Sensitive Conservation and Restoration
Bear House is a grade 2-star listed timber-framed former farmhouse dating from the early 15th Century. The project involved sensitively restoring & conserving the whole house, which was in a very poor state of repair, to bring the accommodation up to a high modern standard. A new, light & contemporary ground floor extension was built to the rear. As such, the project required careful collaboration between Freeland Rees Roberts (FRR) and Building Control Surveyors to ensure compliance using high quality traditional & modern building materials & techniques.
Our Senior Building Control Surveyor Patricia James provided the site inspection service. Following her visits and timely comments FRR revised and improved some details, such as the junction of the Limecrete Floor with the modern blockwork walls of the extension. This ensured full compliance without affecting the construction programme.
The sustainability strategy employed a targeted, fabric-first approach, using traditional detailing to safeguard the building for a long life. The extension is carefully oriented with large areas of glazing protected by a very large roof overhang. This reduces solar gain in summer whilst allowing the winter sun to penetrate and warm the living space.
The construction uses traditional, renewable, low-embodied energy materials throughout. For example, the external walls are entirely re-covered with wood fibre insulation and lime render, replacing cementitious render. The new draught-sealed casement windows with night-latches and lime plaster provide greatly improved airtightness. 300mm of mineral wool insulation, with additional cross ventilation to protect the timber roof structure, insulates the loft floor. This fabric-first approach has hugely improved the thermal performance of the envelope. Moisture harmlessly passes through the construction so that the existing oak frame is given the longest life possible.
A new high-efficiency gas condensing boiler was installed to serve a zoned underfloor heating system throughout the limecrete floor, which is controlled with smartphone-enabled thermostats. High efficiency LED lighting features throughout.
The project has resulted in a building that has exceeded the client’s expectations. Bear House is a warm, delightful, unique home that retains all of its rich historic character. Key historic features have been preserved, for example, the medieval hall-house layout comprising hall, service and solar; medieval wall paintings; the 16th Century screen with its apotropaic marks; the Quatrefoil and diamond mullioned windows.
Bear House was a shortlisted finalist in the LABC Central Region Building Excellence Awards 2019 for Best Extension or Alteration to an existing home.
Written and credited to Oliver Cooper & Ian Lambert of Freeland Rees Roberts Architects