Build Architecture Awards

Build Architecture Awards 2015 105 The transformation of the locally known ‘Ugly House’ into a thing of beauty is vast feat for Turner & Hoskins Architects Ltd., a small firm with big ambitions. They tell us how they went about the project and the chal- lenges they overcame along the way. It is a genuine honour have been awarded ‘Best Residential Transformation 2015’ for The White House. The house was originally known locally as the ‘Ugly house. We can only speculate, but we believe that the house was originally a modernist design that succumbed to the ad- dition of overbearing and top heavy mansard roofs in the 1970’s. Indeed, the roofs were so overbearing that they blocked clear views from some of the first floor windows. A large part of the success of a project of this nature must be attributed to a client, whose vision we adapted. As architects, we are trained to have vision for what is possible, and we often have to articulate that vision to clients through sketches and models. To have a client with clear vision and the passion to carry out substantial alterations and improve- ments means that a large part of the process has already begun. A particular challenge we faced on this project was the Greenbelt land within which the house is sited, which limits the amount an existing house can be extended. Despite demonstrating a significant overall reduction in the building mass, primarily due to the re- design and the removal of the mansard roofs, a modest increase above the permissible floor area was not supported by the local planning authority. This subsequently resulted in the garage being removed from the house to cre- ate the floor space required, and the planning legislation being exploited to create a potential garage far in excess of the modest increase previously sought – the joys of planning law. Our firm has was established in 2002 by Vicki Turner and Tim Hoskins, and have since gained significant experience in work- ing on projects such as this, which is what gave us the confidence to start work on the White House. We are what the RIBA term a ‘micro practice’, being less than five full time members of staff. There are actually six of us; three full-time, and three part-time, however despite this we are able to punch well above our weight, with our largest completed project to date being a new Church with attached apartments. Due to the size of the practice we are able to offer a very personal level of attention and contact with all projects, giving clients a personalised service specifically designed with their needs in mind. We believe that excellent service and attention to detail are paramount to the way we run. Our work brings us into contact with a variety of clients and on a range of building types. A large part of our work is with private clients who are seeking to alter, extend, adapt or refurbish their home. However, we are also involved with other types of work, and recent and current projects include the conversion of a dairy, extending a Village Hall to provide a new community room and library, works to a nursing home, extension of an infant and nursery school, works to Churches including new-build, a mews development, and conver- sion of a water tower. It is this eclectic range of project types that ensures we are stimulated, but which also al- lows us to benefit from a range of experience to address the needs of our clients. Best Residential Transformation 2015 (the ‘Ugly House’, Kent) - UK Turner & Hoskins Architects Company name: Turner & Hoskins Architects Ltd. Web: www.turnerandhoskins.co.uk Address: 77A High Street, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 5AU Telephone: 01732 866064 From drawing up plans, putting together a planning application through to total project management and delivering the end product, we help our clients realise what they want from a building, giving them a full and comprehensive service in order to ensure every aspect of the project meets our exacting criteria. We believe in listening well and working hard. Through innovation and creative sugges- tions, we aim to make buildings work for our clients. Drawing out hidden depths, seeing the untapped potential of a building together with understanding your lifestyle and needs we aim to bring lasting and effective solutions. From our Edenbridge base, we work through- out south-east England, regularly completing projects in London, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. We look forward to working with Clients who will provide us with more experience working with different styles of building and provide us with new and invigorating challenges.