Bastion Mews Planning Application Submitted

KODA Architects are excited for new proposals at Bastion Mews

KODA architects an excited to announce that the planning application for an exciting new mixed use development at Bastion Mews was submitted to Herefordshire Council. Working closely with the wider design team, KODA architects have used the industrial aesthetic to develop a mixed use scheme using shipping containers as a base. The proposal is flexible which allows the building to be adapted and changed as the site evolves, it including independent offices, temporary accommodation and a new restaurant.

Bastion Mews Hereford is encircled by the Hereford City Wall which was constructed in the 13th Century by Royal decree. The site, Bastion Mews, is named after the defensive bastion which once stood at the site and protected nearby city gate. The site has had many uses in a vibrant history with the latest use being home to Shack Revolution and more recently, Bastion Street Feast. Quickly gaining a local reputation for great quality street food and a buzzing atmosphere the team at Shack Event have made it a huge success for the City. 

The industrial aesthetic of the site is the main visual underpinning of the design but supplemented and softened with planting and punctuation with oak cladding. The proposals have been submitted for Planning and we hope to be onsite this summer.

Part of the underpinning philosophy of the sites redevelopment a diversity of uses and users. This multi use ideal elaborates on the ethos of the highly successful Bastion Street Feast where different street food vendors pitch up their stalls and sell their high quality food in a sharing and collaborative atmosphere. The masterplan calls for a mixture of live work units as well as recreational areas and amenity space in this highly sustainable location on the edge of the City Center. Complimenting the existing uses of the site, the new proposals are testament to 21st Century design, innovative and flexible to allow them to be easily changed should the site need to in the future

For more information, check out our Portfolio Pages for this and other projects.

conservation architects hereford

Heritage Lottery Funding Awarded

KODA Architects Hereford are proud to announce that £600,000.00 of Heritage Lottery Funding has been awarded for extensive church repairs in Herefordshire.

Over the past 18 months, KODAs Conservation Architects in Hereford have been working closely with St. Michael and All Angels church in Kingsland and we can now say with pride that over £600,000 has been awarded to fund the extensive repairs to this fine Grade I listed, St. Michael and All Angels church.

The majority of the funding has been awarded from The Heritage Lottery Fund but the total is from the success of numerous applications to several funders. Repair works were scheduled to include reroofing the nave and side aisle as well as extensive repointing and stone repairs. Over the past few years, the roof has decayed to a point where water is now entering the building which in turn causes further problems to the historic fabric. 

KODAs conservation architects in Hereford have worked closely with the PCC to maximise the repairs and funding available to make this building more welcoming to the congregation it serves. Internally, the building is to be redecorated with enhanced lighting to maximise and highlight the space inside. 

Where we could, we have taken the opportunity to enhance  the buildings significance through reintroduction of missing gargoyles. For a number of years the gargoyles to the tower have been missing and all that remains are eroded stumps.

The works are set to commence onsite in the spring / summer and we look forward to keeping you updated as the project continues. 

KODA architects celebrates turning 2 years old

KODA architects Hereford celebrates its second year in business 

KODA architects today celebrates their second year in business and is looking forward to another year working closely with existing and new clients across the region.

During our second year, the range of projects we saw in our first year continued with work including many residential, ecclesiastical, conservation and repair projects as well as a number of commercial and developer led proposals. This year, whilst a difficult  year in terms of the wide spreading pandemic, we saw the start and completion of projects onsite with numerous planning and listed building consents awarded.  The team at KODA architects have been working closely with contractors and other specialists to continue as normal process as possible during difficult conditions.  A number of our projects are listed on the portfolio page of our website but we look forward to showcasing some of new projects very soon.

KODA architect conservation architect Fred Hamer said: 

“Our second year has been a great success and we have been lucky to have such a wide range of projects.We have developed and made new relationships throughout the year and are looking forward to developing on these in the forthcoming new year”

This year there has been a hive of activity on a number of sites throughout the region as KODA architects are acting as contract administrators. We have more exciting projects in the pipeline, which will share with you when we’re onsite.  Stay tuned to our Instagram page as we follow the progress of these projects until completion. 

 

Conservation repair works start onsite

KODA Architects Hereford appointed to oversee repair works  to a Grade I listed church

KODA architects are pleased to announce that conservation repairs have started onsite at a Grade I listed church in Herefordshire. KODAs Conservation Architects in Hereford are acting as contract administrators overseeing the repairs to the Smalman monument at St. James’ Church in northern Herefordshire.

