Premier Construction Wales

Cefn Castell

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Written by Roma Publications

Cefn Castell, a three bedroom residential property, has been recognised as the Best Single Dwelling in this year’s LABC Building Excellence Awards for both Gwynedd and North Wales.

The new build property was built on behalf of a private client by Inner World Design and Build Ltd. and designed by Stephenson Studio architect John Boardman.

Premier Construction caught up with Ian Hunt, Managing Director of Inner World Design and Build Ltd. who were the Main Contractor for the project to find out more. Ian told us it was a great privilege to be involved with this project, especially after winning the LABC Award. He added:

“Inner World won the tender for the project and after winning the LABC Best Single Dwelling award we are now waiting to see if it wins an award in the All Wales category and after that the UK awards.”

Cefn Castell has also been awarded the RSAW/RIBA Award and Best Small project of the Year Award for Wales and as a result has been entered for the UK competition later this year.

Works began on site in 2013 with the demolition of an existing fire damaged farm house and the flattening of the land. The main construction works were then undertaken with the laying of concrete foundations and erection of a steel frame. The construction process was challenging for the main contractors as a low railway bridge on the site access road meant any vehicles over 3.5 metres high could not access the site.

Standard size concrete trucks and delivery wagons could not reach the site and so everything had to be delivered via small vehicles.

After the erection of the frame the blockwork was built between the steel columns and the steel windows were installed. The roof structure was constructed and a Sika Sarnafil single ply membrane was laid in addition to a lead flat roof to the first floor. Keim external flexible render was applied to the masonry followed by the internal plastering, floors and tiles.

The clients can access their property via a futuristic tiled walkway which is open to the elements under a beamed roof structure, creating an inside-outside feel. The ground floor of the property is totally open plan with a large, glazed living-dining-kitchen area which makes the most of the stunning views surrounding the property.

The living space is glazed on three sides and the living room boasts an eye-catching Brunner wood burning stove. The minimalist property also contains two ground floor bedrooms with en suites complete with large format tiles and contemporary sanitary ware.

Cefn Castell’s bespoke staircase leads to the master bedroom which opens onto a tiled roof terrace and frameless glazed balcony. The shower in the master bedroom can be seen directly from the North Wales coastal path and discrete sections of frosted glazing have been added to the glass to offer a degree of modesty.

The property has been externally plastered with white self-coloured Keim render and the floating stone and wind sculptures in the gardens add elegance to the space.

The property is heated by an environmentally friendly air-source heat pump and a Klargester Biodisc treatment plant has been constructed on site to deal with all the foul waste as the house isn’t connected to a mains drain.

Ian added:

“It was a privilege to be involved with this project and we have enjoyed a very successful collaboration between everyone involved, including the client, the architects, structural engineers and the LABC building control officers. We worked together as  a great team and we are very pleased with the end result.”

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Roma Publications