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 | | ROOFLIGHT COMPANY ON TRACK AT THE CARRIAGES | | | The Rooflight Company | | 27/09/2006 | | | In the historic town of Ware in East Hertfordshire, a derelict old railway goods shed has recently been sympathetically converted into a stylish, contemporary new residential development featuring products from specialist manufacturer the Rooflight Company. With a name inspired by its former incarnation, The Carriages is housed in the Grade II listed building, with 24 high specification, duplex apartments consisting of 20 two bedroom, 4 one bedroom properties and one shop unit from local developer Sandhill Homes.
When considering development proposals such as this in East Herts, special regard is given by the council to conserving and enhancing the District's historic fabric, whilst taking social needs, economic viability, maintenance of local distinctiveness and diversity and the need for sustainable development into account. Conservation Officer Robin Uff was consulted about the redevelopment of the old goods shed into residential properties.
'We spent a long time looking at the roof to quantify the level of alteration needed to admit sufficient light for residential purposes - the most economic use for the property. The rooflights, which had to be in keeping with the building's essential character, numbered the maximum amount allowable without substantially altering the look of the original structure.'
Architect Matt Briffa commented: 'Converting an old industrial property like this tends to throw up a number of planning issues, and a major one is the provision of adequate natural light and ventilation. Rooflights admit around 20% more light than vertical windows size-for-size, meaning that they can be smaller, or they can admit more light. With their slim steel profiles and unique Thermoliner thermal break device, products from the Rooflight Company were selected as they provide an authentic appearance while meeting or exceeding all current building regulations.'
26 special rooflights measuring 2m (w) x 2.1m (1) were supplied for the project, along with 4 other special rooflights featuring aluminium infill panels instead of glass, measuring lm x 1.55m, 0.86m x 1.8m and 0.96m x 1.9m. The clear-paned models flood light down into the safe and secure communal atrium area - through which all flats are entered - which features an elegant a spiral staircase to the second floor, exposed brickwork walls and a mixture of oak and porcelain tiled floor.
Robin Uff comments further: 'The old building had been derelict for a very long time and needed a substantial amount of work before it could be considered habitable. English Heritage were also involved in the survey of repairs and, along with the architect and the developer, we agreed on a scheme for the conversion of the building.'
Robin Uff concludes: 'The local council aims to protect the character and local distinctiveness of historic areas and buildings, and to encourage development in a way which is consistent with preserving and enhancing the historic local environment. This development fits in with these criteria. The roof has been completed as anticipated and is entirely sympathetic in such a conversion, given the constraints implicit in providing daylight and ventilation to the upper spaces for the new residential use.'
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Natural , Flat , Pitched , Commercial , Residential , Green , Tiles , Metal , Fascias & Soffits , Offsite Systems , Aluminium , Care Residential
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