Two new 3 bedroom houses on the outskirts of Bromley, currently under construction.
Two houses under construction
The two houses replace a bungalow
Dunstans Road, Dulwich
Dunstans Road, Dulwich
Extending a two bedroom ground floor flat and one bedroom first floor flat to provide two spacious 3 bedroom flats with two balconies. Construction has started on the upper flat.
LOFT EXTENSIONS
FIRST FLOOR FLAT SECTION - TECHNICAL DESIGN
Kidbrooke Park Road, Blackheath
Kidbrooke Park Road, Blackheath
This project involved extensive remodelling and a full upgrade to the thermal performance of the building. We managed to transform the house whilst successfully navigating Greenwich's residential design guide.
GROUND FLOOR PLAN - BEFORE
GROUND FLOOR PLAN - AFTER
FRONT & REAR ELEVATIONS - BEFORE
FRONT & REAR ELEVATIONS - AFTER
RIBA Chartered Practice
We are proud of our status as an RIBA Chartered Practice.
Appointing a practice is a key decision and we want to offer clients the reassurance of a trustworthy accreditation from the RIBA.
RIBA Chartered Practices are the only architectural practices endorsed and promoted by the RIBA. This accreditation sends a strong signal to our clients, employees and the wider construction industry and shows that we are committed to excellence in design and service delivery.
To become a Chartered Practice, we have to comply with strict criteria in an accreditation scheme that offers you, the client, a mark of quality. We work to a recognised set of standards and our clients can expect a high quality service and level of support. So by choosing a RIBA Chartered Practice you can expect a certain level of excellence in design and service.
Apex takes part in Open House London
Apex takes part in Open House London
Billed as ‘Free entry to London’s best buildings’, we were delighted when the prestigious Open House London accepted one of our recent projects as part of their architectural trail.
What is Open House London?
Started in 1992, Open House London is the world’s largest architecture festival, giving free public access to 800+ buildings, walks, talks and tours over one weekend in September. Each year over a quarter of a million people take part in the event.
Buildings are shared with the public through a programme and on the website so that people can explore areas and buildings of interest to them and find out more about points of architectural beauty and interest in the different London boroughs. Interestingly, there are often architects on hand in the buildings to provide context and discuss the projects with interested parties.
This year we had the perfect project – a new build in Blackheath - to submit for consideration – and to our excitement it was accepted as part of the trail.
It was a tiring weekend, but we appreciated the opportunity to be involved.
Here, one of the Apex team, Sue, talks about this extraordinary house and her experiences of the weekend:
“As a member of the Apex Architecture team it was a great pleasure to be able to invite visitors to Amoreira, Blackheath, for the weekend of 21st /22nd September for Open House in London. The house was accepted as a new building to be on view at this prestigious event. Located in the midst of a conservation area this home was built on the site of the garden of a large Victorian house.
The building was only just ready. Builders, carpenters and landscapers were working late into Friday evening to bring the house and garden to a stage where we could open. It was an important building to all these wonderful people and they went above and beyond to ensure our inclusion in the architectural trail. These very workers came back to the house over the weekend showing how proud and involved they felt.
Inside Amoreira, new build in Blackheath, designed by the team at Apex Architecture’s Greenwich office.
The whole experience was extraordinary and across the weekend we had over five hundred and fifty visitors. The interest in the building was amazing. It was very emotional seeing the building for the first time and every visitor had a response of their own. It is very brave to invite comment on a building that has had so much time, energy and belief invested in it.
The planners agreed to the contemporary design visualised on the CGI and which now adds a bit of drama and surprise to this street. A building which is flanked and faced by traditional Victorian houses of some grandeur. It is a brave and yet beautifully discreet dwelling. As you approach there is drama and delight at the way in which the house sits on its site.
The master stroke is the cladding which enhances the impact of the house and changes according to the way you approach. The British cedar is elevated to a stylish screen which sympathetically wraps around the house and roots it. Inside the views are framed and the screen provides some privacy and interest to the glorious light which floods the house.
The cedar is grown in this country so is totally sustainable. When it is growing it improves the air. It also represents good value for money when there are budgetary concerns.
The garden contained an ancient mulberry tree (hence the name Amoreira which is Portuguese for Mulberry) which proved to be contentious for some in the locality. Ultimately the ground was found to be contaminated and the mulberry trees to be diseased. The ground had to be cleared and at some depth removed. New mulberry trees are on site and will be planted at the front of the building so everyone can enjoy them.
