Ask an Architect…?

How do I find and decide on an architect?Well…you have just found us!Seriously, though: all architects are required to be registered by the Architects Registration Board (ARB), so check on there before engaging anybody, to ensure they are an architect.Mostly, we would say, though, is: find someone whose work inspires you, and more importantly, that you feel you can connect with. It is soooo much easier working with someone who ‘gets you’.Why do I need an architect?Other than producing the drawings required for statutory bodies (planning & building control) and providing professional indemnity insurance, architects are designers & problem solvers. An architect will produce solutions to your problems: even problems you didn’t realise you had. Better than that: we will make those solutions beautiful!And remember…it took us 7 looong years to understand buildings and design!How much do architects charge?It’s not an easy answer. We prefer, where possible, to give a fixed sum fee (ie £xx, and stick to it), worked out on the number of hours we believe it will take us to create your vision. Unfortunately, that means we can’t give a figure here, as each project is unique: based on you, your family, your house / site, and your brief. We also offer an a la carte menu: so that you can choose how much / little you want us to be involved. If you are interested in our design skills, contact us: we aren’t scary, and wont charge just for talking ;-D. We understand that everybody has their own budget!How do we move forward with the project?Come and speak to us! The initial consultation is free. During that, we will discuss your problems (architectural!), your wishes and what we can do for you. We will also have had a quick look at your site to see if there are any issues that you need to be aware of (potentially difficult site / expensive foundations / planning issues, etc). We can also show you examples of our work, and answer any queries you may have.Why Marshall McCann Architects?We are a start-up company, with a wealth of experience behind us: so we are eager and knowledgeable. We can provide you with testimonials if you wish (some of our lovely clients may even be amenable to talking you through their experience).As a brother and sister duo, we have come to this point from 2 different paths. Roisin is a registered architect, previously a Design Director in a larger practice; with experience in planning, design and management (houses, commercial, hotels and development houses). Martin has a degree in architecture, and is a registered Passive House Designer. He comes from a technical background: working as a senior technician in a few of Belfast’s leading architectural design firms. He has also worked for contractors: his technical, practical and cost awareness skills, combined with his design background mean he has an eye for detail. This attention to detailed design meant that his own house won the FMB Energy Efficient House of the Year UK; a house which has yearly energy bills (heating and lighting / electrical) less than £600. The PV solar panels on his roof means that he actually nets £200 on his energy bills.So…go on! Give us a call.

How does an Architect Design?

Once we have a brief, a site, a topographical survey (a detailed site survey, which gives us information such as, height of existing building, position of trees, levels, etc), and a budget, we will sit down with pages, tracing paper and a marker.
We will start by looking at the big picture;
Heights of any surrounding buildings and trees; will planning allow a 2-storey dwelling on the site? Or will a 2-storey be too obtrusive in the landscape / out of character in the townscape?
Any level changes on the site; if there is a sizable level change over the site, the orientation of the house could make a huge difference to costs of the development. Would a split-level building work better?

The sun path; maximising solar gain for heat (in the winter), and the quality of light in the building are important considerations. What spaces need the light at various times of the day? Eg having a utility space on the southern elevation, where it gets most of the daily sun, would not be a good use of the sites resources.

The views; making the most of the views from, and to, the site. What spaces do you most want to take advantage of the views? From the kitchen, which is used the most? Or from the living area, where you can relax and enjoy the space? Getting the balance between views (which may be northerly), and sun (which is mainly southerly), is a delicate matter.
The arrival to the building; where do visitors arrive at your site? What are their first views of your house? Do you want views from the road, or an element of surprise, as you turn the corner?

We will look at the accommodation needed – the sizes, the relationship between rooms (eg does the utility need to be off the kitchen; or is more of a laundry room, which is better closer to the stairs / bedrooms??), the rooms that need the views / sunlight;
The hierarchy of the spaces (public space versus private space). This is a tool an architect will often use to separate public spaces (Lounge / dining area), from private space (bedrooms / tv room). The placement in the house (close to the main entrance), the spaces you walk through to get there, the position of the doors (people will generally go into the door closest to the main entrance door), and even the height of the doors (the unconscious perception is that a tall door=public space, a smaller door=private space).

