Hanson Bath & Portland Stone supplied over 100m3 of its Westwood Ground Bathstone to help complete an existing Georgian terrace, known as Herschel Place, located on Bathwick Street in Bath.
Local based architects, designers and planners Nash Partnership were tasked with designing an extension to the existing terrace. Planning permission was achieved in 2005, providing completion to the row and an improved visual ‘welcome’ to the city of Bath. After the site was purchased later that year by Rectory Homes, Nash Partnership was appointed to produce a series of detailed drawings for the external envelope and stonework of Herschel Place.
Previously also accommodating a petrol filling station, the terrace was an abrupt and incongruous entrance to the city, along the Georgian avenue of Great Pulteney Street. Following the lines, proportion and detail of the existing building, Nash Partnership designed the extended terrace to create 12 luxury, high spec apartments set within four storeys and a basement level, with two additional apartments at the rear of the site within a mews courtyard.
An integral part of both the design and construction was the use of appropriate materials and accurate execution of the Georgian detailing. Bathwick Street is not highly elaborate in style so, a greater emphasis was placed on the quality and proportions of materials, the success of which can be measured against the existing stonework, ironworks and joinery.
Bath & Portland Stone’s Westwood Ground Bathstone was used to create window and door surrounds, cornices and moulded courses, copings and caps, plinths and railing bases and the ashlar.
In line with the building methods of the 18th century the existing terraces were built using full stone construction so that water could not permeate the surface but this meant that the buildings were cold.
Commenting on the need for a sympathetic yet modern building material to overcome the temperature challenges inside the new building, David Ullathorne, director at Rectory Homes said: "We needed to be sure that we created a facade that emulated the appearance of the original terrace and that utilised the advantages of modern methods of construction. In working with Bath & Portland Stone we were able to benefit from the design teams’ ability, coupled with the diversity of the natural stone, to create a cavity walling solution. This ensures that the new development retains heat more efficiently than the full stone, helping to boost the green credentials and energy efficiency of the build. Ultimately this will reduce the cost of living for the residents and at the same time retain the original aesthetics and appearance from an external viewpoint."
Talking of the projects’ success, Gary Sellick, commercial and projects manager at Bath & Portland Stone said: "This has been the ultimate project for Bath & Portland Stone – proving the flexibility and abilities of our products, masonry services and our design team. We have delivered a complete project solution; providing cohesion between traditional and modern construction. We have been able to retain the grandeur and beauty of the existing Georgian façade whilst maximising on our modern day knowledge and capabilities."