Blair Gratton Architects Limited
RIBA Chartered Practice & Conservation Accredited
Check out our Portfolio page to see two newly uploaded projects:
These projects look at and detail our involvement as Architects with the design and construction of new choir stalls at The Church of Saint Matthew in Darley Abbey, and the conversion of a characterful, historic barn into a dwelling in the Derbyshire countryside.
In order to modernise the choir stalls at this Darley Abbey Church, we were asked – as long-running Church Architects – to reconfigure the existing design.
The requirements of the congregation had changed in recent years, with wheelchair accessibility a key factor in making the church choir area as open as possible.
The existing choir stalls were long individual structures, which we split into easier to move sections with new end panels. We introduced new rows to a complementary design. The stalls were carefully cut and re-constructed in their ‘bite-size’ sections, and the new stalls were constructed from scratch using quality materials. The new stalls and new sections were then varnished to match.
We worked through all RIBA Work Stages, including contract managing the works during construction, working with a reputable joinery-centric Contractor.
We are pleased to say that the congregation are delighted with the new choir stalls, and we have received nothing but positive words regarding them.
See our recent post regarding a truss repair project to a church we have been involved with here.
We were appointed as Architects and asked to by our Clients to help the conversion of their barn. Their dream was a family home in the peaceful Derbyshire countryside, retaining the buildings large, agricultural, red-brick qualities.
Built in the 1800’s, the barn was a milking parlour and storage in its former life, as part of a collection of properties on a working country farm. The barn itself was named ‘Porthole Barn’, due to the characterful portholes which pierced the walls. The brickwork uniquely coursed with the sloped landscape.
The pictures show the beautiful colours of the brick and textures of the ‘built-to-last’ materiality of the barn.
We began by undertaking a conditioning survey to pick out significant areas of repair – as Conservation accredited Architects, this was well within our range of expertise. We then formulated a scheme which met our Client’s requirements, converting the property into a family home, with glazed gable and new sunken garage link alongside.
We successfully achieved planning permission with our design, and followed this up with obtaining building regulations plans appraisal.
Working closely with a specialist conservation engineer to tackle a number of challenges which presented themselves, the building was stabilised and the first floor made usable.
We worked from RIBA Work Stages 0-5, with the project drawings and information fully prepared for construction. The Clients undertook management of the build themselves.
We were delighted to be part of turning this characterful property from building with no use, to a loved family home.
Why not arrange a consultation with us if you have a similar project you wish to get moving.