AVENFIELD HOUSE

The project was for the creation of two, large, high specification duplex penthouses. The principal works were carried out on the top two floors of an existing eight storey mixed use building. Existing occupants of the lower floors, 6th floor down, remained in residence throughout the works.

Both floors contained vacant residential flats and were in poor internal condition. In order to create the high quality accommodation required by our client it was necessary to clear out both floors, removing all partitions, fixtures, and fittings. The eighth (top) floor was partially demolished and rebuilt, existing outside terraces were brought inside to be included in the interior of the new penthouses. The concrete framed structure of the existing building allowed relative freedom when planning the interior room layouts although existing drainage positions had to remain, becoming an important factor influencing space planning.

Heating and hot and cold services were common to the building and originated in a basement oil fired boiler room. The new accommodation was detached from these services and new independent gas fired boilers were installed to supply hot water and space heating, comfort cooling was also installed supplied from new chiller units located in a new plant enclosure at roof level.

Large existing water storage tanks were located at roof level at either end of the building and these were cut up and removed from site providing new interior space.

The common parts of the building were refurbished allowing the high standard of interior design to be brought down to the entrance area at ground floor. The existing passenger lift cars were too small and we were able to source new larger cars that, through the use of the latest technology, were able to fit into the existing shafts.

The exterior entrance area was remodelled with new Portland stone entrance columns, boundary railings and planters, and new lighting.

A new electricity sub-station was installed at basement level.