12 11 28 Harborough Mail Article; Welland Tube

 

 

 

Artwork maps out district tube plan

Amazing...architect John Fowkes' tube map of the Welland Valley (John Fowkes Architects 01664 820489)

Published on Monday 5 November 2012 08:22

DON’T get too excited – Harborough district isn’t about to be dug up to create an underground transport system just yet.

This incredible tube map of the Welland Valley is actually the brainchild of architect John Fowkes.
From Brixworth in the south to Gaulby in the north, Bringhurst in the east to Broughton Astley in the west, the underground system links villages across the area.
The only major settlement that appears to have been missed off the fictional map is Lutterworth – though commuters could always take a bus from one of the tube stations at Gilmorton or Claybrooke.
The map features the River Welland and Grand Union Canal and puts major junctions in Harborough town centre, Braybrooke and East Langton. Smaller touches not immediately obvious include the addition of a “tractor link” taking would-be travellers across Great Easton.
This is the fourth such map created by Mr Fowkes, after maps based on the Vale of Belvoir, where he is based, Rutland and The Lizard in Cornwall.
“First I get a map out and pin-point all the villages, then it is about linking them together in straight lines,” he said. Like Beck’s invention, the map does not necessarily reflect the geography of the district, but the relative positions of stations along each line.
“Harry Beck’s map has been copied by every city in the whole world and these are basically the same idea,” added Mr Fowkes,
“People buy them because they like to see their village on the map. They prove quite good Christmas presents.”
The maps are on sale at Wistow Gallery at the Wistow Rural Centre, priced £60 framed, or £40 unframed.
Customers can also personalise the maps at no extra charge to include up to three extra stations
Gallery owner Kate Foster said: “They make fantastic gifts and are especially popular with or for men.”
johnfowkesarchitects.co.uk
www.wistowgallery.com

12 11 26 Old School Hoby

Our extension and internal alterations at Old School is nearing completion.

 

12 11 15 Manor Farm Scott Willoughby

We have been commissioned to convert and restore the workers cottages at Manor Farm Scott Willoughby. The building was originally two cottages and still retains most of its original features and outside sheds and WC's.

The buildings are to be repaired, refurbished and updated to current standards throughout.

12 11 05 Welland Valley Tube Map

The new Welland Valley tube map is now on sale at Wistow Gallery. This follows a recent piece about the maps and the gallery in the Harborough Mail last week.

The map can purchased direct or from Kate at the gallery.

12 09 04 Elm House New Eco build

Planning permission has been granted for a substantial house in Hickling, by Rushcliffe Borough Council. This follows a refusal and a refusal at appeal. The change of decision has been generated by:

The change of decision has been generated by:

Eco features in the design bringing the house to Level 4 CfSH.
New planning policy encouraging good design.
Re-positioning of the house on the plot.
An improved design.
A recognition that the site is within the village envelope and that the approval doesn't extend that envelope.
Support from the Ward Councillor.

12 09 03 The Barn Whatton-in-the-Vale

Confirmation of appointment to redesign the front porch and approach aspect of a barn conversion, the original building is Nineteenth Century.

12 08 03 Tube Maps on Sale

Our hobby of drawings inspired by tube maps is growing.

We currently have the Vale of Belvoir map on sale at The Picture Cafe in Bingham and our Rutland map at The Wistow Gallery on the edge of Rutland.

http://www.thepicturecafe.co.uk

http://www.wistowgallery.com

12 07 11 STEM talk Longslade Colllege

As part of the STEM Ambassadors role we gave a talk at Longslade Community College about how to become an architect as part of the National Design and Technology Week 2012.

New Sixth Form facility at LCC

During the week STEM reached approximately 2000 students with 8 talks in Leicestershire.

The talk was attended by 40 to 50 students and staff and included...........

Being an architect is cool

Choice of A levels

Choice of School of Architecture

The process, 7 years to become qualified
What architects do during a day/week/month

Where to work?

A career in Architecure

What you might earn

Am ambition.

12 07 04 The Langtons, Market Harborough

Confirmation of appointment to convert and improve the substantial rear extension to Orchard Cottage into new family accommodation and a super top-lit kitchen.

The proposals will also include conversion of the outbuldings and stables, the potential for a new driveway and  other alterations to the house.

12 07 04 Langar Hall

Conversion and extension of the Lodge at Langar Hall.
Initially it was proposed to convert and extend the existing brick buildings but their condition is too poor to allow for their re-use. The proposed new extension is therefore conceived as a simple cedar clad box which will weather to a pale grey allowing the Lodge to be clearly read (particularly when repaired and re-painted orange).

Areas of glass have been added on the north and west private sides to make optimum use of the view across the fields and paddocks. The building has a vertical chimney element which will be built to match the stacks of the Lodge and provide some vertical to the otherwise horizontal form.

Importantly the roof will be a living herb and sedum roof. There are no windows to the south road elevation to provide protection from the road.