The ‘WOW’ Factor; Is there a space which gives your building something memorable?; a window seat to enjoy the views; windows to flood the space with light; a double height space for drama; beautifully crafted stairs; a sociable kitchen….whatever it is that makes your house special to you.
At Marshall McCann Architects, this is a design process…the first draft is the first attempt to get into your head space; to see if we are on the right track. After this, we will hone the design, refining the spaces until we get something you are excited about, and we believe Planning will be accepting of.
If you want to know more….get in touch!

How can an Architect design a house (or extension) that YOU will love?

The Design Process: New Houses & Extensions

How do we come up with our ideas? How long does it take?
Every architect will work differently. But for us, we take inspiration from you, the site (views, orientation, wind, topography, etc), local landmarks….and of course all those Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook pages we follow!

Our first meeting with you, we will ask questions and listen. How do you live? (you love having people over for dinner; your bedroom / living room / bathroom is your sanctuary?? ). How do you want to live? (Is that different to the previous question? Is it indoors, cosy by the fire; or outdoors, the garden needs to be foremost in the design??). Who lives there? (2 adults, 2 messy kids, and 5 cats?

Will have a different lifestyle to a childless party-loving couple!). The more you can have this thought through, the quicker & closer we can get into your mind frame.
Of course, budget is key to all these dreams; we will work carefully with you to help guide you to achieve what is possible and practicable. We will talk about your style; contemporary, traditional, classic, a house that stands out, or a house that blends…

From here, we go away and produce some sketch designs – floor plans and sketches of how we imagine the house will look (the feel of it is crucial – cosy, small windows & traditional; or bright, airy and modern). Often, we will do a simple 3D model, which helps you to visualise what we are proposing. These drawings will form the discussion at the next meeting – where we hone the ideas. Be honest – we won’t be living in the house so won’t be offended by any perceived criticism!

We then revise and sharpen the design, until all your dreams and ideas have been discussed, dealt with, and realised. Then we lodge with the Planning Department; and await their decision (with a little more input from us, as needed, of course)!

Extension & Renovation
Slightly different to a new build house, as you (the client), has been living there, knows the layout, the orientation, the difficulties, and the bits that make you love your home; we are working with existing spaces, sometimes spaces that have not been thought through….added on in an ad hoc way.

Refurbishments, therefore to architects, are a bit like a crazy puzzle, like Sudoku. The trick is to listen to the client, hear what they are saying, give them what they want, but not necessarily in the way they think. Make sense??!

A little story will perhaps explain. One client, just married, inherited a house with just one living space. Problems started to emerge when one of the couple (no names!) was watching tv (lets say the football :D), and friends of the other arrived for coffee (!). They decided that they needed a second living space for marital harmony – and that converting the attached garage would be the best way. However, when we arrived to see the house, we believed the problem wasn’t necessarily in the lack of a second living space, but that:

a) The kitchen was very small, dark, separated from the living space, and had no space for seating / dining (where coffee could have been served, had there been room)
b) The dining space was in the living space (leaving an L-shaped room). Again, coffee was interfering with the football, and vice versa!
c) In addition, the garage was not orientated well for light, and, if converted, would be accessed via the living room – so would be a room off another room. We advised that his would not be the best place for a second living space.

We suggested closing off the existing living room from the dining space, and bringing the dining space into the kitchen; creating a separate tv room, and instantly making a bigger kitchen. A modest sized extension out from the kitchen created a large living / dining / kitchen space, which opened up to the westerly evening sun, creating a beautiful barbeque and social courtyard. The original kitchen looked out onto a grey block wall; orientating the user to the west, brought sun into the space, and made the most of the limestone boundary walls which previously could not be seen from inside.

Sudoku puzzle completed 😉

Hints & Tips for a successful extension & renovation
So, it’s likely you have been living in the house for a period of time before you decide to renovate; so you may know the sun orientation (where is best for a morning coffee / evening barbecue?). You will also have discovered some disadvantage, or something you are missing from living in the house; need a 4th bedroom / extra tv space for children / dining space is too small….whatever it is, this is the reason you wish to renovate, and/or, extend.

