Completed - Mission Church - A faithful approach to design

© Simon Maxwell Photography

Following a sensitive adaptive reuse of a Mission Church, clients Geoff and Julie are celebrating a new lease of life for “The Old Mission Church” which is now available to rent as a Cotswolds retreat in the picturesque village of Paxford. 

Whilst the Mission Church was not listed, the local authority considered the building a non-designated heritage asset. Cotswold District Council’s planning policy confirms that conversions of all non-domestic historic buildings should conserve the significance of the heritage asset including its form, features, character, and setting. A conservation based approach was adopted for the conversion based on an understanding of the buildings history and significance.  

The conservation approach adopted was to repair and reuse the existing fabric whilst adopting a minimal approach to modern interventions through maximising the use of existing spaces and through the installation of a contemporary pod which appears to float in the space, providing a mezzanine level master bedroom and ensuite.  

The final finishing touches are credit to the love and dedication that Geoff and Julie have given the project provided reusing items salvaged from church. A lantern purchased with the building has been restored to be the main light in the living room. The pulpit has become a table and a headboard. The Bell chime mechanism has been restored by Paxford Engineering, new door runners fabricated by MRK and the clock face sprayed at Brothertons, all businesses based on the Northwick Park Estate. 

The external walls have been cleaned, the building fabric insulated and upgraded and the building now has a new use for the next 150 years to be shared with as many guests as possible, whilst continuing to be a beautiful focal point for the village.

Mission church - a faithful approach to design

We are pleased to announce that we have received planning permission for the conversion of Mission Church, Paxford into a two-bedroom, holiday let.

‘Mission Church’ was initially constructed as an Infant School for 100, in an ecclesiastical style and was used for Church services very shortly after. In 1886, the building became a National School, spreading the Mission of the Church and promoting education to the poor.

The design retains a significant part of the Nave and the view of the Chancel from the entrance. New bedroom accommodation is provided in a mezzanine pod toward the west end of the Nave and in the old classroom.  Existing features such as the exposed rafters, the classroom door, stained glasses, polychrome panels and graffitied plaster are to be retained and conserved.

The design incorporates the latest in technological innovations. Retaining the open plan arrangement with a kitchen between the main living spaces and the only fire exit was the primary design challenge. The solution has been to install an Automist smart scan system, a system which provides an alternative solution to a traditional sprinkler system. The cost of the system is £5000 ex VAT and is cost neutral in contrast with the comparable work of installing new partitions and fire doors.

Patience (and good design) prevails

Tonight, thanks to councillors, Wardington Parish Council and a wealth of public support, we received planning and listed building consent for alterations and the extension of Lower Lodge, Williamscot.

Our clients have a young family and wish to extend the lower lodge, sympathetically, whilst removing incongruous previous extensions to make this 2 bedroom house a 3 bedroom family home with an ensuite bathroom, to make this their forever home in the idyllic village of Williamscot.

The project is unusual as it involves a curtilage listed building, extended poorly in the 1960s and 1980s yet the planning officers refused to recognise that good sensitive design was an important part of conservation, insisting that the ugly flat roof extensions must remain.

English Heritage’s conservation principles dated 2008 confirms that new work or alteration to a significant place should normally be acceptable if the proposal would not materially harm the values of the place, which, where appropriate, would be reinforced or further revealed; and the proposals aspire to a quality of design and execution which may be valued now and in the future.

Six previous attempts to secure consent by other local architects have failed. Our unique design approach was approved this evening at a planning committee.

Mission Church, Paxford - A faithful approach to design

Mission Church, Paxford, view from east

We are delighted to be commissioned to develop designs to convert Mission Church into a two bedroom, holiday let. The design and alterations have been informed by a heritage statement and condition survey which we undertook earlier this year. 

The project is unusual as Cotswold Council have determined that the building is a non-designated heritage asset under the NPPF and so sensitively converting the interior is a material consideration.  Whilst non-designated heritage assets do not fall under the listed building act of 1991, the design of the interior has to be made to respect the heritage of the Church and as a result building regulations matters have to be taken into consideration at an early stage.

‘Mission Church’ was initially constructed as an Infant School for 100, but was designed in an ecclesiastical style and indeed was used for Church services very shortly after. In 1886, the building became a national school, spreading the Mission of the Church and promoting education to the poor.

46-48 Covered Market – uncovered.

View along avenue 2

As a first phase of a heritage led regeneration of the Oxford Covered Market, planning permission and listed building consent was granted for the restoration of 46-48 Covered Market. The scheme restores the unit, externally removing modern brick extensions to improve views along the avenues, whilst internally uncovering and repairing early fabric. Alterations will provide a flexible layout for up to three smaller units, which is proving very attractive for best in class independent retailers. Davis Witts of Pershore Foods has opened a new fishmongers in the former Hayman’s unit and the Teardrop micropub has opened a new food emporium in the unit next to the bar selling local produce.

We first realised that the stall was too good to leave covered up following a survey in April 2018. However, careless alterations carried out prior to the Market being listed in March 2000, meant that there was a large funding gap to repair the store properly. Oxford Preservation Trust have funded the conservation work which has allowed Oxford City Council to restore the units sympathetically.

Opening up work carried out in June 2019 by Oxford Direct Services has begun to reveal more about the original fabric and history of the units. The original stone flag floor and surviving sections of chimney breasts which form part of the 18th Century phase. Remnants of the early shop front frames have been revealed and have allowed us to redesign the new shop fronts in a more fitting design closer to the earlier appearance. Wall-tile paintings by artist John Ellis a gift to butcher, Mr Feller, have been saved and will be presented elsewhere in the market. The project goes out to tender this week to a number of local contractors and works are due to start at the end of August 2019.

Redefining the Elizabethan House, Plymouth

Elizabethan House Plymouth

Elizabethan House Plymouth

James Mackintosh Architects together with DHV architects have been appointed as conservation accredited architects for the regeneration of the late Sixteenth Century Elizabethan House Museum for Plymouth City Council.

The Elizabethan House is a Grade II* listed quay-side merchant’s house in the Barbican area of Plymouth’s beautiful historic old town. The museum is the most complete and unaltered example of a jettied merchant’s house in Plymouth. However, the building is in a poor structural condition and is on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, and needs careful repair work and complete re-servicing to bring it back to life as a cultural destination for Plymouth.

We are working alongside a team of specialist consultants on the project to help deliver an imaginative interpretation strategy alongside carefully considered repair and conversion work.

The project is being delivered in collaboration with DHV Architects as part of a growing strategic partnership between the practices.

The museum is due to re-open in 2020 as a leading component of the Plymouth Mayflower 400 celebrations.