3 sustainable self-build homes approved

Planning approval for 3 new sustainable homes in Ludlow.

KODA architects have successfully secured planning approval for 3 new sustainable self-build homes in Ludlow. The site is 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 which 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. Rainwater is collected and harvested on site for re-use in the buildings and gardens.

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

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

Bastion Mews Planning Application Approved!

KODA Architects scheme at Bastion Mews approved.

KODA architects are delighted to announce that planning permission has been granted for an exciting new mixed use redevelopment at Bastion Mews in Hereford City Centre. The application was unanimously supported by the planning committee members, many praising the imaginative design approach. Success was achieved by working closely with the applicant and TT Planning. The proposal provides a landmark independent quarter comprising offices and shops,  a new restaurant as well as accommodation that work in conjunction with the existing businesses.

KODA architects have perused an industrial visual underpinning to develop a mixed use scheme over the expansive site reusing shipping containers as a base. The shipping containers are used in varying creative configurations including  vertically stacked incorporating stairways to the upper levels. The designs are also supplemented by balconies formed with patinaed steel and oak loures that combine planting to softening the aesthetic. The proposal integrates inherent flexibility that allows the buildings to be adapted as the site evolves. 

Bastion Mews in Hereford City Centre 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. KODA Architects acted as Heritage Consultant fully exploring the significance of the site and surrounding location.  The site has had many uses in a vibrant history with the latest use being home to the Shack Revolution and Bastion Street Feast. Quickly gaining a local reputation for great quality street food, entertainment and a buzzing atmosphere the team at Shack Events have made it a huge success for the City. 

Bastion Mews Elevation

Part of the underpinning philosophy of the sites redevelopment is a diversity of uses and users. This multi use ideal elaborates on the ethos of the highly successful Shack Revolution and Bastion Street Feast where different street food vendors pitch up their stalls and sell high quality food in a sharing and collaborative atmosphere. The urban event space also hosts weddings as well as highly successful, comedy nights, musical acts, DJ’s and of course the annual Oktoberfest!  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.

Can a Water Tower be a House?

KODA Architects Hereford have developed proposals to convert a former water tower in Worcestershire into a new house

KODA Architects in Hereford have been working up proposals to convert a former water tower to a large family home overlooking the Malvern Hills in rural Worcestershire. 

The water tower was built during the Edwardian period and occupies a dominant location in the flat surrounding landscape. Tanks once filled with sand and lime filtered the water, making it safe for drinking, before a gravity fed system once supplied water to near by villages. 

The site became redundant since the advent of a pressurised water systems across the country and has since laid dormant. In the drawing board, this week, KODA architects have been looking at how this surviving utilitarian structure may be converted to accommodated a new family with expansive views over the Worcestershire Countryside. 

KODA architects have explored retaining the mass of the original water filtration tanks and providing a subservient super structure. The aim is to maximise the views out in the first floor whilst retaining as much of the original structure as possible. 

Using the mass of the filtration tanks, the lower ground level has a mass which grounds the proposal to its surroundings. On top, a new light weight super structure is proposed with glazing to take full advantage of the surrounding landscape.

Main living areas of sitting room, snug and kitchen are located on the first floor which has an open and light feeling, taking full advantage of the outstanding views over the Worcestershire countryside and to the Malvern Hills. Adding to this contrast, KODA architects have employed light-weight materials to including timber cladding and glass to differentiate between super structure and rusticated lower ground floor. A projecting zinc roof structure, which is under drawn in a rich red cherry cladding, sheltering the large expanses of glazing from the summer sunshine and the surrounding terrace. 

At a contrast to the superstructure, the bedrooms, evening sitting room and back of house areas are grounded within the massing and bulk of the filtration tanks and bunded structure. This reflects a change in pace from day to day activities to evening routines and a need for a more confined and soothing environment whilst at night. 

To minimise landscape impact, a three bay garage, studio and driveway are sunken into the landscape. The garage structure is topped with a wild flower meadow. To the south a lap pool offers an interesting opportunity for reflections on the waters surfacewhilst you relax on the evening terrace.

Keep up to date with all things happening at KODA architects through our website and Instagram pages. 

We are enormously proud of this proposal and we are looking forward to seeing the finished article onsite, hopefully very soon.

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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. 

Appointed as advisor to Gloucester DAC

KODAs Conservation Architect has been appointed as advisor to Gloucester Diocese Advisory Committee.

Formally appointed by the Bishop of Gloucester last summer, KODAs Conservation Architect Fred Hamer joins Gloucester Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) as an advisor.

The Diocesan Advisory Committee is comprised of members and advisors from many sectors and specialisms. The group comprise members of clergy, architects, surveyors, technical members such as structural engineers, M&E consultants and others. Their role is to advise churches through church re-ordering and church repair projects and advise them on the best practice.

Gloucester Diocese has a wide and long reaching area and within such a wide variety of buildings, ranging from brick built Victorian churches with strong axial focuses eastwards and to the high alter to quaint Cotswold Stone chapels with Medieval paintings and less formal liturgical layouts. 

The challenges faced by churches today are more apparent with ever decreasing congregations and ever increasing repair and maintenance costs. KODAs Conservation architects in Gloucester have a wide range of experience working with churches and PCCs across the country to bring about careful and sensitive way. KODA architects are working with a number of churches across the region, check out our church reordering helpful guides. 

This furthers KODA architects commitment to preserving and carefully adapting our built heritage. Working with heritage instead of seeing it as a hinderance, brings about more meaningful architecture, one which is routed in a forgotten age. 

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. 

Construction Starts in Worcestershire

KODA architects are excited that construction has started in Worcestershire after detailed design

Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent was obtaining last year for the renovation of this fine 16th Century timber framed cottage in Worcestershire. The grade II listed cottage occupies a prominent location in a village near Pershore and once housed staff who assisted with running the nearby country estate. The cottage is one of the original buildings in the village, only outdated by the neighbouring church. 

Following a building regulations and detailed design stage by KODA architects, the main contractor took possession of the site in late November last year. The work is proceeding well onsite with a new Party Wall being constructed, replacing a substandard separation and the wider cottage renovations are well under way. KODA architects are working closely with the main contractor and wider design team to deliver the high quality renovation and extension on the edge of the Cotswolds.

Repairs to the 16th Century timber frame cottage are a significant part of the project as well as upgrading the terms, efficiency and services within the building. A large, open plan extension to the rear will house a new open plan kitchen and living area with large bi-folding doors overlooking the south facing garden. KODA architects are appointed to oversee the construction works together with the project manager and will be regularly visiting site over the course of 2021. We regularly update our social media feeds, so stay tuned for progress onsite and the big unveiling of the extension. We will be regularly keeping you up to date with this project through out Extension in Worcestershire portfolio page. 

We cant wait! 

Architects Worcester

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