It was found that the Smalman monument, which is located within the chancel of the grade I listed church, was falling away from the north wall. The fine marble and alabaster monument is held in to position with iron fixings but over a period of 150 years, these fixing had rusted and fractured the masonry behind. A faculty was petitioned to Hereford Diocese to strap the monument to the chancel wall as a temporary measure before funding could be sought to make repairs. 

Cliveden Conservation Workshop in bath, who specialise in fine and detail conservation repairs were appointed and works started onsite earlier this month.  The works have started with carefully dismantling the marble to unveil the iron fixings into the rubble wall behind. Once these fixings have been replaced with stainless steel, providing a mounting system which cannot rust, the fine marble carvings will be reinstated back in position with lime.

We will be making regular visits to site to monitor the progress of the repairs. Stay tuned our Instagram page for regular updates. 

Happy New Year

KODA Architects Hereford Wishes All Its Clients, Suppliers and Colleagues a Happy New Year

What a year 2020 has been for us all! There has been many ups and downs with the Pandemic, lockdowns, the tier system but we have had the clap for carers and not forgetting Captain Tom. The beginning of 2020 seems a long time ago and reflecting on the year just gone, we achieved so much.

Looking back this year, our success in our first year continued as we turned a milestone one year old. We have been lucky to have a wide range of clients with a wide range of projects and buildings to work on. We have been successful in numerous planning applications, listed building consents and faculty consents as well as the start and completion of projects onsite.

This year we have completed repairs and extensive refurbishment of a Grade II* listed building in the centre of Cheltenham as well as the completion of a suite of holiday cabins in rural Herefordshire, with fantastic views over Hay Bluff. This trend set to continue throughout this year with some very exciting projects in the pipeline with the start of several projects onsite, the first of which is beginning at the end of January. 

This year we have worked together with a wide range of new and existing suppliers and colleagues and are thankful for their help in our design process. We look forward to seeing a new mixed use scheme in centre of Hereford, the start of repairs to a country estate house and numerous residential building projects as well as repairs to a grade I listed church in Herefordshire.

2020 has been an exciting and busy year for us at KODA architects and we look forward to an even busier year, next year. We wish our clients, suppliers and colleagues a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Specialist-Conservation-architects-hereford

Specialist Conservation Architect title awarded.

KODA architects Hereford are proud to announce that the Royal Institute of British Architects have awarded Fred Hamer title of Specialist Conservation Architect.

Fred Hamer now joins the RIBA’s register of skilled professionals who have “an authoritative knowledge of conservation practice and extensive experience of working with historic buildings”.

Fred said “I have been lucky to have working on a range of historic buildings throughout the country ranging in significance from grade I listed cathedrals and churches, listed public and private buildings to scheduled ancient monuments and other sensitive sites. Being awarded the title Specialist Conservation Architect is the culmination of many years hard work, learning about these structures and considering how to authentically to repair/ preserve and conserve them. There is no one solution to fix all historic buildings and our approach must be carefully nuanced to each project. Before we propose any changes to any historic building, first we must learn about them and understand not only their physical condition but also their place in history and social context.”

This award and new title allows KODA architects in Hereford to continue their commitment to carefully conserve the past and help our clients understand their stewardship as custodians of these fine buildings.

KODA architects was set up in early 2019 and based in Hereford, reaching out into the neighbouring counties and across the UK. Since its inception, the practice has grown from strength to strength. Today Alex and Fred have projects throughout the country including Cheltenham and Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and into Shropshire and Monmouthshire. Using our specialised knowledge and approach to help deliver numerous projects across all project sectors our approach has been welcomed by our clients, earning us many accolations.

For a small collation of our projects and to learn more about KODA architects please see our social media instagram @kodaarchitects and facebook: KODA_architects

www.KODAarchitects.com

 

Accommodation-adults

Accommodation for vulnerable young adults approved

KODA Architects conservation team have secured planning permission and conservation area consent for the conversion of an underutilised Edwardian property to form accommodation for up to six vulnerable young adults.

The scheme will provide a vital service for homeless and vulnerable young adults and includes measures to restore the property by the removal of unsympathetic alterations. Furthermore the proposal returns period feature that had become eroded by its previous conversions.

KODA Architects worked collaboratively for the applicant and Housing Solutions with Herefordshire council and Environmental Health departments overcoming issues of noise and traffic pollution due to the buildings immediate proximity to a busy trunk road.

