We have been overseeing two projects of site this year in two opposite parts of London – Highgate in the North and Barnes in South West.
In Highgate our timber framed and insulated weathering-steel-clad sustainable energy nerve centre, which doubles as a secondary entrance to a large Listed Building, has been slowly reaching its completion. Its weathering steel cloak was last to be installed and since early February we have been monitoring the gradual maturing process of its patina. As a part of a front elevation, we are carefully assessing when to remove the site hoardings and reveal this atypical jewel to the public. It appears that that time may soon be upon us.
The Barnes project is only finishing its first quarter of time on site when demolition and majority of structural works are behind us. This comprehensive low-carbon retrofit and remodel of a detached family house is reaching the time of Fabric First works when the entire external envelope is fitted with insulation and augmented with an airtightness layer. This is why rooms are full of straw-bale-bundles of timber-particle insulation. Once completed, the building will be ready for fossil-fuel free heating based on on-site generated energy. The exciting times are only just beginning.
We have a few projects only at their very early stages, “on the drawing board” and they are a mixture of Listed and Conservation Area located reworking. The common theme for all is their low-carbon impact so details, materials and urban impact are all assessed at the same time.
Finally, we are delighted that Assemble considered our collection of conceptual and detail model of a staircase interested enough to shortlist it for the forthcoming RA Summer Exhibition, Architecture Section. Fingers crossed!
