Client: Westminster School

Architect: Ptolemy Dean Architects

Value: £1.5m

Alteration and extension to the existing 19th Century cricket pavilion in Vincent Square, London SW1. The structural work involved careful installation of screw piles and a thin foundation slab to minimise impact on the trees, to create two small steel frame extensions. The roof and ceiling surfaces are curved over double height changing rooms within. The existing First Floor window was enlarged to create a door out to a new balcony which sits on raking steels supported on the existing cast iron columns below. Bespoke, exposed steel brackets were designed to fit with the aesthetic of the existing cast iron detailing. Design and construction work progressed throughout the Covid 19 lockdowns. Completed autumn 2022.

Photo credits: Kirstie Robbins; Fiona Cobb, Simon Kennedy

PHASE 2 - RIBA Stage 3 in 2023

Client: Maggie’s Centre

Architect: Metropolitan Workshop

Value: £1.3m

The success of the 2010 centre means that a new extension is required. A new stone-clad single storey building with a deep green roof is proposed. Design work began in 2019 but was paused due to Covid19. Due on site late 2023.

PHASE 1 - Completed in 2010

Client: Maggie’s Centre

Architect: MacCormac Jamieson Pritchard

Value: £1.3m

Awards: RIBA National Award 2011; Civic Trust Award, Commendation 2012

New build ‘home-from-home’ for patients being treated at the nearby oncology department of Cheltenham General Hospital. Of domestic scale, the centre will features very high quality design and details in line with previous Maggie’s Centres. The new centre is timber and steel framed, includes a sedum roof and incorporates an existing Listed Victorian lodge. The building is set within a garden and responds to the existing trees and nearby river. Completed 2010 while working as an Associate at Price & Myers.

"It’s not really a building; it’s a large piece of inhabited furniture with a roof hovering above it. Furniture is more immediate than buildings are: we use it, touch it, engage with it. Through the joinery we convey care, so that when people come in they feel they have come to a place about care." Richard MacCormac

Photo credits: Metropolitan Workshop, Peter Durant, Fiona Cobb & Ben Sheterline

Client: University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford

Architect: Caroe Architecture

Value: £0.6m

Awards: Oxford Preservation Trust Awards 2021, Certificate Winner

The University Church of St Mary the Virgin is Grade I Listed which sits prominently on Oxford High Street. In a city of dreaming spires, its spire dominates the Oxford skyline from every angle. The 1930s lead coverings to the Nave roof were in poor condition, requiring complete re-roofing in 2022 with grant assistance from the Church Of England’s Cultural Recovery Fund. The structural work involved assisting with scaffolding proposals and approvals for the temporary roof to minimise impact on the historic stonework, as well as MEWP surveys of the underside of the existing timber roof. Further work in summer 2022 included advice on the suspension of the temporary Gaia Earth sculpture by Luke Jerram.

Photo credit: @mamod_em, Fiona Cobb, Mark Hammond

Client: Private Individuals

Architect: CSK Architects

Wargrave Court is a lovely Grade II Listed house located directly on an inlet of the Thames in the village of Wargrave. The house dates from late 15th or early 16th century and has been substantially extended in eight phases over the centuries. Having been in the hands of one family for over 50 years, the new owners wished to repair and extend the house to make better use of the garden and river view. Work included below ground drainage and structural design including repairs to the existing historic timbers and a new timber framed extension. On site from late 2022; due for completion early 2024.

Photo credit: Savills, Fiona Cobb

Client: The Dean & Chapter of Westminster Abbey

Architect: Ptolemy Dean Architects

New visitor entry building for Westminster Abbey to be located on the north green by Parliament Square. The new building structure will be in exposed oak, stone and brick. Current proposals for the roof include arches to be formed using traditional boat building techniques and “treenails” to form curved composite sections without glue. The new building will be located on the historic remains of the 13th Century Great Sacristry, incorporating some of the archaeological foundations into the base of the new building. Planning Permission was granted in 2019 and the archaeological investigations began in parallel with the RIBA Stage 4 Design, however both were put on hold due to Covid19 in 2020. The new steps and ramp at the great West Door were completed in summer 2022.

