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Listed manor house gives its staff a lighter lifePDF | Text | Print

Youlston Park, a 15th century Grade I listed manor house located in North Devon, has chosen Tuscan Foundry Products’ newly launched British made ‘Lumen’ conservation rooflight for its Grade II listed stable conversion to create staff quarters.

The conversion of this 18th century stable block overseen by English Heritage uses ten bespoke long and narrow ‘Lumen’ rooflights to allow ample light into three maisonettes. Designed to sit flush, the ‘Lumen’ has fine lines of steel to sympathise with original architecture without being obtrusive and replicates a traditional Victorian design. This low profile rooflight also offers one of the highest specifications of glazing available for conservation roofights and incorporates Pilkington Activ, the world’s first self-cleaning glass

Martin Sturley from Jonathan Rhind Architects explains:

‘It was important that the external appearance of the conversion was dealt with sensitively to protect the historic architectural character of the Stable block and its setting.
It was established early on in the design process that it was necessary to increase daylight into the living spaces along the outer roof slopes whilst preventing rooflights over-looking the manor house and adjacent grounds.
Preliminary discussions with English Heritage and the Local Authority Conservation Officer resulted in an agreed narrow and long rooflight design positioned high up the roof slope to achieve lighting requirements whilst not being conventionally domestic in appearance.

Tuscan Foundry Products were able to produce the special size units divided by vertical glazing bars and positioned flush with the roof finish. Minimal gaps between the slate edge and top and back gutters resulted in unobtrusive glazed units which do not interrupt the line of the slate roof pitch’. We are pleased with the appearance of the Lumen rooflights and have recently specified them for other projects.

The three maisonettes will provide accommodation for the housekeepers and trained staff running Youlston Park Manor which offers traditional luxury breaks. The £200,000 restoration project was completed in July 06.

For more information please visit www.tuscanfoundry.co.uk
Email info@tuscanfoundry.co.uk Tel: 01403 860040

Tuscan Foundry Products is one of the UK’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of cast iron, steel and aluminium plumbing heating and drainage products.

Barn ConversionsPDF | Text | Print

Getting enough light into a converted barn is always an architectural challenge, especially when it is a conservation area and the windows cannot be obtrusive. That is why property developers Dow Brandeston Ltd opted for rooflights as a solution for their renovation project, Hall Farm Barns.

Located in Fornham All Saints, a few miles from the historic town of Bury St Edmunds, the dilapidated barn at Hall Farm has been transformed into what can only be described as a stunning conversion.

The once agricultural barn is now the structure for five domestic properties and the village post office. Judith Kent of Dow Brandeston explains:

“When we discovered the barn it was in a complete mess and had obviously been standing there totally redundant for quite some time. The only real sign of life was the post office come village shop which was positioned at the end of the barn but even that was suffering from lack of custom and was very rundown. We decided to renovate it into two 2 bedroom houses and relocate the post office to the end of the barn as it was important that the villagers didn’t lose their post office”.

However, before work could commence the whole barn had to be stripped back to the frame and the roof which was made of corrugated asbestos had to be removed and disposed of by a licensed specialist. To keep within the conservation guidelines terracotta pan tiles were used for the main barn and reclaimed slate for the former post office. Rooflights were the obvious choice to allow maximum light in but like many other barn conversions the rooflights were not allowed to sit proud of the cladding or intrude on the building’s period character. Dow Brandeston Ltd sourced the rooflights from Tuscan Foundry Products.

“Once Judith had explained the project I knew that our steel rooflights would be the best option as they would sit flush with the roofline and can be manufactured with large opening sections” explained Paul Trace, Managing Director of Tuscan Foundry Products Ltd. “The steel rooflights were glazed to a high specification and incorporated a argon gas field unit with a low e coating. The biggest advantage for this particular property was that the steel rooflights could be specifically made to provide slender sections that will not detract from the character of historic buildings”

A total of 42 rooflights were used to provide ample light into each of the properties and this was further enhanced by using sun spots. Some of these rooflights have been motorised and hardwired to the alarm system for fire escape.

“This is the first time we have used sun spots as well as rooflights and we are really impressed” enthuses Judith, “it really has made a difference and lets in exactly the right amount of light”.

Judith has also received very positive feedback from the new residents of Hall Farm Barns. One couple that have moved into the biggest of the plots in January confessed the amount of light coming in to the property was its main selling point:

Before this we lived in a 1930’s house with bay windows which was really dark” they explain, “We cannot believe the amount of natural light that can be generated by having rooflights. We am really pleased with the rooflights and have even got used to using the pole to open them which we think adds to the whole character of living in a converted barn.“

For more information please contact Tuscan Foundry Products Ltd,
Tuscan
Telephone: 01403 860040
Fax: 0845 345 0215
Email: info@tuscanfoundry.co.uk
www.tuscanfoundry.co.uk

Light up your lifePDF | Text | Print

Paul Trace, Managing Director of Tuscan Foundry Products, suppliers of roofing, plumbing and drainage products and one of the largest manufacturers of rooflights, sheds some light on the use of rooflights, the importance of ensuring their architectural suitability within a particular project and also how best to maintain them.

