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47140 Penne d'Agenais
Lot et Garonne

Phase 1: 2006 - 2008

The existing building is an early 17th century four storey watch tower, more recently used as a farmhouse. It contains some fine original details which have been conserved.

The tower was upgraded into a house with modern interiors for a family of five, including new electrical, plumbing and heating services by geothermal energy, new drainage, landscape design and planting.

A new entry is introduced at first floor level into the family kitchen and dining room.

Above, there is a formal salon and a children’s bedroom with mezzanine above their bathroom.

The parent’s bedroom and bathroom is under a new oak roof at the top of the tower.

A private terrace overlooks the valley west towards the old hill town of Penne d’Agenais

Architect’s service including the management of the separate building trades.

Area 230 m²

Completed July 2008 Close

47140 Penne d'Agenais
Lot et Garonne

Phase 2: 2008 - 2009

Two large barns, one being about the same age as the tower, the other later, are clustered together to form an ‘L’ shape, separate from the tower.

The oldest of the barns is upgraded as studio and work spaces for the owner as an artist.

The other larger barn has been partly converted into service rooms for the house and pool, a playroom and in the near future, a video theatre.

This phase also continues considerable landscape works and planting, including a rain water conservation scheme, automatic watering systems, drainage and geothermal heating.

Architect’s service including the management of the separate building trades.

Area converted: 295 m²

Completed July 2009 Close

82110 Montagudet
Tarn et Garonne

Phase 1: the house, 1991 onwards

Purchased in 1991: Our deserted two roomed farmhouse on a half hector of sloping land in the Quercy Pays de Serres, was initially converted into a holiday home, between 1992 to 1995.

French contractors added a floor and constructed a new roof. The lower ground floor was uninhabitable having been used as a small winery and cave. This was converted into independent guest accommodation with kitchen/laundry and bathroom. After the French contractors had completed the major works in 1992, members of the family and architectural students from Manchester and Northern Cyprus visited to assist with the continuation of the works.

The house has an entry kitchen/dining room and the living room on the main floor. First floor, there are two large bedrooms and bathroom. The lower ground floor was converted into independent guest accommodation with studio/bedroom kitchen/laundry and bathroom.

Terraces were added to all sides of the little house, outside living spaces extending into the gardens, living spaces for different times of the day;

Landscape works and planting, including rain water conservation for use in the gardens, separate black and grey water drainage. The grey water is cleaned by filter beds and recycled for the gardens. Low energy, heat pump, air/water heating has more recently been installed to replace wood burning stoves as the only form of heat. This provides underfloor heating in the living room with convector radiators providing heating and cooling to all other rooms.

Area 180 m²

Phase 2: the studio, 1996 - 1997

A new building built on the foot print of an old barn, on a sloping site close to the house: a fabric design studio for Hassanah Burton (Alice Fabrics).

This was a low cost, self-build, low energy project. A one and a half storey studio environment glazed on three sides with overhanging eaves to protect the glazing and the interior from the hot high sun of summer whilst allowing the sun to enter during winter months when the sun is low and the leaves are off the trees.

The natural limestone found in the ruin of the old barn was built up to enclose the building and help it to fit into its natural setting. The modern concrete block walls and piers support the roof and form the space of the simple working interior.

Building area 65 m²

Phase 3: swimming pool building, 2003

The pool building is built into the slope of the landscape directly below the house.
This was a low cost, self-build, low energy project to construct an enclosed 12m salt water pool with a south sloping roof which is used to support solar heating pipes. The front of the pool opens onto an enclosed beach landscape. The pool shower is also solar heated.

Phase 4: Offices for BDI Ltd., 1998 and 2008

A small outbuilding once used for animals. Low cost self-build project. Windows were installed and roof raised to provide a comfortable low cost environment for two people

Building Area 18m²

Close

82390 Durfort Lacapellete
Tarn et Garonne

1992 - 1994

A classic farmhouse with an integral barn: The original proposal was to convert the house and barn into one large modern residence with guest accommodation, ceramic studios and indoor swimming pool in part of the barn. Traditional window and door openings were respected.

However, the house was devoid of natural light on the north-west, garden elevation. To resolve this problem, part of the upper floor was taken out, roof lights were introduced to create an internal light well and two large roof lights with sliding doors below were introduced to bring light into the kitchen/dining area and the ceramic studio.

When the owners became resident they took over responsibility for the building’s completion and interior design.

Architect’s service including the management of the separate building trades.

Habitable area: 420 m² Close

82150 St Amans du Pêche
Tarn et Garonne

Phase 1: 3 gîtes with swimming pool and new landscaping, 2003 - 2004

The three linked gîtes are new. They were planned on the footprint of the old farmhouse and its logia which had been in ruins for many years.