Photo credit: Iain McDonald, Ptolemy Dean Architects, Kirstie Robbins, Fiona Cobb

Just as sand is essential to a concrete mix, small projects are a key part of our work. We have worked on numerous small projects & domestic alterations and enjoy helping people with a new stage in their lives. That might be as simple as helping with creating a through-lounge or a new kitchen extension, to creating a new loft room to accommodate a growing family or a home office.

In addition, we have been assisting with alterations and extension for Dorrington Properties with a rolling programme of small alterations to residential flats and cottages built by Octavia Hill, co-founder of the National Trust. The properties form a charming urban oasis in the midst of the Walworth, London SE17. The properties are being modernised, often to incorporate living/dining spaces, involving the installation of new beams and box frames within occupied blocks. Between March 2020 and March 2023, we have been involved with 29 projects working with architects including Metropolitan Workshop, Mary Duggan Architects, BLDA and direct with Dorrington’s surveyors.

Photo credit: Fiona Cobb

Client: The Dean & Chapter of Westminster Abbey

Architect: Ptolemy Dean Architects

Small alterations to residential accommodation within the Westminster Abbey precinct. Structural work includes reduction of garden levels (by archaeologists) to reduce effect of damp in the Mediaeval stonework of the Great Cloister wall; minor repairs & alterations to existing pre & post WWII structures and advice on interaction of the temporary roof and vertical scaffolding to the south wall of Abbey Nave in connection with repair of rainwater downpipes. Completed 2020 during the first national lockdown for Covid19.

Photo credit: Damien Hewetson, Fiona Cobb

Client: Polka Theatre

Architect: The Space to Play

Awards: AJ Small Projects Award 2022

Following a wholescale refurbishment of the theatre, The Space to Play was commissioned to design and build a bespoke, multistorey play house in the central courtyard as part of the new landscaping works. Structural assistance included foundation design and timber connection details. The project was completed, from start to finish, in 2021 under Covid remote working restrictions.

Photo credit: Hufton & Crow, Jonny Allams

Client: Christ Church

Architect: Purcell

Value: £6.6m

Refurbishment and alterations of Powell & Moya’s Grade II* Listed student residence to add new bathroom pods to every room, a roof extension in harmony with the original roof line and carve out a double height lecture theatre. The original construction dated from 1968 and had been constructed from the (then) high-tech  materials and detailing that would not meet current standards. A conservation approach indicated minimal repairs where problems had surfaced: addition of sliding parapet bearings and areas of remedial wall ties to extend the life of the cladding for at least another 50 years.  The project was carried out in phases with buildings partially occupied during construction. Completed 2009 while working as an Associate at Price & Myers.

Photo credits: Dennis Gilbert, Fiona Cobb

Client: The Dean & Chapter of Westminster Abbey

Architect: Ptolemy Dean Architects

Awards: RIBA National Award 2019, RIBA London Award 2019, RICS Award 2019 Project of the year  (London Region), RICS Award 2019 Conservation Award (London Region), Civic Trust AABC, Conservation Award 2019, Civic Trust Award Commendation 2019

A new stair and lift tower tucked into the narrow Poets’ Yard, between the Grade I Listed Abbey and Scheduled Ancient Monument of The Chapter House, and next to the site of Caxton’s printing press. The core of the tower is reinforced concrete with a steel exoskeleton, which is stabilised by the oak stair and landings. Wind tunnel testing helped to minimise design loads and therefore the size of the foundations. Laboratory testing was carried out on timber dowels to establish shear capacities not available in standard design publications. An enabling works package consisting of archaeological investigation and below ground drainage works, were carried out a year before the main construction package to allow the foundations to be fully designed before tender, which reduced cost and programme risk for the client. The structural oak used in the tower came from French and English sources. Completed 2018 while working as an Associate at Price & Myers.

Photo credit: Alan Williams, Simon Kennedy, Dan Dowek, Fiona Cobb

Client: Bedford School

Architect: Foster Wilson Architects

Value: £4m

Awards: RIBA East Award 2016

Conversion of a range of a Grade II Listed Moravian chapel into a performing arts centre for an independent school, but with site access to facilitate community use. The buildings include structures from the 18th to 20th Centuries, via restricted works access through the school playground. The main chapel was converted into the main performance space; adjacent spaces were carved out to rationalise circulation routes and a new curved extension was added to house foyer and green rooms. Completed in 2015 while working as an Associate at Price & Myers.

