The challenge was then how to marry this expansive
volume with a more domestic scale necessary in
creating a comfortable and relaxing family home.
The various living spaces and bedrooms are therefore
much smaller spaces and are contained within the
side aisles with the proportions dictated by the
setting out of existing stone columns, arches and roof
beams. This approach allows the new building fabric
to fit in sensitively with the rhythm and symmetry of
the existing structure.
The proposed development includes two main
sources of low carbon energy in the form of roof
mounted solar slate tiles and a ground source heat
pump. Both of these will assist in providing the new
dwelling with the electricity required for heating,
lighting and appliances.
Solar slate tiles have been chosen over conventional
solar panels to reduce the visual impact on the roof
when viewed from the street below. Solar slates have
been developed to fit in seamlessly with existing
slate roofs and can fit a huge range of different types
of roof. They are popular on listed buildings where
a sensitive installation is necessary and have been
successfully installed on listed buildings and within
conservation areas.
A ground source heat pump will be located in
the strip of land immediately to the north of the
application site which runs directly along the
boundary line between Fern Street roadway and
the stone wall of the church grounds. The applicant
has purchased this strip of land to install a ground
source heat pump which will use a vertical loop to
use the heat from the ground to heat the under floor
heating system and hot water system in the church.
The chosen location keeps the bore hole which needs
to be drilled into the ground, away from where
the burials and graves are believed to be. It is also
adjacent the basement plant room so all pipework
can route directly into into the church in the correct
location. Once the vertical loop has been installed the
grassy bank will be reinstated above to ensure the
landscaping here maintains it's current appearance.
Artform Architects
WeWork No.1 Spinningfields
Quay Street I Manchester I M3 3JE
www.artformarchitects.com
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