Lovelace House

THE REQUIREMENT

Upon acquiring a plot of land on the prestigious Lovelace Avenue in Solihull we faced the unique challenge of constructing a property without harming the mature, protected trees that tightly surrounded the building’s footprint.

After various consultations with the local planning authority the ‘Grand Designs’ external architectural and specification features of Lovelace House was approved. Set over three floors we were granted permission to build a property that comprised of 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms and a large living kitchen area.

OUR SOLUTION

Our initial solution was to pile 10-metre-deep foundations to ensure the trees’ roots remain undisturbed. The steel-framed roof, assembled on the ground and then craned into place, is a notable engineering accomplishment. The design also included an innovative approach to guttering, minimising the number of outlets to prevent leaf blockage and preserve the clean lines of the structure.

The roof and facade were further clad with ‘Anthra-Zinc’ – the world’s 1st pre-weathered black zinc. The Siberian Larch clad gable features, a material which has been sourced from a plentiful and vast forest region of Northern Europe. The cold harsh climate has given the Siberian Larch its attributes most popular with contemporary development – its density being hard wearing and resistant to decay and rot, perfect for exposed elevations. The high density of the material means it has a maintenance-free service life with a long and reliable lifespan.

The interior features a range of quality finishes including the immaculately polished concrete across two floors, a bespoke oak staircase, Crittall doors, and a bespoke Hampton Kitchen.

The gardens were landscaped to reflect the contemporary design, keeping ease of maintenance in mind whilst showcasing the existing established tree life.