We are so proud to have our St Lukes project included in this years longlist for the RIBA MacEwen Award, the annual awards that recognise architecture for the common good.
The project has redevelopment the tired church hall to create The Host Café, a community cafe and multi-functional space which has become a vibrant local focal point, hosting events throughout the day and evening.
In total 30 projects have been longlisted in the MacEwen Awards, you can see the full list here, the shortlist will be annouced in early 2025.
In celebration of our six years in business, and as a reflection of how the business has evolved, we have written and published a new practice profile which we launched last week at an evening with clients, collaborators and friends.
We set up Studio BAD to deliver architecture without ego, to use our design skills as a vehicle of positive change. The idea of re-use has always been central to our ethos, in an era where climate change defines our lives it is important to us to reduce unnecessary waste and promote low energy solutions as much as possible.
Whilst these points are still core to the business, the business has evolved since it was originally established. Recently we took some time out to reflect on how the business has developed over these last six years to review what we, as a design collective stands, now stand for. This work uncovered what we see as six essential aspects, which we think of as our Design Commitment:
Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine asked Darren to share his expert opinion to answer a key question they had been asked by many of their readers; can you have a contemporary extension to my house within a conservation area? You can find the article appeared in the December edition of the magazine, or read it here.
Generally speaking, yes you can. Having a home located in a conservation area does not mean you have to be stuck in the past with the architecture of any additions to the scheme but you do have to be mindful of the design, with what you are trying to achieve and your material choices.
Each conservation area is different, and it is always worth working with an architectural practice who have a proven track record in your specific conservation area. When we recently extended and sustainably upgraded an existing home (Cedarwood) which was set within a conservation area within the South Downs National Park, we were able extend the ground floor and add a striking, contemporary loft extension to the original Colt timber framed house.
We found that working in collaboration with a planning consultant and the local planning department meant we were able to have an open and constructive dialogue from the start of the design process, on this project we found the planning officers were keen for the extension to have a distinctly different architectural language from the original. A key concern for this property was the potential overlooking issues with the loft extension, our solution was to set the dormers at an unusual angle, creating a striking design which successfully has minimised the concerns.
When looking to extend your project within a conservation area we would suggest looking at commissioning a heritage statement / document, that addresses the scheme and working closely with the conservation officer from the onset, and working with an architect with a track record of working within your specific conservation area.
If you have any further questions or have a project you would like to discuss, do get in touch with the team today.
In the UK we are fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful architectural buildings across multiple generations, in many towns and villages you can find a rich tapestry of architectural gems showcasing our living history. If you are lucky enough to own a heritage property then you might need to think a little more carefully before you undertake any renovations, extensions or alterations as you will probably need to get these approved in advance.
At Studio BAD we have in-depth experience working on listed and historic buildings, we have been fortunate to work on several interesting project schemes such as adding a contemporary extension to Holly Cottage, reimagining a Georgian townhouse in Southampton and reinstating a historic dwelling in rural Hampshire.
Through the design process we get asked many questions about working with listed buildings, so we thought we should share some of these with you. Please note that no two projects are the same, what is acceptable to one listed building is not necessarily acceptable for another and these notes are only intended as a guide.
It’s my house, why can’t I do what I want to?
Buildings are listed as they hold special architectural or historic interest, if you are lucky enough to own one of these properties you have an additional level of responsibility to preserve the building. This does not mean you cannot alter the property; you just need to have some additional permissions in place before you do to ensure the historic integrity of the building is kept intact.
Concept design for a contemporary extension to a heritage property in Whitchurch.
How do I know if my property is listed?
If you are not sure about the official status of your home you can easily check using the Historic England database, which you can find here.
When was a building listed?
The full details of a property listing are available on the Historic England site, including the date it was first listed and other information including the grade of listing, reasons for designation and a short history of the entry.
What makes a listed building?
There are three main principles when it comes to getting a building Listed: The age and rarity of the structure, the architectural or historic interest and any historical associations.
There are three main grades of listing in England:
Grade I – buildings of exceptional interest (around 2% of listed buildings)
Grade II* – buildings of particular importance and of more than special interest (around 4% of listed buildings)
Grade II – buildings of special interest, which represent an important part or our built heritage (around 95% of listed buildings)
It is worth remembering that grading can be changed where reevaluation takes place after damage or alterations, as more evidence of a building’s history or architectural quality is uncovered.
The reimagined interior of St Margaret’s Church
Can a building be delisted?
It is very rare to have the listing of a building removed, however it is occasionally possible. Historic England will consider a review of a property listing provided it is accompanied by new evidence relating to the architectural or historic interest of the building. Please note that evidence about the building’s condition, cost of maintaining it or redevelopment plans, cannot be taken into consideration for delisting.
Can I extend my listed building?
Yes of course, having a listed building does not mean that it has a preservation order on it preventing any change, it just means that any change has to be carefully considered so it does not affect the special interest of the property.
Can I have a contemporary extension on a listed building
Yes! Having a heritage building does not mean you have to be stuck in the past with the architecture of any additions to the scheme. Often conservation officers will be keen for any extension to have a different architectural language from the original, to allow the history of the building to be easily read.
See our Holly Cottage project, where we successfully added a contemporary ground floor extension to create a modern kitchen and separate family room onto the listed property.
Can I demolish a listed building?
Sometimes this is possible, but you would need to have Listed Building Consent and Planning Permission in place before you were to do this. The conservation office assigned to you would make a decision on a case by case basis, taking into account the condition of the building, its function and other issues.
Is Listed Building Consent the same as Planning Permission?
