NC Homes.Architects Goes Underground - Again!

Given the success of Perdu and Nessecliffe, NC Homes.Architects have been retained to design two further underground, eco and sustainable homes.  One is just outside London, the other, coincidentally, is also in Shropshire.  These will test the Practices abilities given the Green Belt, Open Countryside and SSSI challenges that each site benefits from!

Vita Crosshall, Liverpool - All Good Things Come to an End

VITA STUDENT - LIVERPOOL

In April 2011, we were appointed by Select Property Group as the architect on the refurbishment of its first ever Vita Student residence in Liverpool City Centre, into a stylish and award winning 358 bedroom location.

The £25m Vita Student development, set within a Conservation Area and World Heritage Site, saw the refurbishment of the Grade II Listed Chapel, Crosshall and Tinlings buildings on Crosshall Street.  It was recently voted number three of the UKs most luxurious accommodation by Design Curial and the brand recently won a prestigious National Customer Experience award.

The project was successfully handed over in August 2015 and we continue to work with Select Property Group on the development of its Alderley Edge office. 

New Arrival!

As Dominika Komorowska celebrates surviving two months with the Practice, joining us from Paris, Milan and Poznan (Poland), she has already become a valued member of the Team, bringing her superb visualisation and urban planning skills to our offering.

Dominika Komorowska

NC Homes Hits the PRS Sector

Two new build projects in Bolton and Failsworth, see the Practice move into the multiple occupancy market with a bang!  Just under 300 units between the two sites, should see Applications lodged shortly, with a view to hopefully obtaining Planning Permission October / November this year, to be on site on both in the New Year.

As we go to press, these are just the first two of five large sites, grossing approximately 1,000 units.  Exciting times ahead!



Failsworth Site

Vita Crosshall, Liverpool - Nearly There!

A year on since the Crosshall building was internally gutted, the building is now fully watertight.

Photo 1: shows the Crosshall Street front elevation fully cleaned and restored, with the external scaffolding now in the process of being dismantled.  The existing windows were fully restored.  The high level stone gable was fully recorded, documented, removed and then re-built, in consultation with Liverpool Planning Council Conservation Department.  The new mansard roof, to match existing with new roof lights, is also complete.  To the right hand side is the stair core of the Tinlings building.

 



Photo 1



Photo 2: Shows the rear Preston Street elevation, again fully cleaned and restored with the external scaffolding removed.  Original discussions early on in the design process, considered the demolition of the Preston Street gable.  However, working in conjunction with the Council, the design was worked such that this could be kept, showing a ‘true working elevation adapted over time’.  The top of the feature brick parapet, just above the 1878 building date, shows new vertical leadwork connecting the mansard roof, designed and constructed to line through with mansard roof of the front elevation.

 

 



Photo 2



Canon Street, St Helens

New scheme currently in for Planning for 10 contemporary new houses designed with efficiency and affordability in mind.  The ground floor footprint is constrained by the overriding dimensions of the site and requirements for parking and amenity space.

Predominantly of red brick facade with Larch timber clad elements, a low monopitch roof drains to a continuous valley gutter, which feeds a single rainwater downpipe forming a main design feature of the house.  A compact cantilevered box on the front gable adds additional room at first floor, whilst acting as a canopy over the front door.

  

Eco House - Nessecliffe

We are delighted to announce that NC Home have just obtained Full Planning Consent from Shropshire County Council for their Earth Sheltered Eco home in Nessecliffe, subject to a S106 for affordable contributions.  The Consent highlights the tremendous thought given over the design of this unique home for private clients.  Set within a fully rural setting and adjacent to an Ancient Monument, the scheme was so strongly supported by English Heritage and the Council Officers, the consent was delegated!

This decision has emboldened the Practice to try and expand their projects within this incredibly unique form of architecture.  Following on from the previous consent obtained for an underground dwelling within a Conservation Area in Bowdon, Cheshire (Perdu) the Practice hopes that this success will attract further clients who feel they have “no chance”, but with NC Homes' help and expertise, the “dream can become a reality”!

 

Special mention must go to James Bell, Project Architect, for leading the Team to such success.