The extension is entirely private and will have its own entrance from a new path linking across the garden to the avenue. Only a small portion of the new building will be visible when viewing the Lodge from the front porch.

12 07 03 Midland Cottages

We have been approached to help with the repairs and alterations to a cottage in Leicester built between 1871 and 1881 by the Midland Railway as a group for their engine drivers and station master. There is also a pub adjacent the cottages built as a hotel with stabling.

The cottages have been designated a Conservation Area after some were poorly altered and having been recognised as being of architectural merit as a group, with the hotel.

There is possibly only a single house in the row of 20 that hasn't been modified.

13 06 12 Willow Lodge, Knicker Hill, Keyworth

Design and planning drawings have been completed for Willow Lodge on Knicker Hill, Keyworth. The proposals include a huge new family room with sliding-folding doors, re-arrangement of the kitchen and family dining-room, new garage and utility extension and a second suite on the first floor.



The plans have been supported by Rushcliffe Borough Council in pre-planning consultation.

08 06 12 The Barn, Hickling

             A Planning and Conservation Area Consent Application has been submitted for the Barn built c 1820.

             This application is in three parts; a new garden-room kitchen extension to the north elevation, a new garage located off  the drive and a conversion of the original integral garage to form a studio for the owner. Each is described in turn as follows:

            Proposed garden-room kitchen extension. This extension is sited at the north end of The Barn and occupies the original patio.

The design intent is that of an individual pavilion extension as the character and symmetry of the original building is very attractive and shouldn’t be unbalanced. The extension sits well alongside the original building and has been kept to an appropriate size so as not to dominate.

The building also provides much need aspect and contact with the garden which the house currently doesn’t provide. The building will be difficult to see and will have no detriment or loss of amenity to any neighbours.

             New garage. This will provide accommodation for two cars and bicycles in a two bay oak framed and boarded garage. A plain tiled roof will match the garden-room extension. The building will not be visible from Main Street and will have no detriment or loss of amenity to any neighbours.

The garage is border on two sides by very high and thick hedging or conifers.

            Garage Conversion; As a new garage is proposed, this space will be accommodated into the footprint of the house. It is proposed that the ground floor will be converted to a study for the present owner with small mezzanine over, within the roof space.

Converting the garage creates only a small amount of additional roof (above the existing) and the garage doors are replaced with a smaller version of the original barn window adjacent (south elevation). A much larger, effectively two storey, roof extension in this area had previously been granted (see below).

10 05 12 Vale of Belvoir Tube Map

The new Vale of Belvoir tube map will be launched this week. Copies are available by emailing john@jfarch.co.uk full colour high quality A3 prints, can also be framed in brushed silver aluminium.

12 04 12 Langar Hall

Confirmation of appointment to start work at Langar Hall which is a Grade II Listed building on the border of Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. The Hall is a lovely boutique hotel and restaurant and sits adjacent the village church.

The works are to re-furbish the Lodge at the entrance to the estate by the gates, and extend the building with additional accommodation to replce the derelict extensions. The house was originally the gardener's cottage.

12 04 04 Eco house re-styling Newark

A planning application has been submitted for an Eco house re-styling of a 1960's estate house in Newark.

The proposals include re-styling of the outside with new windows, cladding and rainwater goods, alterations to the glazing style and new extensions. The new extensions include a family sitting-room with stove to the east side, a new garage and teenager's suite to the south; and the re-styling elevations to the hall and main sitting-room.

Internal alterations include an open-plan, living/eating/cooking/family room and an open hall/stair/landing to create a greater sense of space.

The house will also benefit from new levels of insulation, windows, boiler and services.
The application is currently being considered by Newark and Sherwood District Council.

2012 04 02 Melton Times Business Awards

Melton Times Business Awards winners crowned           
Published on Thursday 29 March 2012 23:00

THE cream of Melton borough’s businesses rose to the top tonight as the winners of our annual business awards were announced.
About 200 guests, including the Mayor Alison Freer-Jones, attended the gala dinner and presentation night at Pera Conference Centre.
The big winners of the night were Carrier Landscapes which scopped the blue riband Business of the Year award and young entrepreneur Grace West of Gracie’s Sandwich Bar.

Local Business Accelerators (Melton Times) - John Fowkes Architects (joint winners)

2012 04 02 The Barn, Hickling

We have started work on the alterations and extensions to The Barn in Hickling. The building is originally Eighteenth Century and is to be extended with a new garden room to the north end of the building and incorporate an artist's studio in the current garage.

A new garage will then be built in the south-east corner of the drive.

2012 03 29 VAT on Listed Building Work

Following the budget last week and with particular reference to VAT and Listed Buildings, our tax advisor is telling us that:

The basic position is that all work carried out prior to 1 October will still benefit from zero rating, where applicable. Work carried out thereafter will be liable to VAT at 20%.

There are, however, a couple of variations/conditions:

Any work, for which the contract has been placed, prior to 21^st March 2012, will still be zero rated up until 21 March 2013.