The proposal overcame concerns through implementing high performance acoustic glazing to the front façade and an innovative ventilation system to filter out airborne pollutants.

The Housing Solutions Team carries out prevention work which includes assisting applicants to find and secure their own accommodation. There have been a large number of cases in which homelessness prevention was successful in securing accommodation for vulnerable young adults helping them find their feet, find employment and in some cases kick addition.

We are extremely proud to have been a small part in delivering such an important local initiative, which has become acutely critical due to the effects of the on-going pandemic. Works are due to start shortly and we look forward to it opening its doors soon.

We would also like to thank M-EC Acoustic Air who recognised the importance of this project and carried out their consultancy work at a discounted rate. 

planning and conservation area consent
one of the elegant fireplaces being restored
architects-cheltenham

Planning & Listed Building Consent Granted!

Planning & Listed Building Consent Granted in Cheltenham!

KODA architects Cheltenham have the pleasure to announce that planning permission and listed building consent application in Cheltenham for an extension to a grade II listed property.

The grade II listed, villa style property is located within the Cheltenham Central Conservation Area, close to the town centre. Built in the early 19th Century as part of a new urban extension to the town, the generous housing plots are dominated by grand regency style properties along tree lined rods. The front façade boasts fine Cotswold stone ashlar set over two storeys with cellarage. Commanding the front façade is a decorative porch with classical proportions and Doric columns.

The property had been previously altered and adapted to suit the needs of the previous owner however this did not lend itself to a new family environment in the 21st Century.

KODA architects Cheltenham were approached to carry out a series of sensitive repairs to restore the building back to its prime. In doing so to relocate the existing bathroom which subdivided a principal bedroom.

A small but carefully considered extension was proposed to the first floor to rehouse the main family bathroom aswell as a new ensuite to serve the master bedroom. The extension is proposed to be clad with a contemporary red zinc to show a clear difference between the existing and historic fabric. Both ensuite and bathrooms are to be lit from a perimeter roof light

The permissions were the result of long and detailed discussions with the planning and conservation officers at Cheltenham Borough Council. As part of the discussions, Conservation architect Fred Hamer detailed the development of the building throughout its history mapping the various alterations since the building was first built. It was here we could demonstrate that the building had once been L shaped but later an infill rear extension was added.

The project is set to commence onsite later this year – watch our instagram  for progress throughout the process.

KODA architects remains open

KODA architects Hereford are open:

KODA architects are committed to the wellbeing and protection of our clients, suppliers, colleagues and staff during these difficult and unprecedented times.

The developing global situation has affected every member of society with restrictions put on our day-to-day activities. With the challenging environment many, who are able, have set up home offices to carry on working. KODA architects are happy to announce that we continue to deliver projects to our customers and are working from their home offices.

With the Prime Minister, Boris Johnston, announcing this week that the UK will be on lockdown, we are therefore limited in what we are able to do. However, we are keeping up to date with our clients and how this affects them during these difficult times.

We hope that normal service will resume shortly but in the meantime we are continuing meetings via online video conferencing, emails, telephone and through our various social media platforms.

We will shortly be posting a blog post on how this affects building contracts and onsite works so check out our news page shortly.

Stay safe, stay indoors and look after each other.

For more information on the current situation please see .GOV website.

koda architects hereford

KODA architects celebrates turning 1yr old

KODA architects Hereford celebrates its first year in business 

KODA architects today celebrates their first year in business and is looking forward to another year working closely with existing and new clients across the region.

During our first year, we have been lucky to work on quite a range of projects across the region including many residential, ecclesiastical, conservation and repair projects as well as a number of commercial and developer led proposals. A number of our past projects are list on the portfolio page of our website but we look forward to showcasing some of new projects very soon.

KODA architect conservation architect Fred Hamer said: 

“Our first year has been a great success and we have really have established a foothold for an architects practice in Herefordshire, Cheltenham and Worcestershire, as well as Monmouthshire and Shropshire too. We have developed and made new relationships throughout the year and are looking forward to developing on these in the forthcoming new year”

This year we have been busy working on a number of projects through planning and technical drawing stage. We have been working closely with a number of other professionals. Next year sets to bring a hive of activity on a number of sites throughout the region as KODA architects are acting as contract administrators. Stay tuned to our Instagram page as we follow the progress of these projects until completion.