General

Lilly Lewarne are pleased to be collaborating with Falmouth University and All Saints Church in Highertown, Truro for a new Community Hub. Architect Patrick Clark met with first and second year Architecture students last month to generate ideas, brief and design. Their initial ideas and proposals were exhibited at All Saints from Thursday, March 9th until Sunday March 12th.

It’s been a long journey and a massive effort but we are almost there! Contemporary house near St. Mawes – Designed and led by Lilly Lewarne Architects with P. Chapman Construction’s excellent attention to detail.

Lilly Lewarne are excited to be involved with the design and construction of the new birthing centre at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro. Work has now commenced on site with Kier as the framework contractor. The centre will provide 4 new state of the art suites complete with pools in order to cater for water births. Importantly the design of the new suites are primarily Midwife led units, aiming to provide a non-clinical homely environment for mums to make their experience as natural and comfortable as possible.

Lilly Lewarne are very pleased to announce that a replacement contemporary dwelling on the Roseland Penninsula has been granted planning approval after going to appeal. The proposals were originally turned down in April but LLA felt that the reasons for refusal were not justified and as such advised that this decision should be challenged. The report from the appeal committee summarised that…

“[the area has] relatively complex rooflines which do not maintain a particularly vernacular appearance. In this particular respect, the proposed mono-pitched roof would be consistent with the contemporary appearance of these neighbouring dwellings…[and] therefore conclude(s) that the proposed development [will] have an acceptable effect on the character and appearance of the Cornwall AONB”.

After a negative first round consultation with the local council this new state of the art Sports Hub for Falmouth School received support at the Falmouth Town Council this week. This facility will provide teaching spaces, a gymnasium, social interaction opportunities, high quality changing space and direct access to a state of the art 3G Pitch in line with FA standards. If approved by Cornwall Council this will be a superb community facility for decades to come promoting health and well being for all.

James and Chris were excited to attend the grand opening of Tolvean House recently.

“Everyone was overwhelmed by the design and attention to detail, evident in every aspect of the scheme.” – Advance Housing

Tolvean house had been used for a number of administrative functions since ceasing to be a grand town house, which had involved a number of interventions over the years. LLA were approached by Advance Housing (with the help of Coastline) in 2012 to convert the surviving house and coach house plus look at sympathetic extension options to provide 16 new Extra-Care apartments designed to meet the independent living needs for those with physical and learning difficulties. Particular work was put into trying to waymark places within the building with distinctive features to aid navigation for dementia sufferers within a fairly large building.

With the house’s labyrinthine layout born of several phases of rebuilding, the latest conversion involved some imagination to reorganize the spaces to provide successful domestic spaces. Furthermore the brief drew heavily on the guidance from “HAPPI” ( Housing our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation ) to provide a building fit to meet the needs of people with diverse and multiple special needs. In particular designing the circulation to allow connection of disparate levels for access by those with limited mobility in an economic way was a significant challenge of design as well as on-site.

The construction was undertaken by Mi-Space under a Design and Build contract with LLA novated as lead designer. The initial stages involved major demolitions internally with careful design required to allow phasing of the works to introduce major new supporting steelwork and masonry repairs without disrupting the external appearance and roof.

The finished conversion maintains the integrity of the old house, including entrances and major spaces, while also creating new legible connections between those spaces. The extension seeks to provide exemplary layouts for those with low-mobility, with plenty of light and views from full height windows to bring in as much of the green surroundings in as possible. At the same time natural timber louvre screens provide privacy, sun-shading and safety. Finally the extension forms the third side of a new secluded communal courtyard, taking in the mature trees and afternoon sun for the enjoyment of the future residents.

Lilly Lewarne are pleased to announce that we have secured planning approval for the redevelopment of a brownfield site to provide 14 residential apartments within Truro City Centre.

Image courtesy of Make Believe.

Lilly Lewarne recently worked closely with Garden Designer Jo Midwinter on a design in connection with a one-off house that we previously gained planning permission on. Jo approached us earlier in the year for a challenging site that she could add her expertise in the field of Garden Design. Jo has now entered the scheme into the Society of Garden Designers awards 2015 and was short-listed as a finalist. Results are due on 7th September, Fingers Crossed!

Jo Midwinter Garden Design: https://www.jomidwinter.com/

It is with great sadness that we have to report David Lewarne, a founding Partner of the Practice, passed away peacefully on the morning of 13 July 2015. David was a good friend to us all and he will be remembered fondly.

Our love and thoughts are with his wife Tina and their two sons, Jonathan and Darren and their families.

David’s funeral is set for 1pm on Thursday 23rd July 2015 at the Trelawny Chapel, Penmount Crematorium, Truro for all who would like to attend, and his family are extending an invitation for refreshments in Fowey in the afternoon.

Family flowers only but donations if desired for The Cove, Macmillian Cancer Support, 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7UQ or by donation box at the service.