FYSSHER'S CROFT, BURFORD
REFURBISHMENT & EXTENSION OF GRADE II LISTED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
SITE AND CONTEXT
Following the successful completion of Warwick Hall Community Centre in Burford the new owners of the Grade II listed Fyssher's Croft approached ACA to assist them in converting and extending their home. Fysshers Croft is a complex listed building next door to the Grade II* listed Almshouses within the centre of the Burford Conservation area and as such the project needed a sensitive conservation approach in order to reconfigure and retrofit the home to modern standards whilst still enhancing the listed building. The project involved repairing the existing fabric, upgrading the thermal properties, reconfiguring the layout and new gardens extensions.
Following the successful completion of Warwick Hall Community Centre in Burford the new owners of the Grade II listed Fyssher's Croft approached ACA to assist them in converting and extending their home. Fysshers Croft is a complex listed building next door to the Grade II* listed Almshouses within the centre of the Burford Conservation area and as such the project needed a sensitive conservation approach in order to reconfigure and retrofit the home to modern standards whilst still enhancing the listed building. The project involved repairing the existing fabric, upgrading the thermal properties, reconfiguring the layout and new gardens extensions.
Garden view |
Current view of the house from Church Lane |
Proposed Site Plan
Existing lounge area looking towards the garden |
View of the west facade as seen from Church Lane |
View of the east elevation |
Existing fireplace in the kitchen/dining area |
Proposed Ground Floor Plan
PROPOSED WORKS
KITCHEN AND REAR EXTENSION
The proposal is to relocate the kitchen which is currently located in the front room, to the rear of the property to create a better connection with the garden.
NEW STAIRCASE AND WC
The current stair location means that Bedroom 2 is not accessible without passing through Bedroom 1 and this renders the room unusable. The proposal is for a new internal staircase within the current rear ground floor lobby. This location is currently a large storeroom and very conveniently involves no alterations to the principle ground floor rooms. We propose to enclose the stair at first floor to allow direct access to either bedroom and the study. The new layout of these upper rooms reverts back to the original layout as described within the Heritage Impact assessment. We propose a small roof light above the staircase in order to get some natural light onto the stairwell, this location is determined by the timber truss locations above and the
chimney gable end.
DEALING WITH DAMP AND THERMAL ISSUES
The aim is to improve the thermal and acoustic quality of the front room; during pre-planning application discussions, the potential of replacing the windows with double-glazed sash windows was discussed but due to concerns these windows will be retained and secondary glazing added internally.
There are currently damp issues caused in part by the modern concrete floor slab and solid masonry walls below ground level. The proposal is to replace the concrete floor slab with limecrete to allow it to breathe and reduce the risk of moisture building up within the base of the external walls.
The proposal is to relocate the kitchen which is currently located in the front room, to the rear of the property to create a better connection with the garden.
NEW STAIRCASE AND WC
The current stair location means that Bedroom 2 is not accessible without passing through Bedroom 1 and this renders the room unusable. The proposal is for a new internal staircase within the current rear ground floor lobby. This location is currently a large storeroom and very conveniently involves no alterations to the principle ground floor rooms. We propose to enclose the stair at first floor to allow direct access to either bedroom and the study. The new layout of these upper rooms reverts back to the original layout as described within the Heritage Impact assessment. We propose a small roof light above the staircase in order to get some natural light onto the stairwell, this location is determined by the timber truss locations above and the
chimney gable end.
DEALING WITH DAMP AND THERMAL ISSUES
The aim is to improve the thermal and acoustic quality of the front room; during pre-planning application discussions, the potential of replacing the windows with double-glazed sash windows was discussed but due to concerns these windows will be retained and secondary glazing added internally.
There are currently damp issues caused in part by the modern concrete floor slab and solid masonry walls below ground level. The proposal is to replace the concrete floor slab with limecrete to allow it to breathe and reduce the risk of moisture building up within the base of the external walls.
Proposed First Floor Plan
REVISED BATHROOM AND DRESSING ROOM
The bathroom for bedroom 1 is reconfigured with a walk in dressing room and the partition relocated to increase the width of the bedroom.
NEW STUDY BEDROOM
A new study bedroom is located at the top of the stair landing within what was originally a self contained room.
