We loved our house from the first time we went through, but it really didn't have enough living space. We have worked on improving the layout of the home and increasing the living area of the home to create a modern and more pleasant layout to the home. We are really proud of how the job has turned out and we wanted to share some of the details of how the extension and layout changes where designed and constructed. This blog has some of the photos of our extension as well as tips that we have learnt along the journey,.
Construction & Contractors Blog
Industrial spaces, such as an old warehouse or factory space, can become unique and dynamic living spaces after an architectural conversion but will require some dedicated work to turn into a comfortable living space. Here are some of the ways that an architect can help to create a great living space.
Plumbing and electrical conversions
On a purely practical level, you'll need to get an architect to examine the existing electrical and plumbing systems and work out how to upgrade these systems to make the industrial space into a living space. There may be certain areas within the structure that are best suited to having wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and laundries constructed. Often once the location of these rooms is laid out this can start to inform where some of the other areas in the home will be located, such as bedrooms and living areas.
Making the most of the industrial features
Often industrial spaces have some great features, which can include large structural beams, floor to ceiling windows, high ceilings lines or interesting ironwork around doors and windows. It can be good to choose some of these features to highlight to give the property a unique feel. While you don't want to feel like you are living in a factory, residential architects can be skilled at working out the best structural features to highlight in the design.
Energy efficiency
Industrial spaces are designed for maximum space efficiency but can often be hard to heat and cool effectively. Residential architects can help to work out ways to mitigate these issues by adding in extra roof and wall insulation, replacing single glass windows with double or triple glazing, adding vents for convective cooling on warm days and/or insulative floor coverings. This can ensure the home is comfortable to live in as well as being affordable to heat and cool.
Matching styles and textures
If your home will have sweeping windows, high ceilings, and large rooms, placing standard sized 'kit kitchens' and bathroom features can look out of place. Keeping in mind the overall feel of the home when designing the rooms of the house can ensure that your house has an interesting and cohesive style. For example, having a large, rustic, galley-style, built-in breakfast bar made from reclaimed ship timber in a marine warehouse conversion can be a great way to highlight the history of the space, while having a modern purpose.
If you are looking to convert an industrial space into a home it can be useful to get a residential architect to create an innovate and sympathetic design.
Share4 August 2016
