House in Surrey
TYPE
Residential
CLIENT
Private
LOCATION
Esher
STATUS
Completed
Our client bought a fantastic, detached house in the Esher area, in the outstanding Surrey countryside.
The property at the ground floor included a variety of rooms of different size and shapes, separated by structural walls, while at the 1st floor there were 3 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms, all a bit constricted in height by the existing pitched roof. The resulting layout was a bit clunky and boxed, while the client was looking for a more “open-Plan feeling and increase the bedroom number and optimize their size.
Once we inspected the house and understood the brief, we started with a complete survey of the property, and started to prepare some sketch of layout options to discuss. These early chats with our client helped us to refine the brief – sometimes you know what you want when you see it! - nd the result was to increase by 1 story the existing property while extending on the rear with a 1 –storey extension. and we proceeded to draft a comprehensive set of plans, sections, and elevations very useful to approach the structural engineer and build his input in the overall design. A Party Wall surveyor was involved as well because the new foundations were to be within a distance from the neighbouring property that the Party Wall Act deems as within its scope.
The changes to the property required a planning application to be submitted to the local authority, and a Flood Risk assessment because the property sits on a flood risk area. The area is not a conservation area but the Council insisted for specific guidelines about the window size and colours, to match the Art& Caft style of the neighbourhood.
We thoroughly analysed the most updated legislation and guidelines for the area and in accordance with the Core Strategy document of the local authorities, and we produced a comprehensive Design and Access statement that did address all the requirements and explained the deisng choices.
While waiting for the Planning application to be assessed by the Council, we proceeded with the technical design phase, addressing the electrical system, the plumbing system, the heating strategy for the property, as well as the insulation, ventilation, and water discharge in accordance with the Building Control requirements.
The project involved detailed design up to the technical details of bathrooms, fireplace, construction details and a detailed Schedule of works to be priced by the contractor.
The finishes were chosen in collaboration with the client, that in this project decided to be hands-on on several items and sourced items like solid wood flooring, tiling, and kitchen. We supported the process of assessing the chosen finishes against the final in and implementing them in the set of construction drawings including setting out of tiles, the position of sanitary wares, setting out of the kitchen in collaboration with kitchen installer.
During the construction phase, we closely monitored the progress and the execution against the agreed priced Schedule of works and detailed drawings, providing supplementary information and drawings, when necessary, on-site.