Photo credits: Philip Vile, Fiona Cobb

Client: Cheltenham Ladies College

Architect: Foster Wilson Architects

Value: £6m

Awards: Cheltenham Civic Design Award 2009; RIBA National Award 2011; USITT Architecture merit Award 2012.

Conversion and extension of a Grade II* Listed Victorian villa to create a performing arts theatre for Cheltenham Ladies College. After demolition of an existing 1970’s extension, a new stone clad and concrete framed auditorium was constructed.  Much of the concrete frame is exposed fair faced concrete and self compacting concrete was used for the double height, slender columns behind the stage. The existing house was refurbished for teaching, foyer and studio spaces. The project was selected by English Heritage as an exemplar scheme for their ‘Constructive Conservation in Practice’ Publication. Completed 2009 while working as an Associate at Price & Myers.

Photo credits: James Brittain, Fiona Cobb

Client: Eton College

Architect: CSK Architects

Value: £3m

A new building extension to a Grade II Listed building at Eton College, to provide office and reception rooms for the head master and senior management team. The new extension was constructed using load-bearing masonry on a raft foundation, with careful formation of new openings beneath Listed stone windows and a new steel and glass stair. Phased work completed in 2019 while working as an Associate at Price & Myers.

Photo credits: CSK Architects, Dido Milne, Fiona Cobb

Client: Goodwood Estate

Architect: Brian Beardsmore & Mercer Tan Architects

Value: £1.5m

Awards: Sussex Heritage Trust Award 2014

Complete refurbishment of the Race Control Building at Goodwood to create a corporate entertainment facility for Credit Suisse, including seminar room, function suite and kitchens. The roof was completely reconstructed on a steel frame within the original brick walls, in order to support temporary tiered seating on the roof on race days. Completed in 2013 while working as an Associate at Price & Myers.

Photo credits: EA Chiverton, Fiona Cobb

Client: Salisbury Playhouse

Architect: Foster Wilson Architects

Value: £0.9m

Awards: Salisbury Civic Society Conservation Award

A pyramid shaped extension to the main Playhouse building in steel and concrete. The equilateral triangle plan is 21m in length, with RC frame up to First Floor and a steel roof frame above. Structural Kalzip decking spans between the main steel rafters to form the roof structure. Internally, the steelwork is exposed so you can see the decking and steel connections when you enter the first floor rehearsal room. Completed in 2007 while working as an Associate at Price & Myers.

Photo credits: James Morris, Tim Foster

Client: RAF Benevolent Fund

Architect: DLG Architects

Value: £4m

Refurbishment of, and extension to, a Grade II* Adam building for the RAF Benevolent Fund. The work involved the replacement of the existing infill extensions, with new concrete framed office spaces. Complex Party Wall conditions combined with flying freeholds and restricted site access complicated the construction phase. Close collaboration with the contractor was required to develop the temporary works strategy and ensure that the project finished on time and on budget, as well as dealing sensitively with the Listed Building repairs. Completed in 2011 while working as an Associate at Price & Myers.

Photo credits: DLG Architects, Fiona Cobb

Client: The Dean & Chapter of Westminster Abbey

Architect: Ptolemy Dean Architects

A new Song School facility for the Abbey’s Choir School, created by converting an existing dwelling and roofing over an existing garden. The new roof over the open plan rehearsal space, was framed in steel and timber. The existing building, dating from the 12th to the 20th century, now accommodates a second rehearsal space and file storage, which required careful assessment of the existing floor structures. On completion of the new Song School, the old rehearsal room was converted into new toilet facilities for Abbey visitors. Above ground works were carried out on an Watching Brief, but all excavations below ground were conducted by archaeologists. Completed in 2017 while working as an Associate at Price & Myers.

Photo credits: Simon Kennedy, Fiona Cobb

Client: Private Individual

Architect: Michael Carapetian and Studio Tam

Value: £1m

Restoration and conversion of the top floor of an old brewery to make a maisonette. The new first floor has a prefabricated doubly curved timber deck designed as stressed skin construction, built in a local boat yard.  The living space is contained within a timber screen, elliptical in plan, with very elegant staircases of stainless steel and glass. Completed in 1999 while working as a Project Engineer at Price & Myers.

Photo credits: Michael Carapetian, Sam Price