Month: October 2012

This comment from robertloxton was posted on one of my how much does a barn conversion cost posts the other day. Hello, I bought a threshing barn and subsequently got pp for conversion to one dwelling. There are so many different ideas and prejudices out there about how and where to go about this. The best advice I had.....was to make sure you applied for what you really wanted for yourself. Not to be unduly influenced by other peoples experience. Sometimes you find that experience (including professional) is 20 years old....and in truth matters have moved on. The economy has…

Part D is about ensuring that there is no risk to the occupiers of a building from toxic substances used in its construction. As of the date of writing, Part D was last revised in 2010 as a result of the Building Regulations 2010 and Building (Approved Inspectors etc) Regulations 2010. Part D Toxic substances contains the following high-level requirement: D1 Cavity Insulation This is a short document, of limited relevance to historic building convertors as the requirement contained in the document relates to cavity walls. In the UK, cavity walls only became a common template for wall construction in…

So the Stirling prize was won by what seemed to be a long shot. I think two things blinded me to the potential of the eventual winner - the Sainsbury Laboratory. The first, the association with a supermarket (boo-hiss), or at least with the family that setup the supermarket. The second, the fact it was a lab, just how interesting can a laboratory be?... Well, seemingly very interesting, very motivational and very inspirational, both as a piece of architecture and as a place to work. I must admit that my initial impression of some of elevations was that they were…

Although high brow architecture prizes aren't my usual territory, I think that this years Stirling prize has some exciting projects on the shortlist. Best if we pass over the Olympic stadium, which looks so much like so many other stadiums to the lively Lyric Theatre project. Highlighted on last nights BBC2 Culture Show, this looks to be a lovely, well designed quality development, informed by function and form rather than vanity and ego. I also rather like the bomb-shelter chic of The Hepworth, rarely has concrete looked so lovely. The shortlist is well worth a look on ribastirlingprize.architecture.com

The end of days approach (at least in terms of this stage of the conversion)… The utility room is now completed. Painted, shelved and ready for storage. I've also all but finished the high level kitchen shelving, just a small 'decorative' detail to add to the supports at either end of the shelf to cover up the new wood brackets with some of the reclaimed timber. I've also progressed with the flue guard that I've been building from various perforated steel sheets, solid lengths of aluminium and a resin based adhesive. It's been slow going as I only stick one…

Part C is about ensuring that the site for new buildings is prepared in a manner that will promote resistance to contaminants and moisture for the structure that is to be built on the site. As of the date of writing, Part C was last revised in 2010 as a result of the Building Regulations 2010. There are a number of subjects that fall within this part of the regulations. These include weather and water tightness, drainage and measures to deal with contamination and hazardous substances such as radon and methane. Part C Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and…

The Green deal launched in the UK on Monday of this week. Fanfares? fireworks? a deluge of marketing? ... Not as far as I saw, instead a more 'low key' launch. Apparently, environment minister Greg Baker wasn't even in the country, instead he's been off on a jolly in Tanzania. Only British Gas and the Mark Group are ready to provide solutions and no finance is available under the scheme until January 28th 2013. But it's OK, surveys can be booked now! So the softest of soft launches, but it's alright, it's not like this is about anything important....

There's something about gabions...! Heavy stone and twisted metal, what's not to love about them. These aren't mine regretably, they're at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales. I include them here as reference and inspiration, both for my guardening aspirations and yours... From MyBarnConversion Garden

I think I keep harping on about this, but I love this colour, material and texture combination... From Barn Conversion 2012