10 Short Hill, Nottingham
After carrying out a site analysis the consideration of the site history was then also included within research. The location of the site is within one of the more historic areas of the Nottingham City centre and these considerations may allow for some design themes to be brought into the concept. Short Hill can be found within the Nottingham Lace Market.
The site itself sits at one end of the well-known lace market. A building’s at risk survey carried out during 2004 by Nottingham City Council looked at 10 Short Hill )the building selected for redevelopment. The building is a 4 storey building (including the basement) which uses the length of the site as we found within the site analysis. The building was built in 1860-70 and it is a warehouse built using bricks. The architect has designed the warehouse which is now disused to look like a town house from the front with the majority of the building spreading down the length of the site looking over Nottingham. The building was built over the three floors all with matching sash windows, which are all of the same height. The building is then finished is the style of the time it was built with stone bands, stone bracketed cornice and brick parapet. The warehouse is a Grade II listed building. Research also indicated that during the war this area within the Lace Market was a bombsite and it is in fact one of the last bombsite areas within the city to be considered for redevelopment. The building sits within the conservation area that is within the Lace Market.
Through research maps of the building and the lace market area at the time were collected to look at how the area how been altered and adapted over time. This information was also collected to look at the area next to 10 Short Hill. The space surrounding the building is currently used as a car park and as identified through site analysis this space could be used within the design to create new internal and external space. Collecting this data would allow to see how this space had been used within the past.
The site itself sits at one end of the well-known lace market. A building’s at risk survey carried out during 2004 by Nottingham City Council looked at 10 Short Hill )the building selected for redevelopment. The building is a 4 storey building (including the basement) which uses the length of the site as we found within the site analysis. The building was built in 1860-70 and it is a warehouse built using bricks. The architect has designed the warehouse which is now disused to look like a town house from the front with the majority of the building spreading down the length of the site looking over Nottingham. The building was built over the three floors all with matching sash windows, which are all of the same height. The building is then finished is the style of the time it was built with stone bands, stone bracketed cornice and brick parapet. The warehouse is a Grade II listed building. Research also indicated that during the war this area within the Lace Market was a bombsite and it is in fact one of the last bombsite areas within the city to be considered for redevelopment. The building sits within the conservation area that is within the Lace Market.
Through research maps of the building and the lace market area at the time were collected to look at how the area how been altered and adapted over time. This information was also collected to look at the area next to 10 Short Hill. The space surrounding the building is currently used as a car park and as identified through site analysis this space could be used within the design to create new internal and external space. Collecting this data would allow to see how this space had been used within the past.
Grade II Listed
The building that I have selected to use for the project – 10 Short Hill, Nottingham is a listed building. Currently in a disused and rundown state the building has a Grad II listing on it to protect the history of the site. I decided to look a what this meant for the building and myself in terms of designing the space within and adding to the exterior to ensure that whilst producing a scheme that worked with the building and the given space the design also took into consideration the site, the history and the restrictions in place due to the listing.
Looking for information I found the English Heritage website which details and maintains the necessary information about the listings that they have put into place on buildings. Any buildings what were built before 1700’s which remain in a state, which is anything, like their original condition have been listed by English Heritage along with most of the buildings still in a good original condition that were built between 1700 and 1840. Over time the criteria for becoming a listed has become tighter with buildings that are post 1945 have to be of exceptional importance to become listed. Building normally is required to be over 30 years old before they are considered by English Heritage to become listed buildings.
Looking for information I found the English Heritage website which details and maintains the necessary information about the listings that they have put into place on buildings. Any buildings what were built before 1700’s which remain in a state, which is anything, like their original condition have been listed by English Heritage along with most of the buildings still in a good original condition that were built between 1700 and 1840. Over time the criteria for becoming a listed has become tighter with buildings that are post 1945 have to be of exceptional importance to become listed. Building normally is required to be over 30 years old before they are considered by English Heritage to become listed buildings.
As the building that will be used on Short Hill dates back to the 1860’s – 1870’s it is clear that there will be a listing on the building to protect all or parts of the building. There are three categories in which the building could fall into with regards to it being a listed building, Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II. It is believed that in England there are approximately 374,081 listed building entries to date.
Below are the categories and descriptors for listed buildings taken from the English Heritage website.
When it comes to requesting planning permission for a listed building it has been made clear through research that there are no set rules when it comes to accepting of denying permission for these buildings, each will be considered and judged individually. With listed buildings it is necessary to gain permission for work that would alter and adjust the exterior of the building and also for work that would change the space internally. In some cases with listed buildings consent is required even for small works such as replacing windows and doors and removing internal walls. Usually though minor works that do not make large changes do not require consent.
