Planning Approval for Major Development

Andrew Black Design has gained planning approval for a high profile residential development in the grounds of Perth College. When the original scheme, designed by a well known developer, was initially refused, the Client wanted to re-address the concept and Andrew Black Design was brought on board to re-design the scheme and introduce a more appropriate masterplan.

The site is currently split into three very distinct sections and as such we have addressed the architecture and planning of the three areas, while still providing a common architectural language.

North Section – Fundamental to the approach has been the concept of maintaining the visual link to the woodland beyond, which was so harshly removed in the previous scheme. By placing three distinct pavilions to the north boundary we have allowed the street elevation to be viewed not as a one block but as individual buildings. This allows the visual transparency and views of the woodland beyond.

South Section – This section of the site is primarily of a two storey domestic nature and has been planned and designed in keeping with the previous planning application. The house types have been updated and the exterior materiality has been designed to match the architectural language of the entire site.

Middle Section –The concept has been to place 4 pavilion style buildings in the landscape with landscaping and car parking situated to the south of the buildings. These pavilions allow the transparency and visual permeability to the site, which was lacking from the previous scheme, while still creating the soft edge to the buildings at the top of the slope. Architecturally the buildings mirror the materiality of the south dwellings and the north pavilions.

 

Firefly Wood : Architect Designed Homes

We have expanded to provide contemporary timber framed homes. All your professional fees, structural frame & build are included in the one-off fixed price. This provides you with cost assurance and less surprises as well as having an architect on board throughout. Find out more by visiting our website fireflywood.co.uk

Firefly Wood has created a range of Architect designed homes that provide clients with a fixed cost for design, technical approval and timber kit supply. These contemporary homes are designed to maximize light and space and are based on robust ecological principles. Firefly Wood will provide you with a unique, professional Architects service from inception to completion.

We provide 4 separate services based on the needs and experience of the individuals: Stage 1: Design choices, options and planning application. Stage 2: Building Warrants and technical approvals. Stage 3: Supply of timber kit package only. Stage 4: Complete build carried out by a preferred contractor to an agreed cost. All the above stages are carried out for a fixed fee agreed prior to starting the project, giving the client upfront costs to allow them to budget accurately. Designed by our team of award winning architects, Andrew Black Design, our homes offer the advantages of contemporary & traditional designs, highly insulated timber frame construction, extensive material combinations, ecological design principles, alternative technology easily integrated and designed to maximise light & space.

Homebuilding & Renovating Show 2009

We are exhibiting at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show at Glasgow SECC on 16-17 May 2009. Please come along and discuss your ideas and projects with us. We will be able to offer guidance on building your own home, extending and altering your existing house or even just answering your questions. You don’t even need to pay!

Click the banner below for FREE TICKETS to the show!

New Brunton House – Planning Approval

This bespoke one off house situated in Dundee’s West End has recently been awarded planning approval by Dundee City Council. The complicated site, located in a conservation area, had a number of restrictions which Andrew Black Design has been able to design around, including tree preservation orders and a complex site topography.

The materials used in the scheme, although providing a contemporary overall look, remain sympathetic to the surrounding area. The layout of the house is unique to the West End as it adopts an ‘upside-down’ style approach. this allows the living spaces of the house to make the most of the views towards the Tay and to achieve the maximum amount of daylight in this otherwise densely populated area.

Website Updated

We have updated the website with a few recently completed projects. We have a contemporary kitchen extension (much more than how it sounds!) in Edinburgh and a family home in Kettins near Dundee. As well as these, we have some sketches to view of a new café in Perth and another completed extension in the Carse of Gowrie.

View the Completed Projects Portfolio

View the Current Project Portfolio

Rockfield St – Started on site

We have recently received planning permission for this two-house development in the west end of Dundee. Plots of land rarely become available in this desirable residential area and we have made the most of the opportunity to design these bespoke detached houses. Sitting in ample garden ground the houses have a clean palate of materials with smooth white render being the dominant material, complemented by small areas of western red cedar cladding and a zinc standing seam roof.

Incorporating large open plan living spaces to the rear of the properties, centred around a bespoke staircase within a double height circulation space. The accommodation provides a large kitchen dining space to the rear as well as a separate lounge space with feature log burning stove. A fifth bedroom or study, utility room, WC and single garage make up the ground floor layout.