NEW EN-SUITE TO BEDROOM 2
A new en-suite is required for Bedroom 2 and the existing rooflight needs to be raised slightly. Clothes storage is created within the room to balance the proportions.
ENLARGED SHOWER ROOM
The existing shower room is very small and so the proposal is to relocate the timber stud partition and create some additional storage for the bedroom.
The bathroom for bedroom 1 is reconfigured with a walk in dressing room and the partition relocated to increase the width of the bedroom.
NEW STUDY BEDROOM
A new study bedroom is located at the top of the stair landing within what was originally a self contained room.
NEW EN-SUITE TO BEDROOM 2
A new en-suite is required for Bedroom 2 and the existing rooflight needs to be raised slightly. Clothes storage is created within the room to balance the proportions.
ENLARGED SHOWER ROOM
The existing shower room is very small and so the proposal is to relocate the timber stud partition and create some additional storage for the bedroom.
Proposed Roof Plan
ROOF REPAIRS
The current condition of the rear range roof is poor and will require re-roofing in order to deal with the damaged tiles and irregular battens. The proposal is to strip back the rear range natural stone slates, repair any damaged rafters, fix a vapour permeable membrane with new battens and re-use all the good quality tiles on the south facing slope of the roof which is the visible section of roof and then fix cardinal cotswold slates to the north facing section. Insulation will be fitted between the rafters to improve the thermal performance of the house.
The current condition of the rear range roof is poor and will require re-roofing in order to deal with the damaged tiles and irregular battens. The proposal is to strip back the rear range natural stone slates, repair any damaged rafters, fix a vapour permeable membrane with new battens and re-use all the good quality tiles on the south facing slope of the roof which is the visible section of roof and then fix cardinal cotswold slates to the north facing section. Insulation will be fitted between the rafters to improve the thermal performance of the house.
Proposed South Elevation
Proposed East Elevation
PROPOSED REAR EXTENSIONS
In order to maximise views and access to the garden the kitchen is moved to the rear and two small extensions are proposed in order to provide the necessary support spaces.
The first is a side utility room located within an unusual set back in the garden, as this space is constantly in shade from the house it doesn’t lend itself to useful garden area and it would be ideal as a utility room.
The second is a small transparent glazed dining room extension opening out on to the garden. The plan is to remove a later date window within the gable end and turn this into access to a new glass room. We propose that in this instance a very crisp and contemporary lightweight glass extension would be the most sensitive solution adjoining the listed stone property. This would allow very clean connection details and a clear definition between old and new. The aim is for the extension to be as transparent as possible in order for the stone gable end to remain visible through the structure and for the glass to reflect the vegetation and trees within the garden.
In order to maximise views and access to the garden the kitchen is moved to the rear and two small extensions are proposed in order to provide the necessary support spaces.
The first is a side utility room located within an unusual set back in the garden, as this space is constantly in shade from the house it doesn’t lend itself to useful garden area and it would be ideal as a utility room.
The second is a small transparent glazed dining room extension opening out on to the garden. The plan is to remove a later date window within the gable end and turn this into access to a new glass room. We propose that in this instance a very crisp and contemporary lightweight glass extension would be the most sensitive solution adjoining the listed stone property. This would allow very clean connection details and a clear definition between old and new. The aim is for the extension to be as transparent as possible in order for the stone gable end to remain visible through the structure and for the glass to reflect the vegetation and trees within the garden.
Proposed North and West Elevations
Due to the first floor window within the gable end we do not believe a traditional pitched roof extension would be sympathetic to the building in this case as this window would then be obscured and have to be removed. We also feel the massing would be more sensitive by keeping the height as low as possible. We therefore propose a pitched roof light lantern that sits beneath the cill of the current window, in zinc with a bronze finish. The detailing will be crisp and complement the existing materials of the original building rather than compete with them.
PROPOSED MATERIALS FOR EXTENSIONS
- External walls - The utility room will be coursed rubble Cotswold limestone to match the existing house.
- Glazing - Aluminium double glazed fixed and sliding glass door units with glass to glass corner detail.
- Roof - Standing seam zinc panels with a bronze patina finish
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Construction in progress
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Garden Views