In the case of the building on Short Hill there are both external and internal changes to be made to create the required space. Whilst the majority of changes would be to the internal structure, it has been felt that it is important to be sympathetic to the history of the building and the area and therefore maintaining a large amount of the original aspects to the building is key such as the front elevation and the brickwork. It is important to maintain as much of the original building as possible whilst creating a suitable structure for modern day use.
Below are the categories and descriptors for listed buildings taken from the English Heritage website.
- Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important; only 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I
- Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest; 5.5% of listed buildings are Grade II*
- Grade II buildings are nationally important and of special interest; 92% of all listed buildings are in this class and it is the most likely grade of listing for a home owner.
When it comes to requesting planning permission for a listed building it has been made clear through research that there are no set rules when it comes to accepting of denying permission for these buildings, each will be considered and judged individually. With listed buildings it is necessary to gain permission for work that would alter and adjust the exterior of the building and also for work that would change the space internally. In some cases with listed buildings consent is required even for small works such as replacing windows and doors and removing internal walls. Usually though minor works that do not make large changes do not require consent.
In the case of the building on Short Hill there are both external and internal changes to be made to create the required space. Whilst the majority of changes would be to the internal structure, it has been felt that it is important to be sympathetic to the history of the building and the area and therefore maintaining a large amount of the original aspects to the building is key such as the front elevation and the brickwork. It is important to maintain as much of the original building as possible whilst creating a suitable structure for modern day use.
Listed Building Case Study
Looking at a case study helped with understanding what could and couldn’t be done to a listed building through renovation. Looking at a 17th century property owned by David and Sandra Milikn this allowed for an understanding of how listed properties can be developed into modern buildings whilst maintaining the necessary aspect. The Millkin’s own a 17th century listed house within a conservation area, which has been extended by them in two stages. The existing building a two-storey coach house was first converted into a guest wing for visitors their home. They again extended the property 15 years later to create a home, which was separate from the main house. When spoken to about their project and what they wanted from it they said “We wanted to retain the integrity of the coach house while creating a distinct contrast between the old and new sections.”
Although it is possible to get planning permission for works to listed buildings, not all historic buildings are suitable for the extensions or works that are requested. In many cases this is decided due to whether or not the integrity of a building maybe removed due to the increase in size, if the historic structure is adjusted would this maintain the buildings history which can happen with many timber framed listed buildings. An example of this is clear when designing an extension to a historical building, as it is essential that extension does not dominate the building in scale, materials or location. The new intervention design must compliment the original building, this also covers the fact that extensions designed to copy the existing structure may not be the best way of doing so to achieve this.
In many cases the best use for a building is the one in which the building was originally designed and built for – with this continuing where possible. If the building is no longer in use for the purpose it was built – such as the building on Short Hill which was built as a factory during the 1860’s then a new use could be found as long as the design and any required work would be sympathetic to the buildings structure.
Looking at the requirements for the protection of a listed building it is clear that the proposed works to the site and if the building was to be extended then this would be possible as long as the integrity of the building remains. I feel that as an interior architect this is a factor that would be included within the design without a doubt. Personally liking old buildings I feel that I would keep a large majority of the existing building only making changes where necessary and working more with the interior space. The site on Short Hill is within a historic location within the City of Nottingham and therefore the consideration of this factor needs to be key and portrayed within the design.
Although it is possible to get planning permission for works to listed buildings, not all historic buildings are suitable for the extensions or works that are requested. In many cases this is decided due to whether or not the integrity of a building maybe removed due to the increase in size, if the historic structure is adjusted would this maintain the buildings history which can happen with many timber framed listed buildings. An example of this is clear when designing an extension to a historical building, as it is essential that extension does not dominate the building in scale, materials or location. The new intervention design must compliment the original building, this also covers the fact that extensions designed to copy the existing structure may not be the best way of doing so to achieve this.
In many cases the best use for a building is the one in which the building was originally designed and built for – with this continuing where possible. If the building is no longer in use for the purpose it was built – such as the building on Short Hill which was built as a factory during the 1860’s then a new use could be found as long as the design and any required work would be sympathetic to the buildings structure.
Looking at the requirements for the protection of a listed building it is clear that the proposed works to the site and if the building was to be extended then this would be possible as long as the integrity of the building remains. I feel that as an interior architect this is a factor that would be included within the design without a doubt. Personally liking old buildings I feel that I would keep a large majority of the existing building only making changes where necessary and working more with the interior space. The site on Short Hill is within a historic location within the City of Nottingham and therefore the consideration of this factor needs to be key and portrayed within the design.