No, these are separate permissions. Depending on the work you are looking to undertake it will determine if you need one or both in place before you start any work. The best place to start is either by speaking with your local authority Conservation Officer, or if you are working with a professional Architectural practice, they should be able to help advise you about what is needed for your specific project.
Listed Building Consent is the legal permission you need to have in place to alter your listed building, it is worth remembering that it is a criminal offense to alter your building without this in place first. The case officer will help to oversee the project and ensure that any alterations are in keeping with the original character of the building.
Planning Permission is needed for the majority of work done to the exterior of any property (some alterations fall under Permitted Development, but it is best to check with your Local Authority before you start) so this might also need to be in place if, for example, you were looking build a kitchen extension onto your Listed home.
Concept idea for a contemporary extension to a New Forest cottage.
Do I need planning permission when working on a Listed Building
Not always, planning permission is only needed for making alterations to the exterior of your home. You will not need planning permission for regular maintenance, or to change items such as the internal staircase or the fireplace, but you might still need to get Listed Building Consent for both of these examples.
How do I get permission for altering a Listed Building
When working with a Listed Building it is always best to engage with an experienced architect who has previously worked on Listed Buildings, with a proven track record in securing planning for similar projects to your own.
Once you know what alterations you are looking to do it is best to apply for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent at the same time. For both of these you will need to prepare detailing drawings and documents that show the current state and the proposed changes.
Are listed buildings exempt from Energy Performance Certification (EPC)
Most properties need an EPC when you build, sell or rent them, but there are a few exceptions when this certification is not needed including if the property is listed, you can find more information here.
What is the Local Heritage Asset Register? (The Local List)
The Local Heritage Asset Register is a register of local heritage assets that may not quite meet the strict requirements for national listing, but that still make a significant contribution to the historic environment of their specific locality or district. To make any alternations to a locally listed property you might find there are some restrictions in place that you need to adhere to, an experienced architect or your local planning department will be able to help you understand what these might be.
The contemporary extension on Holly Cottage.
Can listed building consent be granted retrospectively
In short, yes it can be but it is always strongly recommended to get your permissions in place before you start any work, as it is a criminal offence to undertake unauthorised work to a listed building.
What is listed building curtilage
Curtilage listed, or listed by association, is a term used to describe buildings with the grounds (or curtilage) of a listed property which is also subjected to the listed building itself and will need to apply for listed building consent before any work is undertaken. These structures can often include boundary walls, outbuildings, farm buildings, coach houses or workers cottages which are located in the grounds of the principal listed building or was ancillary to the principal listed building at the time of listing.
We hope those FAQ’s have helped you get a better understanding of how to work on a listed building, as restrictions and regulations are always changing, we would recommend you speak to an architect (especially us!) or your local planners before starting any work. From our experience working on a listed property does not rule out interesting architecture, it just means you have to be more mindful in what you are trying to achieve, your material choices and materials used, often resulting in a more interesting design solution.
Get in touch with us to discuss your heritage project, or for more general information you can find out more at Historic England.
Our Girl Guides Hut project was published in the Architects Journal this week; it is always nice to see our project news shared with prestigious industry publications, click here for the full article.
The design for the replacement hut has recently been submitted in for planning. The sustainably designed building will have low running costs, to make it an economical building for the charity to run. Due to the conditions of the site the building has been carefully crafted to maximise the space available, whilst fitting within the mature trees onsite and touching the ground lightly on screw piles. More project details can be found here.
‘There are cracks in Everything – that’s how the light gets in.’ Lyric by Leonard Cohen
As Darren and I travelled to Brighton by train, we reflected upon our contemporary world discussing politics, economics and ethics amongst other things. Given these ‘dark matter’ discussions, we each alighted perhaps with heavier baggage than when we each boarded that train.
For students had been nominated for their work and we had the great opportunity to talk with three of them. We began with Mia who had designed a mindfulness retreat to enhance female mental health. She articulated beautifully the ambitions of her project and as the narrative unfolded it was clear how she had engaged not only with issues surrounding female mental health, but as importantly, how spatial design holds the potential to heal and provide hope. Of particular note was her focus upon materiality and the sensorial capacity that appropriate material choice holds to enrich our lives. Her drawings were beautiful; evocative, sophisticated images populated with textures and tones that truly reflected the ambitions of the project.
Next, we met Yen, an International Student from Malaysia who designed a project focused upon the needs of ‘new people’, individuals who had relocated and need to integrate into their new home. A place to ‘bloom’ as she explained. Her project was both thoughtful and thought provoking, a design that resonated in sensitivity and sophistication. As with Mia, her drawings exhibited a refinement, entirely appropriate to the project objectives.
Finally, we spoke with Diyanah who presented her project entitled ‘Tapping into the Devine Feminine’ – a woman’s centre located in Brighton. At every level, her design met the objectives of that powerful title. As a space of hope and healing her understanding of the circumstances of her clients was humbling and the design response was focused and inspiring.
Unfortunately we were unable to meet a forth candidate, Lara, who had been called-away for domestic reasons. However, even in her absence, her work resonated with maturity and sophistication. The ‘Hive’ is designed as a retreat for immigrants, it was thoughtful, sensitive and resonated with empathy.
Across each of these conversations our mood incrementally lifted. We left Brighton inspired, uplifted and with a huge sense of hope that the future is safe in the hands of these four young women. Each demonstrated the potential held by spatial design to hold social purpose, provide individual and collective betterment, and improve the world.
Mia, Yen, Diyanah and Lara, thank you. You reminded us of the innate power held by young people to challenge orthodoxies and accepted norms and articulate a socially responsible design paradigm for future generations.
