Bounds Green

Sensitive Low-energy Refurbishment of Conservation Area Shopfront and Home Behind With Two Storey Extension and Loft Conversion

Design

Heath Walker Studio

Project Description

We were brought to this project by Jeremy Walker of Heath-Walker associates. His client had bought a very run-down house with a shop front within a conservation area. The shops in Myddleton Road featured in the first episode of the 1999 Channel 4 sitcom Spaced.

The property had a very rotten roof in poor condition with rotten joists. We installed a new roof structure and floor joists using Easi-joists. We installed new floors throughout the building and fitted new bathrooms. The attic was converted into a loft studio.

The entire heating and plumbing system was overhauled. Underfloor heating was installed on the whole ground floor and radiators on the upper floors. An MVHR system was installed providing constant fresh warm air to every room. The heating, lighting and MVHR systems are controlled by a Loxone smart home system. New triple glazed windows were installed throughout.

To the rear we constructed a two storey timber frame extension insulated with Icynene. It includes a very large new kitchen with huge sliding doors to the garden. The 2^nd floor of the extension comprises a bedroom and bathroom

The shop front was deep refurbished with strict planning conditions on retaining the original look. The Loxone system is used for smart metering to split utility bills between the house and the shop.

The building now has near passive levels of insulation, airtightness and heat demand. This is a typical project for Bow Tie Construction – taking an existing low-performance building and restoring and refurbishing it the highest standards of comfort and energy performance.

“Rafael is very familiar with the latest building technologies and is always on hand to offer suggestions and advice on the practicalities of achieving the desired end product.”

– Brian A

“We’re expecting a dramatic reduction in costs. We now know how much energy we’ve used (in March) and we rarely have the heating on compared to this time last year in our old house.”

– Toni M

“Not only was the work done to exactingly high standards but Rafael made many excellent suggestions which resulted in a build which made more sense.”

– Raza R

“The house definitely meets expectations and exceeds them in some areas, the heat comfort is very big, the noise is much less than it was, overall very happy with it.”

– Francis M

“My projects with Bow Tie are the only ones where I’ve left the contractor to follow my airtightness details and the projects have passed the 1st airtightness test.”

– Justin Bere