There is also a roof which is a green biodiverse area following Lewisham council guidelines. This can be enjoyed from the front bedroom window.
The house has a very calm and peaceful feel to it and there are lots of places to be. Space is generously used. The house came alive when lots of small children arrived and ran around with balloons giving the house a party atmosphere. It is a perfect house for parties.
On the Sunday of the Open House weekend I welcomed everyone and became the volunteer. I greeted visitors and gave a few instructions: please take your shoes off; you can go anywhere and the architects are inside to answer any questions. As one visitor left she thanked us for opening the house – she described it as inspiring. Many of the visitors were local residents who had watched the building go up and they were taking the only opportunity to have a closer look. They were generally very positive about what they saw.”
Find out more about Amoreira.
If you are considering a new build or renovation project in the Blackheath area, please get in touch for an informal consultation about how our team of Greenwich-based London architects might be able to help.
Working with an architect: what happens at a design meeting?
We often find our clients are unsure about what to expect from a design meeting with us.
That’s why we thought we’d step you through the process, with reference to a home extension project we undertook in the Forest of Dean. So you can see exactly how your initial design meeting might go.
Scheduling the initial design meeting
Following a first discussion and an extensive site survey and it’s time to arrange an initial design meeting At this stage, we have developed a good background understanding of the project site and its surroundings and feel we’re in a position to have meaningful discussions regarding the extension design.
What will we talk about?
The aim of the meeting is to discuss in detail what you’re looking to achieve with your development and guide you through some of the initial design decisions that will need to be made. We will also discuss our initial findings on site and any factors that might create a challenge to the build you’re looking to do. We often encourage meetings of this type, either at our offices, client’s home, or on site to get a feel for the project and development at an early stage.
In our Forest of Dean example, the project was faced with a number of difficulties in terms of future development of the property. This was for a variety of reasons.
The property was a two-storey house that they were seeking to develop with side and rear extensions. However, the house is located close to neighbouring properties and so did not benefit from lots of natural light. It was built on varying ground levels and to add further complications was also in a conservation area.
What to expect from us
During a standard design meeting of this type, our clients generally have a few questions and require guidance on topics such as:
Construction types and their advantages / disadvantages
Building design features, whilst considering Local & National planning policies
and local design guides
Site restrictions and potential design solutions
Potential project budget and estimate figures
Planning application procedure, including local authority fees and application timescales. Also, exactly what information is needed to obtain local authority approvals
Designated areas or buildings, such as listed buildings, conservation areas or areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs)
Party Wall Agreements with adjoining property owners
As well as a multitude of other project queries. A design meeting such as this is a great place to raise any concerns and get everything out in the open.
At the design meetings we will offer clear architectural advice as well as some initial design sketches to help our clients achieve their requirements, while always offering the best value against their budget that we can. We’ll also look for innovative ways of overcoming obstacles, such as those of insufficient natural light and differing ground levels face by our Forest of Dean house.
And the end result?
After deliberation, discussion, checking requirements, addressing potential concerns and applying our design experience, we will eventually be able to agree on a design in principle that everybody is happy with. When you’re working with an architect, the design meeting is the real starting point for us to develop the design and produce documents in sufficient detail to submit a planning application.
And that’s exactly what we were able to do our example case.
Find out more about the design process we go through to make sure your building project starts off on exactly the right note.
Building Regulations: how to make sure you’re compliant
When you’re carrying out building work you are responsible for making sure that that building work complies with certain rules and regulations. Find out more about what those rules are and how to make sure you are compliant.
What are building regulations?
If you’re building a house in the UK, you will need Building Regulations Approval to do it.
Building regulations are legal requirements that you must meet to ensure your building work is being carried out in the right way to meet current safety standards and government requirements.
Why do we need building regulations?
Building regulations do not aim to stifle innovation. They simply lay out minimum standards for the design and construction of buildings. This is important to make sure they are safe for people living and working in them and are not likely to be damaging to health based on current understanding. Building regulations also include requirements that relate to the way we treat resources and the way we meet modern norms in society. For example, by making sure fuel and power are conserved and facilities are provided for people with disabilities.
Who is responsible for complying with building regulations?
If you employ a building contractor to do the work for you, the responsibility for complying with building regulations should be theirs but it is always worth confirming this up front. Ultimately, as the owner of the building, any resulting enforcement of rules would be served on you.
What’s included?