I know it sounds simple; but, as architects, we are problem solvers….we need to know the problem. So tell us what the problem is: in your life terms: “we can’t all fit around the dining table”; “we have nowhere to sit for a cup of tea after dinner, as the kids are hogging the sofa / tv”; “the living room is dark, dreary, and when I’m making tea for visitors, I can’t talk to them”.
It is our job to come up with a solution to your problems; which may involve some interior re-organisation, or an extension, or both. Don’t assume that you need a lot of extra space – sometimes the re-organisation can be the key to a successful house!

Budget – set a budget and stick to it! Ensure you have a good contingency built into that budget – damp, wood rot, just deciding ‘we may as well do that now as well’, and picking the most expensive tiles in the shop can all add serious costs to you project!

Consider how and where you will live during renovations – its messy, dust gets everywhere, difficult to cook / wash….and your house may be completely open to the elements for at least one night (I should know….November, rain, cold, a sheet of ply for a wall, held together with expanding foam does not make for a stress free night :-D).

It’s important to notify your house insurance providers that you are renovating, and whether the house will be occupied or not; otherwise you may not be insured.

So, whether it’s a new build, or an extension, do a bit of research. Dig deep into your thoughts about how you live, the lifestyle you want, how you want your home to feel, and of course, how you want it to look.

Set up a Pinterest account. Organise the folders into rooms you want in your house, another for external / extensions, etc. Visit Marshall McCann Architect Pinterest site, to see how we have done it.

Talk things over with family and friends….take advice and make up your mind – it is you who will be living in the house – so make it YOURS!

If you would like a little advice on how to get started, or indeed are ready to start: give us a call or a message, and we will help you get on your way!

Is this the site for me?

Found your site? Acquired planning permission? Excellent!


Now its worth assessing the suitability of the site for your needs, dreams, and importantly budget – before you start to throw money at it!

Access
How long is the access? Is the access lane in place? Is the access lane shared? Who owns the access lane? Will you own the access lane, or only have right of way? Who maintains the access?
All these questions will have important factors when it comes to the financial implications of building. Many mortgage lenders, for instance, will be reluctant to loan on a site that is accessed via a shared (especially a family) lane, as the re-sell price can plummet (not to mention possible disputes). This means that your choice of lender is vastly reduced, meaning you can’t always get the best possible mortgage rates. In addition, a long lane can be hugely expensive to construct and maintain, and is a long way to bring electric and water…..which brings us nicely onto…

Services
Where is the nearest electricity pole and transformer? Costs can ramp up pretty quickly – can be anywhere from £500 to tens of thousands. Once the distance rises above 200m, costs can rise significantly. NIE can provide a quotation for electricity connection – www.nienetworks.co.uk/connections/homeconnection

Each house needs its own mains water connection; which comes from the mains water on the road. Again, a long access lane, means a long way to bring water (and a phone line).

Check online to see the wifi connections & mobile phone coverage in your area, if this is an important requirement for your life.

Sewage connections
If your chosen site is in the countryside, it is likely that you will not have mains sewage, and will require a septic tank. Consent for sewage effluent is a requirement before you live in your house. We would advise that this is in place prior to purchasing any site (or starting to build on site), as this consent is not a given. The suitability for consent to discharge sewage is dependent on the soil conditions, and can, on occasion, be difficult to achieve. If you do not have Consent to Discharge, you do not have a viable site!

Site Conditions
Although difficult to ascertain the site conditions until ground is broken, there can be some indicators that the ground conditions may add undue costs to your development: rock, rushes (bog/wet lands) and steep inclines can all add serious expense to your build.

Visibility Splays
A condition of your planning permission will be that visibility splays are constructed to give you a clear view of the road & traffic when you are entering and egressing the access. You will need to check that it is feasible for you to implement the required splays. Who owns the land either side of the access lane? If the answer is ‘somebody else’, then you need to
a) check to see if the splays can be implemented within the verge of the road
b) get permission (legally) to implement the splays: this may mean purchasing additional land, or getting an easement over the land – both of which could cost you thousands of pounds!

If there are any telegraph / electricity poles within the splays, you need to contact the appropriate service provider to get it moved: see above for costs.