There will be anti-avoidance measures put in place, such that if someone invoices work in September (no VAT), but carries out the work after 1 October, HMRC will be able to charge 20% on that work. This would also apply if someone simply placed a deposit prior to October for work carried out afterwards.

Works unaffected that still qualify for the 5% VAT rate:

-  Empty for 2 years prior to work starting.
-  Converting a property from two dwellings into one, or vice versa. In fact any conversion resulting in a different number of dwellings. Best example was one where a staff flat, which was not needed, all repair/refurb work changed from 20% to 5% VAT.
-  Converting from commercial use to residential use.

We hope that this is of help but if you’d like any other information please feel free to contact us.

2011 03 19 STEM Ambassador Loughborough Grammar

Friday was take your daughter to work day at KGGS and Esme duly did her stint with us.

First duty was to make the tea and then familiarise herself with the filing systems and how we keep our files up to date and properly ordered. A Client's Guide to Enploying an Architect is always a good place to learn what an architect can offer and why it's essential to appoint an architect on any building project, so this was quickly absorbed.

Next was a quick lesson in how to colour client's drawings and then issuing of drawings by email to the printers for print, fold and sort.

The rest of the morning/lunch/early afternoon was spent at Loughborough Grammar Schools as their career's department had organised a insight into a career as an architect.

Our presentation as part of the STEM Ambassador's talk included

Architecture as a cool career
Choice of A levels
Chosing a University carefully
The process of qualifying (7 years)
Where you might work
A day in the life of...
What you might earn
A developing and changing career.

To round off the day we visited our recently completed architectural projects in Zouch (new house) and Bunny (Convent).

2011 03 07 Burton Street Melton Mowbray

Thursday 8 March 2012

An alternative masterplan for Burton Street

Architect John Fowkes' proposal for the Burton Street site

Published on Thursday 8 March 2012 08:00

IN response to Melton Council’s call for comments and ideas here’s my proposed masterplan for the redevelopment of the site between Burton Street and Play Close.

As an architect I took as my starting point an earlier town centre masterplan produced by Taylor Young in 2008. It identified a fantastic opportunity to provide Melton with a new street, which it called St Mary’s Walk, to take pedestrians from the station to the town’s historic quarter. (An alternative area for car parking would obviously need to be found).

I’ve developed this premise and reinforced the avenue idea with trees and landscaping. The walk would provide a backdrop for the new Melton Arts Centre or library and a new outdoor civic space in the Burton Street ‘gap’. There would also be an opportunity for new shops, art galleries and restaurants linked to Market Place via the well established and successful Church Street.

The open space of Play Close would be fronted with new, high quality apartments and houses, taking in the afforded view and the under-used park amenity.

To my mind to simply resurface Melton’s south car park, in the heart of the town’s best Conservation Area, would be an opportunity missed. I hope these plans will generate and inspire a real debate.

The new civic offices have been designed and positioned to afford rail passengers with views of the church when exiting the station. Let’s try to help them get there in a manner they would remember and enjoy.

2012 03 06 Woodhouse Eaves conversion

Confirmation of appointment to commence work in Woodhouse Eaves on the conversion of a workers cottage extension. The house is early 19th Century and has an interesting original Swithland slate roof . It is within the village Conservation Area.

The original out-building will ultimately contain a new kitchen, dining-room, cloakroom and garden-store.
johnfowkesarchitects.co.uk

2012 01 14 PM's praise for business contest

Prime Minister David Cameron is praising our Local Business Accelerators campaign

Published on Wednesday 11 January 2012 07:00 MELTON TIMES

DAVID Cameron has offered his congratulations to the three finalists in our Local Business Accelerators contest.

John Fowkes Architects, based in Long Clawson, Fred’s Clothing of Sherrard Street, Melton, and Caf Caf in The Mall, Nottingham Street, Melton, will now benefit from three months free mentoring and advertising.

Nationally nearly 3,097 businesses applied to take part in the Newspaper Society initiative which is being supported by local papers up and down the country in a bid to help get the economy moving and growing again.

In his message of support the Prime Minister highlighted the role of the local newspaper industry in supporting British business. Mr Cameron said: “Congratulations to all the finalists in the Local Business Accelerators scheme. It’s brilliant that so many promising young companies, from such a wide range of sectors, are benefitting from this excellent initiative.

“Entrepreneurship, creativity and ambition are essential for our economic recovery and through Local Business Accelerators, newspapers such as the Melton Times are supporting some great new British businesses to grow, and helping to boost their local economy.
“I wish the newspapers, businesses and their mentors every success over the coming months.”

John Fowkes Architects specialises in church work and converting or refurbishing country houses and listed buildings and has just been appointed to help turn the Fox Inn in Leicester Street, Melton, into almhouses.

The three will be invited to attend the Melton Times Business Awards at Pera on March 22 when one of them will be delared our overall Local Business Accelerators winner.