage and the continuation of a sacred legacy.

Old churches, in particular, provide a unique canvas for architectural creativity. The challenge of respecting and restoring the original design while incorporating modern elements is a delicate art. It involves a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship of earlier generations and a commitment to ensuring these spaces continue to serve their communities.

The satisfaction of breathing new life into these historical treasures, preserving their architectural and spiritual significance, and witnessing them adapt to contemporary needs is a source of immense pride for architects. It's not merely a profession but a calling to be stewards of our shared history, blending the old with the new in a harmonious way that pays homage to the past while embracing the future.

Conversion of Dinham Hall in Ludlow

KODA architects provided full architectural services for the conversion of a Dinham Hall, a former mansion house into seven unique luxury apartments. Dinham Hall is Grade II listed and is one on Ludlows finest buildings located in the Town centre, just outside of the Castle walls.

Built in 1792, by Samuel Nash for Richard Payne Knight of Downton Castle, the building has a long and interesting history. Once a grand private Georgian home, the building was complimented by a generous garden, ice house, stables and views over Ludlow. The building remained a private house until the mid 20th Century when it was converted into a boarding school with fond memories of former pupils. Recently the building had regained an element of grandeur of its former self in use as a boutique hotel boasting fine dining, to critical acclaim.

KODA Architects submitted planning and Listed Building consent applications for the conversion, provided detail design and full contract administration through to the completion of the project. The project was finished to an extremely high standard creating unique benchmark residencies in Ludlow.

As part of former historic interventions to the property, the building had lost a significant amount of historic detailing including cornice, fireplaces and finer elements such as architraves and doors. As part of the new conversion project, the conservation team at KODA architects replicated historically accurate features to enhance the buildings significance. KODA Architects conservation team are complimented by a wider design team including agent, Fire Engineer, lift manufacturers tanking specialists, and mechanical and electrical Engineers. Part of our appointment included historic mapping of the building and a carefully detailed schedule of repairs and sympathetic interventions to the historic fabric were undertaken.

The new apartments provide unique accommodation with classic Georgian design with the modern benefit of lift access. The refurbishment of the entrance hall grand central cantilever staircase provides a great sense of theater as you enter the building. Each apartment boasts fine historic details, private parking and landscaped gardens together with long reaching views over Ludlow, countryside and of course, the adjacent grade I listed and scheduled ancient monument of Ludlow Castle.

Watch our Instagram for updates of similar projects to this throughout the RIBA stages.

New Housing in Abergavenny

KODA architects have worked closely with a large design team to include landscape designers, planning consultants, drainage and transport planners to prepare a master plan for the development of 60 low impact housing to Monmouthshire Council including landscaping and amenity spaces.

Abergavenny is a town in Monmouthshire, known for its beautiful scenery, rich history, and lively culture. Situated near the Welsh-English border and is surrounded by the Brecon Beacons National Park. The town has a rich history dating back to Roman times and is home to several historic buildings and landmarks, including Abergavenny Castle, St Mary's Priory Church, and the Market Hall.

KODA architects have been busy planning the latest housing developments in Abergavenny is the Brecon Road development, which is located on the outskirts of the town. The development offers a rang of house types including a mix of two, three, four and five bedroom homes that are suitable for both first-time buyers and families.

60 new houses on the Brecon Road development is designed to provide modern living spaces that are energy-efficient and built to a high standard. The homes come with a range of features such as open-plan living areas, en-suite bathrooms, and private gardens. The development also offers ample green spaces, parks, and playgrounds for residents to enjoy.

The new housing has been design with landscape designers and environmental consultants to achieve a low impact, and highly sustainable development promoting the health and well-being of the new residents. The layout has been designed to maximise views out towards Abergavenny’s beautiful scenery whilst the generous plots and the sites excellent connectivity encourages cycle and other sustainable travel methods.

To minimise the new buildings impact on the environment, each house has been oriented to achieve passive solar gain through the winter months, whilst a high performing fabric minimises energy consumption. Each house will benefit from solar panels and other active technologies, further reducing the impact of this new development.

The development focuses on each unit of a southern orientation to maximise solar gain in the winter month whilst carefully managing the gains in the height of the summer. Through active and passive sustainable technologies, together with a rich planting scheme, each house maximises fabric performances and reduceds heat losses. The net result is a new new housing development with generous accommodation and low environmental impact, adding a unique place to live within a stones throw away from the centre of Abergavenny.

Being sensitive to the proximity of the Brecon Beacons National Park and the setting of Abergavenny, the new housing development follows a landscape approach to the setting out of the site. Landscaping opportunities have been enhances the existing biodiversity and green infrastructure to provide a sensitive housing estate with generous plots and amenity space.

