PC Channel Islands

Making the list: CCD Architects get nominated

Architects Profile

As one of the most established architectural practices in Guernsey, CCD Architects is involved with a number of high-profile projects throughout the commercial, medical and educational sectors. However it is CCD Architects’ bespoke domestic design work that has really helped the company to make a name for itself and this hard work has certainly not gone unnoticed in the industry.

CCD Architects is amongst a few select architects to have been nominated for an award in the Guernsey Design Awards 2012 and their projects – Town Church, The Mill, Les Prevosts Farm and Les Granges de Beauvoir Manor – have all made the list.

CCD Architects Managing Director, Andrew Dyke, said:

“Being shortlisted at the Guernsey Design Awards is very important to us and as a company it gives us a very big boost. We do a lot of work with historic buildings and high-end houses and so achieving recognition by being shortlisted is very encouraging for us and our staff.”

Town Church

CCD Architects Profile

Over the past 10 years a rolling programme of repair and conservation works has taken place at Town Church in St Peter Port.

This has included substantial refurbishment works to the interior of the church in order to introduce a new controllable lighting system. Lights were repositioned within the church, whilst the tower and spire were also illuminated to make them visible at night.

Additional work on the Town Church project included conserving, restoring and relaying the original flooring – to hide the abundance of electrical cables – and cleaning all the internal monuments. In addition, plasterwork has been repaired, tombs have been conserved and the sound system has been rewired.

Main contractor for the project was MEC (Guernsey) Limited, whilst Mike Grubb from Sutton Vane Associates was the lighting design consultant.

CCD Architects Profile

Andrew Dyke said:

“Prior to the work taking place, Town Church was very badly lit. Not only did this provide poor lighting to the building but it actually obscured the stained glassed windows and monuments.

“Together with the lighting consultants we designed a completely new lighting system that removed the existing light fittings from the building to allow the interior to be shown off in all its glory.

“Nobody expected the level of detail to be so clear on all the stone work – which previously hadn’t been visible – so it’s quite astonishing. The work has completely transformed the interior.

“There’s been a wonderful reaction from everyone who uses the church – it’s like having a new building.”

The Mill

CCD Architects Profile

The Mill was originally designed as a fully operational windmill but is now a privately-owned home and work space for renowned jewellery designer Catherine Best. The brief for this project was to extend Catherine’s showroom – housed on the ground floor – and to introduce additional floor space to the accommodation areas above.

In order to achieve the project brief a frameless glass extension was constructed on the ground floor, whilst the first floor made use of an unused wall to create an unusual open-plan extension. A retractable glass roof was also installed on the first floor, which has added a very unique feature to the structure.

Andrew Dyke said:

“In its former existence the Mill was a fully operational windmill with a number of buildings connected to the main structure of the Mill. These buildings had been left as ruins and had created a high granite wall that circled the bottom two storeys of the Mill. This wall didn’t really serve any purpose and was covered by unsatisfactory roofing.

“We removed the existing roof and installed a brand new retractable glazed roof between the outer walls and the Mill, which allowed us to let in light all the way around the perimeter of the building.

“The retractable roof created a wonderful open space in the building and it’s quite an astonishing thing to see in operation.”

Les Prevosts Farm

CCD Architects Profile

Originally built in the 17th century, Les Prevosts Farm was a shadow of its former self prior to a substantial refurbishment operation that has transformed the semi-derelict farm into a large family home.

During the refurbishment work care was taken to preserve a number of the farm’s original features, including all the timber work and fireplaces. In addition, roofs were re-thatched to return them to their original state.

The barn was also opened up to create a kitchen with an upper gallery, whilst new outbuildings were constructed using reclaimed materials.

H.D. Brehaut & Sons Limited was the main contractor, whilst the structural engineer was Adrian Ashman of Dorey, Lyle & Ashman Ltd.

Andrew Dyke said:

“Les Prevosts Farm was a rundown building that was in a poor condition when it was bought by our clients and required a substantial amount of refurbishment work.

“As part of the project we opened up the barn to make a large open-plan kitchen and then we built an extension on the back of this.

“We were also able to create some large openings in the kitchen walls which in turn opened out into an existing glazed, timber-framed extension. This has in turn provided the building with a great view of the fields and the surrounding area.

Les Granges de Beauvoir Manor

CCD Architects Profile

A major programme of conservation work was conducted at Les Granges de Beauvoir Manor in order to restore the 17th century building.

Works included the removal of the roofs and fire-damaged joists, the repair of gables and chimneys and the preservation of A-frames. Floor structures were removed, strengthened and then returned to their original positions and new oak interior doors were fitted.

A grapehouse was also added to the site, whilst a previously unusable outbuilding was completely transformed.

H.D. Brehaut & Sons Limited and RG Falla were the main contractors on the project, whilst McCathie Associates was the structural engineer and Welch Landscape Design was the landscape architect.

Andrew Dyke said:

“Les Granges de Beauvoir Manor is one of the most interesting buildings in St Peter Port and was originally built to a very high standard.

“When we took over the building all of the original oak panelling, beams, joists and the most wonderful tourelle staircase still existed in the building so we had to ensure that these were preserved where possible. We then spent a year conducting conservation work before we began onsite.

“Once this was complete, we were then able to install the kitchen, bathrooms, electrics and plumbing in order to make it a very desirable house once more.”

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