There are currently 14 parts (sections) to the building regulations and each is accompanied by an Approved Document. The Approved Documents usually take the form of stating the legislation first and then providing a number of means which are deemed to satisfy the regulations. Compliance with the rules is what is ultimately required and there are many ways of doing this in addition to those set out in the documents. You should discuss this with your architect or builder who should be able to help you come to a satisfactory solution to meet both the building regulations and your design requirements.
Below is a list of the Approved Documents:
- Part A - Structure
- Part B - Fire safety
- Part C - Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture
- Part D - Toxic substances
- Part E - Resistance to the passage of sound
- Part F - Ventilation
- Part G - Sanitation & Hygiene & Water Efficiency
- Part H - Drainage and waste disposal
- Part J - Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems
- Part K - Protection from falling, collision and impact
- Part L - Conservation of fuel and power
- Part M - Access to and use of Buildings
- Part N - Glazing - safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning
- Part P - Electrical safety – Dwellings
Building regulations application – how to apply
Building regulations applications are required for new builds and property extensions. They are also required for works of a minor nature, particularly:
installation of fittings
new heating appliances and systems
alteration of a building’s structure
changing the use of a building
or building work affecting fire safety.
In some instances, repair work to buildings will also require a Building Control Application. Some work is exempt from building regulations but may require approval under other legislation, such as an application to the planning service. The best way to check that you are doing the right thing is to contact Building Control Services before starting your project.
Alternatively, you can contact us at the beginning for advice which will help you avoid problems further down the line.
Building an arts and crafts house in Surrey
Building an arts and crafts house in Surrey
Arts & Crafts House in Surrey - as designed by Apex Architecture
The arts and crafts movement in architecture was borne of a desire to turn away from the impersonal, mechanised direction society was moving thanks to the industrial revolution of the 19th century. It focused on the use of high-quality materials and designs that were both beautiful and useful. Pioneers believed in the connection of an artist to his work through handicraft, and the aesthetic of the arts and crafts design style was influenced by imagery of nature, medieval art and even Gothic style which saw something of a revival around this time.
A Surrey build project in and arts and craft style
When we took on this Surrey build project, we were pleased to see it would give us the opportunity to flex our creative muscles. The brief was to create a space for a large family, with creative flair. Lili, our client, undertook lots of research that inspired the design. While Apex’s David, Joe and Jon dedicated time to meetings and site visits to get the design and build just right. We wanted to make sure the house would meet her family's needs, her taste and her sense of style.
The result is a unique piece of architecture that is in harmony with its surroundings; an arts and crafts house that has become the home they hoped for. Lili has fantastic ideas for the interiors and has already painted the circular staircase to look like a rainbow as it creeps up the stairs to the turret. She has combined junk shop finds with contemporary bathroom fittings and added colour with foxglove wallpaper, bringing nature and that arts and crafts design style into the interiors too.
See more photos from this fascinating build in our portfolio.
If you would like to find out more about working with us to realise your design ideas, why not contact us for a no obligation chat?
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Planning home improvements: what to expect when working with an architect
Planning a scheme design for home improvements
When you start working with an architect you might wonder what you’re letting yourself in for, particularly if you’ve never done this sort of thing before. You should approach the relationship as the start of a collaborative partnership; one that will allow healthy discussions and that will continue throughout the project at every stage.
Whether you’re planning an extension, loft conversion or other home improvements, you’ll first need to make sure your architect is clear about what it is you want. You will find that they ask you plenty of questions.
Here we’ve covered some of the key ones that we, at Apex Architecture, tend to ask:
What do you want to build?
Firstly, we will want to know the area you are in and the type of property you wish to improve, as different locations and authorities have different planning rules. We will then either visit you at the property or discuss the project with you over the phone to get an understanding of what you would like to achieve.
What are your space requirements? What improvements would you like to make?
Tell us a bit about the end result you’re hoping for. Are you after more living space, a large open plan area, a garden room, extension, rebuild, loft extension, 2-storey extension or a barn conversion? The possibilities are endless when you are planning home improvements.
What is your budget?
It will help us if we know what your budget is early on so we can make sure we get the best value for your money, prioritise correctly and direct your finances accordingly so that you can achieve your most important goals. For instance, after discussion and our advice, you may decide to scale back on your initial ideas in order to ensure you have the funds for a top-notch kitchen if that’s what is important to you.
Is it more space you need, or can we just reconfigure what you have?
Sometimes it can be useful to look at things from another angle, perhaps simply improving how you use the space you have rather than building on. This can generate some interesting ideas and discussions. We have extensive experience of making the most of space and have the knowledge to help you work out what will work best.