Enhanced planting, Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs) and wild flower meadows provides a verdant urban extension to the existing settlement.

Watch our Instagram for updates of similar projects to this throughout many RIBA stages.

Class Q Barn Conversion

KODA architects working with Tomkins Thomas Planning have successfully secured planning approval for a class Q barn conversion in Herefordshire. The existing barn occupies a unique location near the Black Mountains.

The scheme reuses the original curved form of the Dutch barn roof to form a double height space with mezzanine level. Agricultural materials such as corrugated metal and industrial steel frame have been used in the walls and roof, these are complemented by the insertion of large modern slim profile aluminium windows and doors maximising the exceptional vistas.

Class Q was introduced in 2014 as a form of permitted development designed to help ease the pressure on housing in rural areas. This type of planning permission allows the change of buildings that meet certain criteria from agricultural to residential use. This can often be a creative route to a new home in open countryside which would otherwise be difficult to achieve.

There is more guidance available on Herefordshire Councils website. If you have a redundant agricultural building fulfilling the criteria that you think has the potential to be a striking home in a unique location then please get in touch.

Replacement Dwelling

KODA architects successfully secured planning approval for a replacement dwelling in the Herefordshire countryside. The new 4 bedroom home replaces a former 1970’s bungalow that did not meet the space and layout requirements of our clients family. Furthermore the building is expensive to heat and maintain and moreover costly to upgrade thermally and adapt to meet the families specific space requirements.

The proposal replaces the dated bungalow with a larger 4 bedroom, thermally efficient home meeting our clients living requirements. Local Planning Policy stipulates that a reinstated dwelling should be of a comparable scale of the replaced building. Creating a much larger home presented us with an interesting design challenge. The new home takes the form of a 'H' shaped plan with a partly hidden basement forming a south facing undercroft and courtyard hidden to the wider landscape. Whilst the new home is considerably larger than that it replaces, we worked a with the Local Planning Department in justification for the scheme and finally secured planning approval for the home our clients desired.

The main building takes a traditional form and constructed from local stone and a natural slate pitched roof. In contrast the building utilises large aluminum framed sliding doors and full height windows and furthermore the elevations are punctuated with elements vertical Cedar cladding and frameless balconies.

The layout utilises a double height height entrance hall and gallery staircase. The main ground floor living spaces are interconnected but divided by large sliding walls to create a versatile space. The basement level utilises the sloping site and extends into an undercroft and open courtyard discreetly hidden from view. Correspondingly the attached double garage and carport site below a grass roof that merges discreetly into the topography of the site.

Our client was elated with the result and equally our service, the house is currently under construction and due for completion 2023.

St. Michael and All Angels Church in Hereford

KODAs conservation architects in Hereford were commissioned following a competitive tendering process and work began in investigating the repairs to this magnificent building at the beginning of this summer. As conservation architects in Hereford, working on a magnificent building such as St. Michael and All Angels church is a pleasure. We love investigating historic buildings and how they came about, tracing their history and how they’ve developed over time.

Located in rural Herefordshire, St. Michael and All Angels Church was constructed in the 14^th Century with later alterations in the 15^th and 16^th Centuries. The building is Grade I listed and has very fine medieval glazing featured in the chancel, north and south aisles. The chancel features a very ornate painted wagon vaulted ceiling which was installed as part of the restoration by GF Bodley in 1866-68. The building features fine stone carving throughout with a number of gargoyles, grotesques and label stops, which is great to see.

KODA's Conservation Architect in Hereford Fred Hamer said “Working on this historic building was particularly rewarding. Before we proposed making any repairs or changes, to the historic fabric, we have thoroughly investigated how the building is used and maintained. We have proposed some exciting changed to enhance the buildings significance and conserve the historic fabric were possible and in doing so created a more sustainable building."

A two stage grant application was prepared and submitted to the newly reformed Nation Heritage Lottery Fund. The project was one of the first successful applications to be awarded and was the largest in the region at the time.

Conservation repair works started in April 2021 with the project being awarded following a competitive tender process to Treasure and Sons, based in Ludlow. The specification and repairs were carried out on a priority basis to safe guard the historic fabric against further decay.

The conservation and repair of the fabric started in April this year and we look forward to unveiling the enhanced St. Michael and All Angels Church later this year. We will continue to post out progress on this buildings careful repair on our instagram feed which you can follow @kodaarchitects.

