Hancock Architecture Ltd.

24/12/2023

Building smart is the key to cost effective wow design! Witness this cantilevered house.

An architect couple created their own residence and workspace out of steel-framed units finished with timber, brick, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

12/09/2023

Another project near completion!

Our client wanted to change their existing conservatory into a permanent structure which meant; less glazing, a new roof - one continuous roof rather than several combined, including a skylight, and a rebuild which meets the current building regulations.

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08/08/2023

A proposed side extension to create a larger kitchen and a small wet room for a growing family.

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03/08/2023

Green roofs have become increasingly popular in the last 20 years, with their technology advancing from where it began 40 years ago.
Most people are unaware that there are two types of green roof.

One is the ‘Green Roof’ consisting of a sheet or substrate that sedums live on and in so that the roots lock into the substrate. These are grown on a nursery or farm. The material sheet is rolled out and cut to shape on the roof. These plants require little water, are varied in species attracting bees insects and butterflies to pollinate the flowers. This means that what was a sterile roof structure, normally flat or gently raked, becomes a viable part of biodiversity giving back to the environment.

The other green roof type is the living roof; structurally stronger and taking the weight of soil, plants, even rocks and paving slabs to make a roof garden, which can be planted with grasses as well as sedum species .

Both roofs do something special, not only cooling the building and protecting the roofing materials and inhabitants from harmful Ultra-violet rays but also attenuating and filtering water. This means that rainwater is held back in the soil and plants temporarily, reducing the overflow of rainwater into our public sewers. Planners and building control like this and the part it plays in sustainable building design.

The quality of the water is soft (not containing calcium which creates limescale deposits) and is so good, it is ideal for flushing toilets and even using in washing machines. In some instances with further filtration the water could be used for sink taps, washing up and utility rooms. It is a great way to reduce your environmental cost and impact further reducing the average personal water consumption of 14 litres per day.

These roofs once installed require little maintenance with only a little extra watering on very hot summer days, and the removal of tree saplings yearly from bird droppings and wind blown seeds. Green or Living Roofs are a significant asset to any home helping to gain planning agreements from sustainable building design.

01/08/2023

Our client needed more space in their family home so we proposed a two storey side extension as the solution. This has given them a dining room, WC and storage on the ground floor and a double bedroom with ensuite to the first floor. As well as the addition of a new porch design.

27/07/2023

Proposed perspectives and elevations as well as existing perspectives and elevations of the local veterinary practice posted on Tuesday. Working in 3D gives the client a visual idea of what the final build will look like.

If you are looking to build, develop or are just after some professional advise - please do not hesitate to call on 07742644587 - we look forward to hearing from you.

25/07/2023

We carried out architectural design work on a local veterinary practice. The brief was to turn a home into a working veterinary practice. To create the perfect layout, an extension was needed.

This project has now finished to an extremely high standard and we will be sharing more of this soon.

If you are looking to build, develop or are just after some professional advise - please do not hesitate to call on 07742644587 - we look forward to hearing from you.

13/06/2023

The construction industry has been in turmoil since the covid 19 lockdowns, many folks working from home and now impending recession currently holding flat in the UK. The reduced funding to organisations like building control and planning in Tendring have been more than difficult. Huge losses of staff, ongoing widespread mental health absences due to workloads all combined to create a very slow and uncertain journey for many who seek to improve their properties.

Time scales are unknown but are improving. Tendring's Building Control all but disbanded and was passed to East Sussex, all working relationships lost. But is now gaining momentum again having got new staff, figured out how to phase in the new building regulations and integrate Planning into that process and vice versa. Chaining evidences of materials and specifications. There's an awful lot of change. Our job is at least 3 times the work it was and that will only increase.

Never more have people been in a situation where they cant afford to move but can stretch to maybe extend. Infill development has become the mainstay for many towns in Essex. As well as expanding onto greenbelts which has everyone up in arms.

But this is the moment, whereby although fees have gone up for planning/design and 40-50% rises in material costs, labour costs and time costs the fact remains that right now at this very moment regardless of what is going on (in most cases) – it is the right time to build. This isn't an Architectural Practice touting for tonnes of business that it cant handle, this is the facts of economics and the current effect of global change and scarcity that effects everybody.

The good news is that we can advise not just on good sustainable design, we can advise on how to save up to 50% on materials by being more involved in your own project. Managing your trades, your finances , buying well online. Yes all timely but this can make the additional cost to build much lower and therefore mean that your vision can still be realised in uncertain times.

I hope that followers will start to engage and really get stuck into debating and discussing how we can move forward.

12/06/2023

Construction drawings for a small development of 2 semi-detached townhouses. Due to the risk of flooding, the engineering of the foundations and ground floor garage played a crucial part in the construction of this building.

06/06/2023

A commercial to residential planning application, turning a clothing boutique situated in front and below of a residential - to be converted into a kitchen to provide the client with a larger space.

06/06/2023

A single-storey extension to side and rear of this client's home, and a full redesign of their existing garage. The roof is completed with a sedum-based green roof, plus a large roof lantern and multiple skylights.

02/06/2023