A project which people can relate to – the development and conversion of an attic space to accommodate a growing family. The design 'stole' some floorspace from a downstairs bedroom to form the stairs up to the new bedrooms. A roof-light was inserted over the stair, which helps to create a bright, cheerful hallway, with a wide, open upper landing to accommodate a computer desk and / or play-area for the children, with a shower room and 2 bedrooms off this upper landing. The extra accommodation created turned a 2 bed bungalow into a 4 bedroom home, suitable for the growing family.
The site was very tight, steeply sloping and involved many different agencies including SEPA, the local planning office with regard to the 'donor' property being a listed building, bat surveys and a full tree survey – then we could get down to designing the site and the layout of the houses! The houses ranged from 4 bedroom houses to the grand 4-storey home, complete with ground floor home gym, swimming pool and sauna and attic cinema room. A very enjoyable and interesting project to work on! (Project carried out when Alasdair Bell was project architect at ADDS Office, Ayr)
Developed on the site of a disused factory, it was difficult to accommodate all the required parking, amenity space and number of flats. The design created a spacious entrance foyer, providing a bright area working as a buffer zone between the outside and the flats. This south-facing space also allowed heat gain to the flats and brought life and colour to a space that can be dark and unwelcoming. The developer project managed the buildng work on-site which turned out well, forming a strong corner within the local area. (Project carried out when Alasdair Bell was project architect at ADDS Office, Ayr)
The Client was looking for a log cabin within their garden to serve 2 purposes – a home office that also provided a lounge area to relax with friends in during the summer. Working in conjunction with Ayrshire Log Cabins, Bell Architecture drew up the designs to the clients specifications with some alterations from the standard cabin layout and successfully gained Planning Approval for the client. Listening to Ayrshire Log Cabins and understanding the construction techniques employed helped with drawing up the alterations that the client wished to make ensuring that the construction of the cabin went smoothly.
The conversion of an integral garage to form more living space can be carried out relatively cheaply, making use of existing space to provide a lounge area, games room, dining room or even a bedroom. The client wished to create a small utility room and a casual lounge/playroom for their family. Bell Architecture assisted in gaining building control approval as required for conversions of this type, ensuring that the works were correctly and safely carried out. The former garage was correctly waterproofed and insulated to ensure that the new room did not become a damp and cold space.
A current project for Bell Architecture, the proposal is to extend a single storey bungalow upwards to form a 2-storey house. Working in conjunction with the client, Bell Architecture has successfully obtained planning approval for the proposal and is now working towards Building Warrant approval. A rather complex and interesting project, with attention being paid to the detail to create a modern, well insulated home that the current owners will be able to enjoy for years to come.
A current project for Bell Architecture, at planning stage. The proposal is to completely renovate the existing property to form a better, brighter layout. By demolishing the small extensions at the rear of the existing property and adding a new rear extension, a fantastic 2 bedroom property will be created. The proposal will reverse the traditional layout by creating intimate sleeping areas on the darker ground floor with open plan living on the upper floor. An exciting development that should hopefully gain full planning permission soon, allowing Bell Architecture to progress the building warrant drawings.
After an initial meeting, work was carried out to obtain all the necessary approvals for the conversion. A new accessible shower room had to be created on the ground floor, a new stair inserted to access the master bedroom suite loft conversion and existing storage areas were converted to create a new bathroom a first floor level. The end product was a fantastic new home in the middle of Ayr, with all the new rooms retaining the original decorative cornice and ceiling rose features, a new family dining / kitchen space accessing the rear patio area and a large cinema room at first floor level.
The existing premises had several outbuildings to the rear which were unused spaces. The project involved the demolition of part of the existing outbuildings, a new-build section which connected the front and rear areas whilst also incorporating new staff accommodation and the internal fit-out of the rear outbuildings to create habitable space suitable for sales areas. A complete re-wire and interior decorative refurbishment was also carried out. The works were handled by Alasdair Bell from start to finish of the project, successfully completed on budget and on time for the Client.