Easements
Are there any easements through your site? These are legally binding contracts whereby a third party has access to use or cross your land, for example, Water / electricity / right of way, etc. These can severely curtail where you build and may have long-term conditions to access to your land.

However, they may also be for your benefit, to ensure water, visibility splays, etc, can get to your site.

Planning Properly implemented
If you are thinking of buying a site with an historical planning implemented on it (ie the foundations have been put in place to ‘keep open’ planning permission), then you need to pay special attention to ensure planning permission has been properly implemented, otherwise you may just be buying a field with foundations in it, and may not be able to build at all.

When planning permission is granted, it is done so on a set of conditions, outlined in each planning approval certificate. You need to ensure that the foundations have been built in accordance with these conditions and plans. For example;

– the house is built in the correct position, according to planning permission (check on google maps to see if it is in the right field, and position of the field)
– planning permission has an expiry date; hence the need to ‘start building’ before planning expires. You need to check that the foundations were in place prior to planning expiring (most people get Building Control to check the foundations – and this forms the basis of the proof). The onus is on YOU to prove that construction was started prior to expiration of planning; it is not for planning to prove that it was started afterwards.
– importantly, and one that is often overlooked, is that visibility splays (see above) should be in place PRIOR to construction works starting. Therefore, if visibility splays are not in place, you may not have planning permission to build; the permission has expired.

Flooding
Check to see if the site is prone to flooding – local knowledge can be good for this, but you can also check online: flood risk map.

Folio
Request a copy of the folio map to ensure you are buying what you think you are buying.

Check the planning permission
In addition to the above, check carefully the planning permission. There may be restrictions on development due to local historic monuments, archaeological area or conservation area. Some of these could add additional time onto the planning and construction phase. They may also curtail the style of house you build (in a conservation are, you may be required to build in keeping with a traditional, local style). Any archaeological conditions may require the input of an archaeologist, or an archaeologist on site during parts of the construction phase. This can add significant time & cost to the project.

Look out for local historic monuments close by: be aware that it may become an issue that requires resolution.

Any existing structures or lakes / ponds on site may require the input of an ecologists – due to the possibility of protected species (bats, newts, etc)

Old buildings – look out for the possibility of asbestos. Asbestos was a popular material, with many good qualities, and was only banned totally in 2000. Therefore any buildings built prior to this, always think about asbestos: it can be costly to be disposed of.

If you still love your site, and feel it is the one for you – Congratulations!

Give us a call & we can offer you a FREE CONSULTATION to help you assess the site, and help you move onto the next step in the process.

How Can I Get Planning Permission for a House in the Countryside?


Always dreamed of living the rural life, on your own, family land, and wanted to know if you could get planning permission?

We at Marshall McCann Architects specialise in rural planning and design of one-off houses in the countryside. The furore around PPS21 has died down, but the effects of it are still the same: planning permission for houses in the countryside is more difficult to obtain than it was prior to 2010. However, there are still options for gaining a site in the countryside.

1. House on a farm. You (or a close family member, the landowner) is a registered farmer. This means that there is a DARD (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) Business ID Number, for 6 or more years. The farmer also needs to have been in receipt of Single Farm Payment. In addition, no other sites or houses have been sold off the farm in the past 10 years. Please contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION and we can help you find a suitable site.
2. Infill site: where there is a row of roadside houses (3 or more), and a gap between the houses (as shown in the above illustration), it may be possible to get an ‘infill site’. This land may even currently be part of your garden. Please contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION and we can help decide whether it is feasible to apply for planning permission.
3. Replacement dwelling: where there is an existing house (which may currently be lived in, or an unhabitable old dwelling), it may be possible to get planning permission to demolish & rebuild a new house. Reusing an existing non-domestic building (eg an old stone barn) may also be possible. Give us a call for a FREE CONSULTATION to get us to investigate the possibilities.
4. A site within a rural community. This is harder to define, but it may be possible to get a site approved where the land is situated within a ‘Dispersed Rural Community’. This is an area where there is a community focal point (Church, School, community building / hall), whereby a new house may be allowed if it is within the existing cluster of houses.
5. Special circumstances: this is a clause within planning to allow for a new house where there are site specific, unique circumstances. We normally suggest that if we have to tell you what ‘special circumstances’ are, then you do not have them! Please get in touch if you believe that you have specific, special circumstances, and we can help decipher the planning policy around this.