KODAs conservation Architects in Hereford, Fred Hamer said: “at KODA we have a passion for working with historic buildings from all ages. The storey of who built, lived and used these buildings enriches architecture from more than a pile of building materials. This storey is enhanced as we open up historical buildings as we learn more about how and why they were constructed in the manner they were. KODAs conservation architects in Hereford categories their findings as they progress through the construction and uncovering stages which enriches the storey further.”

Useful links:

Hereford times article

Sustainable self-build homes in Ludlow

KODA architects have successfully secured planning approval for 3 new sustainable self-build homes in Ludlow. The site combines an underused hidden parcel of land with part of a large formal garden within the Town. Sustainable design was at the forefront of the brief and the homes are positioned to take full advantage of the southern aspect whilst also affording views of St. Lawrence's Church.

The scheme develops an underutilised urban site to provide high quality housing utilising energy efficiency measures. They are built from highly insulated and sustainable materials. The dwellings are designed with large, glazed wall areas to the south and west elevations benefiting from passive solar gain. The first floor areas include recessed balconies featuring long roof overhangs protecting the bedrooms from excessive solar gain in the summer months. This still allows sunlight to reach the depths of rooms promoting thermal gain in the winter when the sun is lower in the sky. Internal air quality and comfort is supplemented by automated mechanical ventilation and heat recovery, MVHR.

The buildings include standing seam metal mono pitch roofs that reduce impact on the neighbouring amenity but also being orientated to the south and west present an ideal location for the arrays of photovoltaic and solar thermal panels producing heat and power for the homes. Rainwater is collected and harvested on site for re-use in the buildings and gardens.

The development resists temptation to optimise built density in preference the new high quality homes are sited within generous individual plots and will be sold to independent self-builders.

Extension in Cheltenham

KODA architects Cheltenham are preparing a planning and listed building consent application to Cheltenham Borough Council. Built in the mid 19th Century, this Regency style villa is Grade II listed and located within the central Conservation Area of Cheltenham. The grand villa property was previously home to two notable figures from Cheltenham, Dame Sidney Jane Brownie and Sir Ralph Richardson. Both had notable careers across the town, Brownie was appointed as Matron-in-chief of the newly formed Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Service and later of the Territorial Force Nursing Service and Richardson had a notable career in film and at the theatre. Both are noted with blue plaques which adorn the front of the building.

The front façade has a striking Cotswold ashlar stone with detailed and decorative mouldings. The property was built at a period in Cheltenham of expansion into the neighbouring countryside. Architecture at this time was about displaying the wealth and the promotion fo the town as a considered and gentrified settlement. The wider area was part of a planned expansion of the town with the road, built as a private, tree lined avenue with links to the nearby Park. The grandeur of the area adds to the wider sense of place of Cheltenham.

KODA Architects Cheltenham were appointed to make comprehensive repairs to the historic fabric as wells as to bring the property into the 21st Century allowing it to serve is new roll of a busy family home. KODA architects Cheltenham proposed a carefully planned extension to this beautiful property and following a close inspection of the building, designs are being prepared for submission to Cheltenham Borough Council.

Following long and detailed discussions with Cheltenham Borough Council, the conservation team at KODA architects mapped the development and changes of the building throughout its history. From this detailed analysis, KODA architects were able to justify the proposed and extensive alterations and were successful in obtaining planning and listed building consent for the renovations and alterations. A new first floor extension was proposed to provide new master family bathroom together with an ensuite to serve the master bedroom to the property. When the property was built, the property did not have a purpose built bathroom, instead, it was a tin bath in front of the fireplace. It wasn't until later, bathrooms were retrofitted to houses and this was in the form of dividing of the principal rooms at first floor level. This resulted in the original room proportions being lost and the bedroom becoming a small, box room. The proposed extension moved the services externally, allowing the full room proportions to be reinstated together with decorative architectural features such as cornicing.

In extending a special building like Tivoli Road, we were careful in its appearance. The proposed is deliberately different to the existing to clearly show it is a new addition, but it is subservient to the originals mass as not to challenge it. The design is based around the cladding increments of the VM Zinc Cladding, with the interlocking panels shadow gaps aligned to emphasize verticality to the design. To retain the mass of the previous lean-to style roof the new external wall was spaced away from the external wall of the building and the extension supported by a steel structure at ceiling level. New window openings were recessed to allow the cladding to take a dominance over the external facade, a contrast to the original building.

The settlement of Cheltenham, which survives today, was largely built in the Regency period and through into the Victorian era. This resulted in the town being dubbed the most complete Regency town in the country. To protect this architectural history and significance, most of the town is protected by a Conservation Area. As such the architecture of Cheltenham is uniform and of a similar architecture style.

