Nick Adams Architects

I recently had the pleasure of visiting a renovation project in Barcombe that is currently on site. The design involved a total redesign inside and out, including adding another floor. I’m very pleased with how it’s taking shape, the double height entrance lobby is already looking like a fantastic space and I’m looking forward to visiting again when the stair and finishes are added. Working with project manager .co this has been a well organised carefully managed on-site build. The first and second photo is of the lobby, stair yet to be added, the third looking through the future kitchen space into the garden and the last two are a before and after.

instagram.com

BARNCOTE: Our design for a new barn style home on the site of a former farm workers house in Swanborough had a challenging planning process. The land rises by approximately 2m and we had to keep the new house to a similar height as the old bungalow. Our solution was to place the ground floor at the lower level of the site, and let the ground rise around it. To create an efficient floor plan, you enter the house into the main living space via a split level lobby. The open plan kitchen and living spaces are placed at first floor into the roof pitch, and a large terrace, complete with overhang to protect the space from the prevailing winds, provides far reaching views across open fields towards the South Downs Way.

BEFORE AND AFTER: I visited another almost finished project in Eastbourne last week. The design involved front and rear extensions, external renovation and replanning of the living spaces. These photos show the rear elevation where we replaced the conservatory with an extension, creating a new spacious kitchen and dining area.

Here are some before and after shots of the project from the previous post. The interiors aren’t quite finished yet, so there’s lots more photos to follow but I did manage to snap a pic of the double side fireplace we created between the kitchen and lounge.

Space for two hanging chairs were part of the brief for one of our projects in Eastbourne. We popped in yesterday and were delighted to see that it’s nearly finished and the chairs are up and being enjoyed.

I’m thinking how I love these tall, elegant, interconnecting doors between rooms and courtyard gallery in this renovated ‘Casa Chorizo’ style apartment and my little girl is thinking ‘race track!’.

GARDEN ROOM: Our design proposal for a glass garden room on a listed building in Sussex has been submitted for planning permission. Our brief was to create an inside / outside space, a place for growing plants and an area to sit and enjoy the garden all year round. It’s essentially a neatly detailed glass box, but we’ve opted for a solid metal roof to help keep the space cool in summer and warm in winter. There’s a small section of glass roof at the interface with the house enabling the lightest touch possible to link with the historic building. The ceiling drops behind the glass panels and doors so the roof profile is kept as slim as possible whilst still being fully insulated. More details to follow.

Important meeting with Isi and Sigi today.

Our design for the extension and remodelling of a house in Lewes has just been submitted for planning. The design reuses existing raised decks and retaining walls, replacing the old conservatory and outbuilding with a lightweight, highly insulated timber framed extension to provide an open plan kitchen, dining and living space and separate reception room. A large window from the living area is positioned to take advantage of the views. At first floor an additional bedroom and bathroom are created, and to the front a new bay window and porch. Insulation upgrades will help keep energy costs down and an integrated 2kW solar array should provide around 50% of the household’s electricity.

A starling landed on my wing mirror, just for a moment, and I managed to snap this as it was about to take off. Captured by quick thinking, slow movement and having a phone to hand. The wing tips are slightly blurred but impressive detail considering it’s a camera on a phone.

We are also on Houzz 👉

Nick Adams Architects - Lewes, East Sussex, UK BN7 2RG | Houzz Nick Adams Architects. "Nick Adams Architects is a small architecture studio in Lewes, East Sussex with a focus on contemporary vernacular architecture, conservation and...

HEMPBLOCK EXTENSION: In collaboration with we’ve designed an extension to a Victorian house. The client brief was to improve the connection between the kitchen and garden, provide a light filled space for growing plants and an area to sit and relax. The design is two simple playful volumes, one with a West facing glass roof to provide daylight for the wall below to grow plants, the other side has a green living roof and recessed window seat useable from both sides and when open. Blinds fitted into the timber rafters under the glass roof can be lowered to control glare and light pollution. The construction is timber frame h**pblock and lime render finish. Internally, natural insulations are used and the walls are finished in clay plaster. Heat loss through the glass roof is offset by increasing the insulation in the floors, walls and roof. Other upgrades include internal wall insulation to the main house and the installation of an Air Source Heat Pump.
**pplaster **pblocks

A few photos of the extended kitchen dining space on one of our recently completed projects in Lewes, for our client . Fantastic work by - we think it’s looking great! More pics to follow.

HEALTHY HOMES: We‘re delighted to have received planning permission for two new build ‘Healthy Homes’. The houses are low carbon and built using natural, breathable, VOC free materials. The breathable building fabric will be constructed using a timber frame filled with h**p blocks and h**p insulation, externally clad in clay tiles and wood fibre boards with lime render. The design is inspired by the local vernacular and incorporates contemporary design details, sustainable drainage systems and living roofs. It received several letters of support from the local community and was quickly approved by the South Downs National Park Authority.

**pblocks **pinsulation **plime **pplaster **pcrete

DEEP RETROFIT: We’ve recently submitted for planning permission to extend and renovate a house in the Sussex countryside. The house has been extended several times in an ad hoc manner by previous owners, resulting in disconnected living spaces and windowless rooms.

Our clients wanted an environmentally sensitive renovation to create a traditional design with a modern twist, with the interior layout reworked to provide a light, open plan, low energy family home with sweeping countryside views.

Proposals include the removal of a uPVC conservatory, insertion of roof dormers and oak framed gable roof extensions; a new insulated ground floor slab with underfloor heating; external wall insulation; new timber framed double glazed windows; a 4 KW solar panel array and an Air Source Heat Pump to provide heating and hot water.