It is important, right from the start, to know why you are making changes and how you wish to use the space, this will impact on the advice we will give. At Apex Architecture we want to make sure you have enough funds left for the finishing and the personal touches that really matter to you.
Is your property in a conservation area? Or is your property listed?
This will have implications regarding what you will be permitted to do; usually local authorities are mostly concerned with the view from the street. If you are not sure we can advise on this and help you find out.
Will your project fall under permitted development rights?
Did you know that if you are planning to build an extension you may not need planning permission? Check out this link for more information:
We can also talk this though with you as we keep abreast of all policy.
What’s the next step?
Apex Architecture offer a free consultation and will meet at your property or plot to discuss your ideas.
We will look at your requirements in more detail and help Identify factors that may affect the project. Budget and context are the main things we look at and talk through with you. We will be able to give you some estimates on the overall cost of the project, based on cost per sq m, and will then be able to judge if you have any issues with your neighbours and surrounding areas that you will need to consider.
We’ll then work out fee proposal for our services based on our discussions, your ideas and our experience and we’ll provide a detailed quotation provided so that you will have all the information in front of you to decide whether you’d like to go ahead with the project.
Planning architect advice: a real-life example
Planning architect advice: a real-life example
In our blog Planning home improvements: what to expect when working with an architect we covered some of the questions you might expect when you begin planning a building project with an architect. So today we thought we’d show you how this might work in practice by way of a real-life example.
Here’s what happened when we were appointed to design a house extension in Blackheath, London.
The initial meeting
David met John and Rachael to look at a house extension and alterations to a three storey Edwardian house close to Blackheath village and station. This was an early start – he met them at 7.30am so John could be involved in the meeting before going to work.
It is important that we meet both members of any couple instructing us as often people can find they have differing views about key things even if they didn’t initially realise it.
Viewing the property
First, we looked around the property and discussed John and Rachael’s initial thoughts – what did they want from the project? We looked at the house inside and out and John explained that he wanted to achieve more living space on the ground floor, a larger kitchen and to open up the space as much as possible. Ideally, he wanted to add another bedroom.
We noted that the house had a small back yard wall on all sides and approximately 75% of the yard sloped 1.2m above the kitchen floor at the back of the property.
Discussing options
John mentioned that they had a large bathroom on the first floor, he wanted to discuss the possibility of moving this to the ground floor to create an extra bedroom. David noted that while this is possible it may not be a good plan for the only bathroom of a three-storey family house to be on the ground floor. Also, the bathroom would be very small, it would restrict the access to the rear garden and would seriously reduce the space available to the kitchen and living space on the ground floor.
Addressing other concerns
John was able to use the meeting to ask any questions about things that had been worrying him:
“The house is in a conservation area. Can we extend it? “
John alerted us to the fact the house was in a conservation area. He was concerned that this might mean an extension was a no-go.
David was able to explain that that’s not necessarily the case. You can extend buildings in conservation areas. The key thing is to respect the locality. The important feature is often the front elevation. All of the houses locally have retained their original features and together make a very important contribution to the Blackheath Conservation Area, but a modest single storey extension to the rear should be possible.
“What about internal alterations?”
The conservation area is concerned with external appearance so the fact that the building is in a conservation area will not restrict the making of internal alterations.
However, if the building were listed there would be strict controls on alteration to the historic fabric of the building, so moving walls may not be permitted.
“Will my neighbours be able to object?”
John was concerned about whether his neighbours could object to the development. David explained that the planners would consult with neighbours, so it is always better to discuss with them up front and keep them on board with your proposals. In fact, in this case the boundary wall was quite high making it possible to build an extension that did not protrude above the wall, hopefully lessening the impact on the neighbours.
“Do I need the neighbour's permission to work on the boundary wall?”
David was able to explain that yes permission would be required because the party wall is jointly owned by John and his neighbour. Once detailed drawings were prepared, he would be able to approach his neighbour and try to obtain a written agreement. If this didn’t succeed it will be necessary to put a Party Wall Agreement in place.
This is quite normal and something that Apex can assist with this.
Discussing next steps
David explained that the next step would be for us at Apex to carry out a dimensional survey of the existing building and prepare plans and elevations. Using these drawings, we will prepare sketch proposals and then meet again to discuss them.
Once John is happy with the scheme, we will prepare drawings in sufficient detail to make a Planning Application.
Following the meeting David wrote to John with a fee proposal outlining our discussions, the project brief and describing our services through the process from design to construction.
