This grand Grade II listed mansion is located in five acres of magnificent landscaped gardens. Built in 1872, it boasts panoramic views over the Avon Gorge and to the historic Clifton Suspension Bridge in an area designated as green belt.
What did we do? Our sensitive restoration project involved converting the main house into four luxury apartments and redeveloping the stables and lodge into six new homes.
One of the key objectives in the conversion strategy was to strip away the later detrimental alterations to express original form and re-engage with the grandeur of the building.
Why did we re-use the buildings? A low-density, high-quality residential development of the house and the annex provided an ideal opportunity to retain and enhance the grandeur of the estate. This approach provides a long-term legacy for the house, annex, and the extensive grounds and secures a sustainable future for the site as a whole.
Sensitive interventions enabled the building to be restored to its former glory, with minimal impact on the original fabric of the building. Original elements such as fireplaces, doors, windows and decorative ceilings were retained, repaired and incorporated into the conversion.
Insulation in the floor and the roof was upgraded whilst not affecting the building’s character. Given the building’s historic interior, ventilation could not be achieved with a whole-house or heat recovery system, so the apartments had individual extract ventilation with humidistats from each bathroom/ensuite/kitchen. One fireplace was opened up and the others had new flue linings inserted for gas coal-effect fires. Existing air bricks provided ventilation to the timber floors.
How did our client benefit? There is evidence to show that people who live in attractive buildings are more likely to live sustainably, and that these lifestyle choices can have a more positive impact than any fabric upgrades. Being close to Clifton Village, low commutes and sustainable lifestyle choices are a big draw for buyers. In addition, the apartments benefitted from installing new gas fired condensing boilers with flue heat recovery, providing hot water and heating to radiators and underfloor heating. Modern kitchens and bathrooms with low energy appliances were installed to provide the benefits of modern buildings but within the incredible setting of a listed building.
The late 19th century Arts and Crafts frieze in apartment 2 received conservation treatment by the International Fine Art Conservation Studio to ensure the long-term survival of this important piece of artwork, which is mentioned within the Historic England Listing.
