Duns

Currently on site, this scheme is the complete demolition and rebuilding of historic Grade II listed detached oak framed house on greenbelt land in Surrey, with a separate new garage building.  The original oak framed structure was retained in position during the entire works, repaired and a new build extended two storey house constructed around it.

This project required very careful detailing of the new structural elements to retain the original feel of the house and also to take account of the none linear nature of the original oak frame.  To this end, much higher tolerances were required with respect to the individual placement of elements.

Initially an assessment was made of which of the original oak elements could remain as part of the new structure and which required new a new supporting system to be introduced to allow the oak members to remain as a none structural features.

The old chimney was taken down and carefully rebuilt in such a way to replicate the original chimney form.    

The existing foundations have been extended rather than replaced.

New extensions to the original house footprint have been designed with timber roof elements acting in compression and a steel tension ring provided to allow the ceilings to be vaulted.

A separate large timber framed garage structure has been formed on a raft foundation on a piece of land historically populated by trees.  An assessment of the impact of the trees on the soil was made leading to the choice of a ground bearing rather than a more expensive piled structure.

Project Architect: BBF Fielding Ltd