And The Awards Just keep Coming

It is great to receive awards when you know they are coming but even better to gain an award that you knew nothing about.

A chance telephone call from Piers of our office to Michael and Eileen Leatherland regarding taking a prospective customer to visit their house led to the news that the Leatherland's home has won a prestigious design award. Michael and Eileen’s building inspector was so impressed with the quality of design and craftsmanship that was being carried out on their project that he put the house forwards to the regional LABC Building Excellence awards. The house won the regional awards for best new house, best technical innovation and was runner up in the best sustainable home category.

Following on from the regional success Michael and Eileen’s home went on to greater glory by scooping the National LABC Building Excellence Award for Best Housing Project –Small Developer/Development 2009

From Oakwrights perspective it was a great project to be involved with as the clients had a real enthusiasm for pushing the boundaries and utilising cutting edge and sustainable technology wherever possible. The oak post and beam frame really brought this contemporary home to life.

A wonderful blend of ultra-contemporary design with traditional elements.

The brief was, at first sight, challenging: to create a high quality contemporary ecologically advanced and sustainable new home in the owner’s steep hillside garden which would blend into its rural setting and not obstruct the stunning panoramic view of Weardale from the existing house. Inspired by the owners Michael and Eileen Leatherland, the response by architect Keith Ridley was commendable. The innovative ‘burying’ of half of the house into the hillside transformed a once impossible site into a premium location. ‘Crawley Edge’ transcribes the conformity of the traditional country home. Respecting the vernacular of its surroundings it appears as both a traditional rural bungalow that is subtle and sensitive as well as a bold, provocative monument to the valley that it overlooks.

Along with the idea of building a highly contemporary house ran the idea that something would be needed to connect the house to the landscape it sits in. Michael and Eileen met Nick Price of Oakwrights at a Home Building & Renovating show at the NEC and the seed was sown for the use of an oak frame.

Pushing the boundaries of convention gives this house its distinctive character. Exposed oak frame construction provides three levels of accommodation. The double height glazed apex with uninterrupted glass balcony resembles the bow of a great ship; sliding folding doors to both levels access a vast ocean of nature. With its audacious use of glass, this house truly opens to the light. Within the central chasm of glazing the spectacular solid glass bridge appears to be floating and crosses the divide to a glass floored viewing platform above the living area.

Below, the stunning Italian kitchen benefits open plan family living while bedrooms and bathrooms at the rear offer privacy and function.

Utilizing the roof space for a dressing room/laundry enables washing closer to where clothes are housed. Also a library area was created above the kitchen looking out over the lounge to the views beyond.

These are just a few examples of the many features that improve quality of life and living. The extensive basement includes workshop, office and garage accommodation. In contrast to the conservative scale of its external appearance, the interior surprises the visitor with its expansive openness.

High quality construction at reasonable cost has been achieved from sustainable sources wherever possible with all materials carefully researched to ensure the finest standards. Traditional green oak provided the frame with aesthetic performance and durability in combination with locally quarried and reclaimed stone and roof slate to help the house react and merge with its natural setting.

Copper guttering, ultimately reclaimable, was fitted for sheer quality and longevity; requiring no treatment it will weather to blend and compliment the diverse natural colours of the stone. For subterranean waterproofing, an external tanking system was chosen for maximum protection. Stainless steel external railings successfully brought industrial quality to a residential setting.

Underlining the concept is the simple environmental issue of energy conservation. Low carbon footprint features include high specification space saving insulation, argon filled windows with ‘inter-pane’ blinds, a ground source heat pump, a heat recovery ventilation system, a recoverable water system and external surface water drainage collecting rainwater into the owner’s pond to relieve the burden on the pubic sewerage system. External ground frost protection on the driveway uses redirected internal hot water with additional heating provided by a contemporary stainless steel glass fronted log burning stove.

Latest technology can be experienced from every angle with intelligent lighting controlling light energy consumption both inside and out. The state-of-the art multimedia network system could easily be the envy of most small corporations enabling versatility and flexibility in addition to comfort and a style of modern living not previously experienced by the owners.

As a self-build project, Crawley Edge presented its fair share of construction issues. Through additional support from Wear Valley District Council regarding innovative methods of the design as well as collective knowledge sharing from all those involved, solutions were always found. Indeed, the buildings inspector was particularly helpful during some isolated foundation subsidence to the porch area. Through amiable discussion and his expertise, a potentially expensive disaster was satisfactorily and cost effectively resolved without conflict. Joint collaboration with the LABC to determine standards and acceptable limits during the demanding design of the glass bridge, the installation that nearly every contractor would not touch, was finally realised with overwhelming success.

Crawley Edge has surpassed the original brief and its owner’s expectations. This blend of ultra-contemporary high-tech style with traditional elements and environmentally friendly low carbon design has delivered a new dimension of rural living. At 170 years younger than their former property, the “technology continues to amaze us and those who visit with its wonderful features by day or night”. Designed for the 21st Century as well as for stunning architecture, Crawley Edge has succeeded in not only creating the ‘Wow’ factor but also an exceptionally comfortable and technologically advanced sustainable family home.

The house is essentially laid out on three floors.

Basement lower level. This area consists of a garage, two studio work rooms, a wine cellar and WC cloak room. The main studio work room has large prow sliding folding doors overlooking the quarry and fell beyond, giving a wonderful calm and tranquil work space.

Ground floor. This is the level where the oak post & beam frame has been used to great effect. From the main drive the house looks as though it is set on one level. You enter the front door through a half octagonal porch, which is oak framed, and leads onto the hall that is fully vaulted with a glass bridge passing across.

The lounge is fully vaulted with a large two storey prow window and sliding folding doors looking out over the fantastic views to the fells. The lounge has two arch brace truss oak frames with purlins and wind braces above. The oak frame is complemented by the contemporary style wood burner which gives a focal point to the lounge.

To the left of the hall is the contemporary kitchen with its circular island and the dining area. This area has a ceiling above with spaces defined by oak floor beams.

Beyond the kitchen is the master and guest bedroom both with en-suite bathrooms. The master bedroom has a large corner window allowing light to flood in, the guest bedroom has a patio door for access to the garden.

First floor mezzanine. This is the fun space. With its structural glass bridge spanning the entrance hall and huge glazed roof window it has an impressive architectural impact. There is a structural glass seating area at the end of the bridge that takes advantage of the views out through the double height prow window in the lounge. At the other end of the glass bridge a full bay of the oak frame is given over to the library and reading area. With its view along the glazed bridge and out through the lounge this is a very restful space.

The high point of the project was when the Oakwrights team, led by James Newton, foreman, and Alex Edey, frame designer, erected the house in four days along with Saso and Gerry.