Quinquennial Inspection in Cheltenham

KODAs architects conservation architect Fred Hamer has carried out the Quinquennial Inspection in Cheltenham at St. Martin de Tour’s Church. The church of St. Martin’s is thought to date back to Saxon period however record of the building before its rebuilding in 1499 as limited.

Located on the edge of Cheltenham, St.Martin’s is an excellent example of Perpendicular architecture which evident throughout the Diocese. KODA Architects conservation architects Fred Hamer is the quinquennial inspecting Architect in Cheltenham for St. Martin de Tour Church in Gloucester Diocese.

The church is an excellent example of 15th Century medieval architecture with later additions. Built from Cotswold Stone, the church features medieval glass the building is a picturesque addition to the surrounding village of Woolstone. The church however is know best for it leaning tower. The 15th-century is said to lean at a greater angle than its more famous Italian counterpart, the leaning tower of Pisa.

The leaning tower however is not a result of poor medieval construction, but rather it is down to the underlying geology of Crane Hill, which is formed of clay which expands and contracts depending on its level of moisture. This makes the ground susceptible to subject movement and shifting over time. The lean of the tower concerned inspecting architects in the 1970s so much that Italian engineers were called in to carry out repairs and stabilisation works to the structure. Engineers inserted a number of long steel rods set in concrete beneath the tower to spread the load over a broader area. The tower lean continues to be monitored during each Quinquennial Inspection to see if the movement is ongoing.

KODAs conservation architect, Fred Hamer said "St Martin de Tours church is an interesting one, locally known as the church with the leaning tower, the tower is always a topic of conversation. Each inspection, we closely monitor the tower to see whether the movement if still on going, but we’re happy to report the tower is still standing following our recent inspection"

As with many other churches across the country, congregations are facing increasing repair costs against ever dwindling congregation numbers. KODA architects are specialists in working with PCCs in carefully adapting church buildings, diversifying their revenue income and managing change to these important buildaings. Take a look at out Church reordering page for more information on our process.

Stokesay Castle | Shropshire

KODAs Conservation team have carried out a schedule of condition ahead of a filming production by Amazon productions that one of the finest fortified houses in the country, Stokesay Castle. The Scheduled Ancient Monument is owned and managed by English Heritage.

Stokesay Castle was constructed at the end of the 13th century by Laurence of Ludlow, who at the time was one of the richest men in England. It remains a treasure by-passed by time, one of the best places to visit in England to experience what medieval life was like. The great hall has remained unchanged for over 700 years and is a fine example of construction with spectacular medieval roof timbers. Perhaps the most characterful addition to the complex is the 17th-century gatehouse with fine decorative timber carving. The castle is set within breathtaking views of the Shropshire Hills

KODA architects Conservation architects are working closely with English Heritage, Architectural Conservators and Amazon Prime production team to ensure that the Scheduled Ancient Monument is not damaged during the filming process. Prior to filming KODAs conservation team carried out a schedule of condition as a record of the buildings current condition. KODAs team continue to assist conservators and production team throughout the production.

Stokesay Castle is home for filming of a period drama for Amazon Prime, set in the medieval period. However as Stokesay has periods of development through most periods with the fine 17th Century gate house being the focus of the site. Having these later additions would not fit the medieval setting in which the film is set so the set had to be carefully dressed so that later features such as the gate house as well as smaller features such as lead rainwater pipes, alarm boxes and a well housing did not show in the finished film. Other features including the new reception, shop and toilets had to be hidden to appear like they were a timber clad barn in the background.

We eagerly away to see the final results on our screens later this year.

Conservation Architects in Gloucestershire

Project Information

St. Michael and All Angels Church | Inspecting Architect

Conversion of Dinham Hall in Ludlow

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Conservation Architects in Ludlow

New Development in Abergavenny

Project Information

Sustainable Design

New Housing in Abergavenny

planning approval for a class Q barn conversion

Project Information

What is class Q planning permission?

Planning approved for replacement dwelling in Herefordshire countryside

Project Information

Planning approved for new self-build home

Conservation Architects in Herefordshire

Project Information

Conservation Architects Hereford

Useful links:

St. Michael and All Angels Church Gallery

Planning approved for sustainable self-build homes in Ludlow

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Planning approved for sustainable self-build homes in Ludlow

KODA architects Cheltenham

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Architects Cheltenham

Construction Works Gallery | Architects Cheltenham

Quinquennial Inspection in Cheltenham | Gloucestershire

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Quinquennial Inspection in Cheltenham

Stokesay Castle | Shropshire

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Schedule of Condition