Scout Hut, Sawley, Nottingham
Scout Hut, Sawley, Nottingham
The Brief
Located close to Swain HQ, Sawley Scout group wanted a new base to replace their existing hut to accommodate their many varied activities and will also open the building up to the wider community.
Our Solutions
Our objective was to creates a design that inspires and aids them in their mission to source funding for this ambitious project. The design uses natural materials to create a multi-functional space where younger ages can meet in safety and interact with their building and retained outdoor space. The form and orientation of the building reflect the desire to create a highly sustainable building in line with the scouting ethos and values. The design features an interior climbing wall, a glazed mezzanine meeting space, and a biodiversity garden.
Rural Housing Development, Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire
Rural Housing Development, Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire
Our clients, Willett Homes have established a track record for creating unique and special homes, built to a high standard. We’ve designed their latest creation, Deben Farm, which is a beautifully situated rural development project. Set in open countryside within the Vale of Belvoir the project is close to Scalford and Long Clawson, and a short drive away from Melton Mowbray, Nottingham, Leicester, Loughborough, and Grantham.
As scheme architects Swain Architecture secured planning consent from Melton Borough Council for a development of five new-build homes, comprising an interesting blend of architecture and scale. The design mixes contemporary design with a classic local vernacular to deliver a small hamlet that knits well into this desirable rural setting.
Plot 1
Plot 1 at Deben Farm is an inspiring detached contemporary barn. Created with energy efficiency in mind, the family home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Contrasting the North facing approach which has modest glazing, the South facing elevations open out onto a private garden with uninterrupted views of the gently undulating Vale of Belvoir countryside beyond, all framed by high-performance glazing at ground and first floor levels. The design offers a large open living-dining-kitchen space with lots of more private spaces for peaceful family life as well as appropriate storage which is often missing in new-build properties.
Plot 2
Designed as a modern design of a classic country cottage, plot 2 is a stunning detached three-bedroom home. From the approach this house may look modest, but the cleaver layout offers more than enough space for family living. The flexible floor plan offers an incredibly versatile design with open plan living and bedrooms at ground and first floor levels, all with views of a private garden.
Plot 3
Plot 3 at Diben Farm is a stunning 3 bedroom detached development. Designed to have a flexible layout, the house is principally a ground floor single storey home, having the added attraction of a mezzanine deck, emanating from an architectural brief to create a relaxed open plan lifestyle. West facing glazing from living/entertaining space and bedrooms will make this house a place to be as the sun goes down.
Plot 4
One of our favourite designs, as part of our Deben Farm development for Willett Homes is Plot 4 – a stunning contemporary barn concept. Using natural undulation of the plot the black wooden clad barn shape is slightly recessed into the landscape, providing great views and a conversation with the topology. Unusually, the sleeping accommodation is found on the lower level with five bedrooms, three washrooms and an office which leaves an expansive open plan living area upstairs to benefit from the views of the private garden and rural views beyond.
Plot 5
One of the largest plots at Deben Farm is Plot 5. Conceived with great imagination and flair, this home is a substantial vernacular period stone barn conversion. This home retains the period charm of an attractive country barn, at the same time as offering a flexible layout including a grand main bedroom suite and rooms of substantially scale. This design would suit people who desire a country lifestyle with all of the benefits of a new-build home.
This project is currently on site
Housing Development in Long Clawson, Leicester
Hall Farm, Long Clawson
Swain Architecture reimagined this former Class Q Barn Conversion and a further conversion of an equestrian building into a residential development adjacent building.
A Successful Development
Swain Architecture partners housing developers to create commercially viable places that people want to live. Our understanding of commerciality married with our experience working with our self-build clients makes us perfectly placed to create architecturally interesting homes that can achieve planning permission in complex sites as well as demand a good market value.
Custom Build Architecture
At Swain Architecture we pride ourselves on working with our clients in a very collaborative way. We can lend our vast wealth of knowledge in architectural development to create fantastic spaces that deliver the maximum land value for the developer at the same time as creating architecture that is attractive to buyers and planning officers too. We offer our developers a Custom Build service where plots can be sold and then potential buyers can customised the design and build of their house rather than selling off plan. This gives buyers all the benefits of a Self Build home but with the security of a buying from housing such as builder guarantees and costs based on an economy of scale.
Trent Lock Commercial Offices, Long Eaton
Trent Lock Commercial Offices, Long Eaton
The Brief
The brief for this project at Long Eaton Lock was to extend an existing office building in a cost effective way, to provide more lettable space and add value for our client. We added a new arrival area as well as an additional floor by creating a mezzanine level open plan space.
Considered Architects
At Swain Architecture we’re always considering usable space and how storage makes this commercial premises ready to use for any business.
Location, Location, Location
When contemplating a project you’ll sometimes hear an architect talk about ‘sense of place’. By this we mean how the building fits into its location; how does the buildings visual language tie in with the surrounding buildings and landscape. This office extension project at Trent Lock instantly makes you think of a slower pace of life and times gone by. The setting of this office project couldn’t be more tranquil and that has an inherent value to potential buyers and renters.
TANK Nottingham Office Headquarters
TANK Nottingham Office Headquarters
The Brief
Our friends, the PR agency Tank wanted their new commercial office design to delight both their clients and team in equal measure. Tank’s owner Trevor, a heritage enthusiast, asked us to assist them in restoring this important Victorian building, whilst making it ‘work’ for their fast growing and dynamic business.
Our Solutions
The removal of the unattractive partitions on the first and second floors helped reinstate the original large, bright open-plan spaces in this historic period building. We created flexible studio spaces to allow for the flexible expansion of the company as well as the transformation of other rooms for use as small event spaces.
Mad Men Meets The House of Elliot
A Contemporary & Sensitive Restoration
On the ground floor we transformed the space, creating luxurious meeting spaces and even a multi-purpose reception bar for client events and team breakout space. The décor was carefully considered and reflects the building’s history. Even the toilets have had the glamorous treatment with old Victorian washstands transformed to create sink units, with a rich, deep heritage colour palette used throughout.
Interior Architecture
This has been a fascinating project for Swain Architecture and has allowed us to venture into the interior design. Working closely with our client who has a strong sense of style and passion for heritage buildings. We specified everything from décor and lighting to furnishings and materials.