We would only be too pleased to help interpret the planning policy, and enable you to decide whether it is worth applying for Planning Permission. Give us a call, and we can have an initial look online at satellite maps to help establish whether it is an avenue worth pursuing.

An Architects Guide to…..finding a site


Many people have the aspiration of building their dream home on the perfect site; but, alas, don’t own the valuable commodity of land.
However, perseverance, hard work and a little bit of luck may make the dreams become a reality.
How to find a site
1. The obvious is to contact an estate agent. Check out their websites, follow on social media, and something interesting may come up. Give them a call and ask them to contact you should something arise in your preferred location and budget.
2. Talk to people in the locality. Some people may have gotten planning permission for a site, and just haven’t got round to marketing it yet. See an old house? Find out who the owner is and see if they have considered selling it.
3. Have a look at satellite maps of the area. Often you can identify land where foundations have been put in, in order to retain planning permission on an historic approval. Contact the landowner direct – you just never know!
Once you identify a site, contact us at Marshall McCann Architects & we will give you a free consultation. We will happily look at any planning conditions, check to ensure the site is still ‘live’, give you information on potential cost implications of your chosen site (electricity supply, water supply, access, mortgage implications, etc), and the potentials & pitfalls of the site.
Good luck on your search!

Living Design magazine article

Read all about Martins Award Winning Passive House in this edition of Living Design; the local architectural design magazine, specialising in showcasing house design.
‘Energy Efficient House of the Year UK’

Belfast Telegraph article

So the Belfast Tele heard about Martins House….and published this little article.

Energy Efficient House of the Year UK!!

A glittering evening in London, celebrating Martins house winning ‘Energy Efficient House of the Year UK’.
A quick snapshot with BBC’s DIY SOS host Nick Knowles!!
More info to follow…..as soon as we come down from this (champagne induced!) cloud!!

Passive House Case Study


Impending nuptials and the offer of a site, meant that Martin, who always had a keen interest in sustainable and energy efficient building design, was able to research, experiment and explore different methods of construction and heating systems for his own self-build house.
Around this time Martin decided to take a job working for Setanta Construction, a Passive House Registered builder, and was tasked with studying ways of improving the thermal performance of their buildings to find the most economical method of construction; discarding any solution that had too long of a payback time.
Various construction types and junction details were studied based on running cost. From the initial results, he believed that a mistake had been made in the energy model or software.
The data showed that standard block construction lost over 50% of its heat through its thermal bridges. When he compared this to his enhanced thermal junction details, less than 20% of heat was lost; with only about 5-10% increase in construction cost. A re-run showed the exact same results. It was from this point that Martin set out to build an economical house; from a build cost and running cost perspective.
After researching different standards from around the world, Martin settled with the Passive House standard and enhancing it incorporating principles from Zero Carbon Standards.
Passive House is a German standard and is known as a ‘fabric first’ approach, which minimises the thermal loss and maximises thermal gains in the colder months. This is more than just increasing the insulation in the wall, floors and ceilings; every aspect of the construction and every component and junction are scrutinised to reduce heat loss, with an emphases on airtightness (if the building is not airtight it is like having an open window all year round).
With the building being extremely airtight, to keep the building a healthy place to be in, a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system with highly efficient heat recovery has to be installed. Passive House also takes into account the efficiency of the heating system and lighting to further reduce the energy demand of the building.
With this viewpoint, Martin designed, built, and is now living in his own ‘Passive House’. He has a unique insight into the workings of a PassivHaus, as a result. Due to his research, skill and attention to detail, Martins house won ‘Energy Efficient House of the Year UK’; an accolade not often awarded to any building in Northern Ireland!
His house currently has an annual running cost (all energy / electrical bills and heating) of approximately £800; and his house sits at a very comfortable 22 degrees all year round. More importantly, Martins house makes £1000 of electricity in a year; meaning that he gains £200 on his energy bills every year.
If you want to know more about how you can build an energy efficient house; get in touch!