KVB Architects tring
The Counting House , 9 High Street ,
Tring , Herts , HP23 5AH
Tel 01442 824691
Extensions / Conversions
40 & 41 Albert Street, Tring
The Victorian properties form a semi-detached house (referred to as "artisanal cottage " style) typical of the Albert Street frontages, and are located in a Conservation Area. As such, any changes to the properties were strongly resisted by the Planners.
Working closely with the Conservation Officer over 2 years, KVB Architects produced a design solution which met both Planners' and Clients' requirements.
Use of identical twin pitched roofs to the two storey rear extensions, incorporating skirted mono-pitched roofs at ground floor level create a sympathethic and sub-servient form to the rear.
The work was completed in the summer of 2015.
Barn Cottage,Little Gaddesden
The property is a detached dwelling, built originally circa 1875 as two separate outbuildings to the main house. The initial brief was primarily aimed to rationalising the street side buildings by remodelling the roof structure with a common ridge line, with the space between designed to accommodate a new kitchen/dining area. A vaulted roof structure was subsequently designed, raised higher than the adjacent link roof to act as a visual stop, incorporating large glazing to maximize natural light penetration.
Use of vaulted ceilings, light-coloured floor tiling, off-white kitchen furniture (accented with dark granite worktops), a two-way gas fire unit centrally positioned and good lighting throughout makes the extension very user-friendly, with good circulation and efficient space standards.
White Lady Cottage
St Margarets
A Listed Building located in the village of St Margarets, previously extended but inadequate for modern familiy living proved to be a challenge for the Designer when dealing with the local authority.
Several feasibility schemes were prepared, with careful planning and attention to detail so as to meet the requirements of the Conservation Officer.
Family Residence at The Lye
Little Gaddesden
The needs for a growing family required the addition of a large bedroom over the existing double garage, and the rear extension of the kitchen with associated reconfiguration of internal spaces to suit. Upgrading of internal finishes and remodelling of the external elevations, as well as new external hard and soft landscaping were also implemented.
Special attention was given to matching the existing external materials (external joinery, brickwork, roof tiling, rainwater goods) and to the existing architectural detailing (dormers, brick work) to achieve a seamless whole.
Plumtree Cottage,
Little Gaddesden
An old Listed property on a large site, bounded by open fields and extensively landscaped with mature hedges and orchard trees.
Given the restrictions imposed by its Listed status, the resulting extensions were designed to follow the footprint of the previous outbuildings, with careful detailing to match the existing architecture closely, both internally and externally.
Horrocks Residence
Little Gaddesden
Located off a gravel drive from The Green in Little Gaddesden, the property is one of a number of dwellings in the area which required an extension to help improve the internal space requirements.
An end extension comprising a vaulted ceiling
incorporating rooflights was designed as a family room/study, constructed in matching brickwork , slot windows, and roof tiling.
Atamian Residence, Buckingham
Amongst other improvements, the reconfiguration of a dining room in this contemporary family house necessitated the need to carry out a small lean-to rear extension, incorporating matching external materials to ensure harmony.
Extensive changes were also made to the rear garden landscaping, including a realignment of the brick garden wall so as to create a paved area for
accommodating garden sheds, barbecue equipment etc.
Les Gentianes, Evian, France
KVB Architects was commissioned to carry out the conversion of a previous 1960's hotel building in Thollon-les-Memises near Evian, Haute Savoie region in France, to provide 13no luxury apartments for sale including a penthouse unit, with reinstatement of bar/restaurant facilities at ground floor level and associated car parking.
Initial difficulties in dealing with the French authorities (Mayor/Fire Officer/Building Control) were overcome and the works were successfully completed in late 2009.
Having gone through the learning curve, KVB were involved on further projects in France, dealing mainly with UK- based Clients.
Residential
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Manifesto
“Achieving good design need not necessarily involve high costs...what is needed is a clear brief, understanding the Client's aspirations early and exploring several options to arrive at a solution which is buildable"
KVB Architects Ltd