Our scheme for two new build bijou mews houses tucked away in St James’s is progressing well on site. Located just North of Pall Mall and West of St James’s Square, Rose & Crown Yard is at the heart of one of London’s most exclusive residential districts.
The brief
The JWA scheme was to redevelop an undistinguished post war three storey apartment residential block comprising two flats located over an electricity substation and a bank of garages tucked between taller office developments which back on to the yard. The design for this scheme sought to retain the existing use whilst delivering a high standard of residential accommodation in the form of two townhouses each arranged over four storeys, incorporating the space from the disused substation and adding a basement storey.
The subtle brick facade has been created using the warm Petersen bricks
The contemporary design of the new build quietly takes up its position in the narrow courtyard. The upper stories are faced in a light buff handmade brick to reflect natural light in the constricted courtyard. The sheltered entrance bays are articulated using glass and metal framed openings with limestone cladding within the porch and a ‘hit and miss’ timber screen for the garage doors and refuse stores.
Carving natural light
Natural daylight is of primary importance as the provision of glazing is only possible on one elevation. This condition has been carefully considered and the position and scale balanced against the need for privacy. The scale and proportion of the apertures in the facade has been carefully managed to complement the less residential forms and proportions of the Yard whilst serving their functional purpose as dwellings. This is achieved within the detailing of the brickwork, using set-backs and shadow to articulate the facade.
This development aims to achieve a high standard in construction, detailing and choice of materials. High levels of insulation and reduced thermal bridging will help achieve this goal.
Existing levels of light are low on site due to the low lying nature of the property and scale of adjoining buildings. Living rooms and kitchens have been placed on the upper level to maximise natural daylight and ventilation.
High quality, low energy new homes
The strategy for the design of the building services has very much been driven by a need to deliver high quality, low energy dwellings: the building fabric has been designed to substantially exceed building regulations requirements, in terms of thermal and solar limiting standards.
The ventilation strategy relies on continuous controlled flow of air, including heat recovery, and an air tight construction. The heating strategy utilises high efficiency heat pumps. Cooling in the summer can be achieved by openable windows, while the high efficiency heat pumps can also provide cooling. Solar Panels are located on the flat roof.
This approach has meant that the new build dwellings energy rating is 35% below that required for compliance with the current Building Regulations Part L requirements.
JWA is working with Project Managers Academy Consulting https://www.academy.eu.com and Clapham based contractor Forcia https://www.forcia.co.uk, the completion is due at the end of 2021.
Visualisation of our scheme at Rose & Crown Yard