Travelling up through the double height space to the first floor, the ceiling follows the line of the curved roof, providing a light and airy double height void lit by the stairwell full height windows and rooflights to both side of the upper landing. Both the bedrooms to the rear have full height ceilings and ensuite bathrooms, with the master bedroom having a walk in wardrobe. Two further double bedrooms and a bathroom complete the accommodation.

Work is well underway and the development will be finished in time for Christmas 2008. The project is being constructed by Solera Homes and is currently being marketed by Savills.

New Beveridge House – Planning Approved

This bespoke one off house has recently been awarded planning approval for a wooded site within the Scottish borders.

The house site extends to 34 acres in all, with the actual house plot sitting within a clearing of around an acre looking over the fishing pond. The house lies within the former policies of Rachan estate and makes up a large proportion of the plantation forestry, established as part of the estate management, after the war. The project has been developed over the last two years, with outline planning consent previously gained by the client.

Outline planning consent was gained for the house and centred on a forestry management plan to firstly thin, and then maintain the plantation due to the many years of neglect the forest had suffered. Central to that management plan was the introduction of a large house to create a focus for the forestry’s management and future development.

Using a palate of materials such as polished sandstone, stained western red cedar and large areas of glazing, we have created a contemporary individual house design. The house consists of two distinct wings centred on a courtyard, with the double height entrance tower creating the hub between the wings. The south west facing courtyard will be the centre of the formal garden, overlooking the pond, with the surrounding landscaping blending in to the forest beyond to minimise the impact of the house within its setting.

The south wing mainly incorporated the living spaces with a double height space to the core of the wing bringing in light to the heart of the plan. The north wing includes the majority of the bedrooms and ancillary accommodation. The house will be purely heated from a ground source heat pump incorporated into the garden ground.

Development of the project is moving on at pace with a site start envisaged for late in the summer and completion within 9 months.

Andrew Black Design – Certifiers of Design (Section 6)

Andrew Black Design have become the first Architects in Tayside & Fife to gain membership of the approved scheme, which allows us to certify designs, under Section 6 of the Building Standards. Section 6 covers energy matters within the building, including insulation standards, heating systems and energy performance certificates.

As an Approved Certifier of Design, this allows us to certify that our design meets with Section 6 of the building standards and allows us to issue a certificate with the building warrant application. Exempt from the scrutiny of the verifier, namely the local authority building standards department, certificates mean applications can be dealt with quicker and ultimately the issue of the warrant sooner, saving time and money on projects.

With the certificate comes a 10% discount on the application fee and the service includes the preparation of the SAP energy rating for the property as well as the issuing of the Energy Performance Certificate, that is required by law, in all new build domestic projects.

Membership of the scheme requires that we continually expand our knowledge and training to keep up to date with current standards and thinking with regards to energy performance of buildings. The scheme is purely optional for clients as we can still issue the required information to building standards under the old system, although this may prove longer to verify and does not allow the 10% warrant discount.

CPD – Natural Building Technologies

Andrew Black Design held a CPD by Natural Building Technologies (http://www.natural-building.co.uk/) attended by office staff and local single practitioners based around Dundee.

Natural Building Technologies (NBT) is a technical sales company who lead the UK in sustainable building materials and systems for the mainstream construction market. They work closely with suppliers, partners and clients to ensure cost effective, high performance solutions for sustainable construction.

The CPD covered the Pavaclad and Diffutherm Timber Frame Concstruction and also the Thermaplan Ziegel Blockwork System.

Pavaclad – Pavaclad uses Pavatherm Plus boards, under your choice of cladding to provide over-clad insulation and waterproofing in a fast and simple construction system.

Diffutherm – Diffutherm boards have a surface designed to render directly onto. This means that Diffutherm is a fast and simple external insulation system, with superb performance – as well as being highly sustainable.

Thermoplan – Fundamentally, Thermoplan is faster and simpler to build with, will outperform other masonry systems and yet offers similar built costs.

Welcome to the blog!

This blog will hopefully allow us to keep you up to date with more regular information on what is happening within the practice. We will endeavour to keep you informed of any news worthy events, completed projects & competitions or other events worthy of note.

Happy reading – and come back soon to check for more up dates!