The proposal offered studio type holiday accommodation with kitchen/dining, double bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor with additional living/bed space on the mezzanine above. Gîtes could be rented separately or together, with shared access, parking, pool and covered BBQ area.

Phase 2: house for the owners and landscaping, 2004 - 2005

This split-level barn was converted into a house for the Belgium owner’s family and friends. The ground floor has a double height living room and office with kitchen/dining room, cloakroom and bathroom on the split level below the second floor. There are three large bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Architect’s service including the project management of the separate building trades.
Total area: 570 m² Close

82150 Montaigu de Quercy

Our smallest project

2004
The property in the hamlet of Pervillac is a stones' throw from an ancient church which is an historic monument under the protection of Bâtiments de France. Permission was granted however to convert the ancient bakehouse and adjoining rooms into 3 guest rooms with en-suite bathrooms. The old bread oven was restored and the original wall openings maintained.

2006
In a second phase, a garden room extension was added to the house. This was a conservatory type room, hand crafted in oak. As a concession to Bâtiments de France, the small roof mansards, designed to have a traditional lightweight zinc covered roof had to be clad in old roof tiles. Close

82400 Castelsagrat
Tarn et Garonne

2005 - 2006

‘La Petite bastide de Castelsagrat’ was founded by Alphonse de Poitiers in 1270. The village is classified as an historic monument and work on buildings have to be approved by the architect of Bâtiments de France.

The property as it stands today has undergone many transformations since it was originally built as an integral part of the arcaded market square. Evidence was found during reconstruction of three separate properties including an old ‘boucherie’ off the arcade.

The project comprised of two main objectives:

• To provide a modern home for a Canadian family of five
• To restore the ancient fabric of the building, cracked stonework in the arches, the lime rendered façade, windows, doors and the roof

The design solution reinforced the French tradition of first floor living. Where there is a large open plan living room and kitchen, replacing four small bedrooms off a narrow corridor. The rest of the floor was planned with three bedrooms and two bathrooms and a small computer room. A new stair access to a ‘retreat’ was introduced at roof level which provides the house with views to the countryside beyond the village.

At ground level, the original entry doors are preserved, the main door which faces the ancient church across the street leads into a hallway and an old wood staircase and light well and the other off the arcade. This now provides independent access to a guest studio/apartment with kitchen and bathroom. An old stone arch was discovered blocked up behind the render. This was restored to provide access into a garage/games room, laundry, boiler room and oil store.

Architect’s service including the project management of the separate building trades.

Area: 280 m² Close

82400 Gasques
2009

Design and Planning Approval for the restoration of an historic house and tower.

The owner/farmers live on a 45 hectare farm. They plan to reconstruct the ancient fortified farmhouse on their land known as Brunel as their principal residence. The ruins of the house sit high on a rock bluff overlooking two valleys.

The architects have interpreted the ancient ruins in some detail. The sections of walls that remain standing show that the house had been extended and modified at least two or three times over several hundred years.

The farm’s watch tower once stood detached from the house but was joined to the farmhouse as it was extended to incorporate a grain store, one of which was discovered hidden in the rock below the floor of the granary, between the original house and the tower. The external walls reveal some interesting architectural details and window proportions, which reflect the times of previous habitations. These have been reinstated in the reconstruction of the farmhouse and new openings on the east side correspond to the same proportions.

The overall plan is approx 270m2 on three levels. The new plan has a central staircase lit naturally by a new light-well covered by a glass lantern, defined spatially by four posts which descend to the ground floor

The tower is rebuilt to what is thought to be its original height, as a rooftop observatory. Close

2008 - 2009
Perville

Mansou consists of an old farm and a large barn, all in ruins, in the commune of Perville.

The owners are two families, one intending to live in the restored farmhouse and the other in the converted barn.

All (re)construction is entirely on the "footprint" of the two pre-existing buildings, which were built in the local tradition with limestone walls and tiled roofs. Local natural materials are preferred, using the limestone found on site. New door and window openings respect traditional proportions and are made of wood with an oil/varnish finish.

The south-facing interior courtyard of the barn house has glazed panels, thus benefitting from passive solar energy and helping to heat the building. Both buildings have geothermal heating systems with high performance insulation to current standards.

The site has new access drives to the two houses, shared parking and swimming pool. Close

Tarn et Garonne
2006

This was a new extension to a one room village house on the edge of the medieval town of Lauzerte. Planning laws placed restrictions on the design of the extension which had to conform to the strict planning requirements of this ancient village e.g. the use of local limestone, the proportions of windows and their traditional detailing, etc.

To respect the light and views of the neighbour on the opposite side of the street, the extension was kept below street level. The roof of the extension acts as a parking terrace for the owner in a narrow street without parking space. Close

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