One of the most discrete ways to introduce natural light into a building is through a rooflight. They provide an even distribution of light to large low-level structures and can illuminate the dark areas in a room that windows could never reach. This ingenious concept was actually introduced in its most primitive form within agricultural buildings before the Victorians developed cast iron rooflights. Therefore, we have in fact gone full circle as rooflights are again providing a design solution for barn and other agricultural conversions to introduce light but this time around are coupled with high specification glazing to make them incredibly energy efficient.

However, agricultural buildings are sometimes situated in a conservation area and are often listed, therefore if a rooflight is going to be introduced it has to meet the conservation specifications of that particular area or type of buildings. Matthew Slocombe of SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) advises:

“Domestic conversion is not always suitable for old farm buildings. Where it’s the only way to secure an old barn’s future, ensuring the detail of the conversion work is sympathetic will be crucial to the scheme’s success. Sympathetic detailing is also likely to be a condition of consent, if the barn is listed or in a conservation area. New openings should generally be kept to a minimum and should be of a simple form that respects the farm building’s character. If rooflights are needed the local planning authority will normally require a flush-fitting type.”

This can present a huge architectural challenge when introducing light into a building which was never intended for domestic purposes as property developers Dow Branderston Ltd discovered with their renovation project. Hall Farm Barns is situated in Fornham All Saints, a conservation area a few miles from the historic town of Bury St Edmunds; the late 18th century dilapidated barn was to be transformed into five domestic properties and a village post office. Judith Kent of Dow Branderston reflects:

“When we found the barn it was in a complete mess and had obviously been standing there totally redundant for quite some time. The only real sign of life was the post office cum village shop which was positioned at the end of the barn, but even that was suffering from lack of custom and was very rundown. We decided to renovate it into two 2 bedroom houses and relocate the post office to the end of the barn as it was important that the villagers didn’t lose their post office”.

However, before work could commence the whole barn had to be stripped back to the frame and the roof which was made of corrugated asbestos had to be removed and disposed of by a licensed specialist. To keep within the conservation guidelines, terracotta pan tiles were used for the main barn and reclaimed slate for the former post office. Rooflights were the obvious choice to allow maximum light in but like many other barn conversions the rooflights were not allowed to sit proud of the cladding or intrude on the building’s period character. Paul Trace, Managing Director of one of the leading conservation rooflight providers explains:

“Hall Farm is typical of most barn conversions that require conservation rooflights instead of a standard rooflight which would be unacceptable within a historic building. The main difference is a conservation rooflight has a low profile which means it will sit flush and not detract from the character of the historic building. It is important that there is a minimum amount of visual framework, especially when the rooflights are linked together.”

Paul Trace recommended to Judith that using a conservation steel rooflight would be the best option as they would sit completely flush with the roofline and can be manufactured with large opening sections. These particular steel rooflights were also glazed to a high specification and incorporated an argon gas field unit with a low e coating. The biggest advantage for this particular property was that the steel rooflights could be specifically made to provide slender sections that would be unobtrusive.

To provide ample light into each of the properties a total of 42 rooflights were used and enhanced with the use of sun spots. Some of these rooflights also had to be motorised and hardwired to the alarm system for fire escape.

Hall Barns is now completed and Judith has received very positive feedback from the new residents. One couple that moved into the biggest of the plots in January confessed that the amount of light coming into the property was its main selling point as they were previously living in a 1930s house with bay windows which didn’t let in much natural light.

The introduction of a rooflight does provide many different buildings which have unlit spaces such as an attic with a design and light solution, providing it is the correct size and the material used is sympathetic to the building.

Paul Trace concludes:

“There are many types of rooflights available but in most instances they are unlikely to be suitable for installation in historic buildings. Today our conservation rooflight is manufactured using modern techniques and benefits from having the highest specifications of glazing available including self-cleaning glass but authentically replicates a traditional Victorian design for installation in period properties. However the low profile design and fine lines of steel are also suitable for contemporary buildings.

There are other advantages of using rooflights, for example it reduces your energy costs due to the amount of natural light it lets in which will also enhance the occupant’s wellbeing as there is evidence to prove the brain functions respond better to natural light!”

For more information please contact Tuscan Foundry Products Ltd,
Tuscan
Telephone: 01403 860040
Fax: 0845 345 0215
Email: info@tuscanfoundry.co.uk
www.tuscanfoundry.co.uk

New British made rooflight to steel the showPDF | Text | Print

New British made rooflight expected to ‘steel’ the show

Tuscan Foundry Products one of the leading suppliers of conservation style rooflights is exhibiting their new British made rooflight ‘Lumen’ at stand number 1241 at this year’s National Homebuilding and Renovating Show (2nd - 5th March 2006, NEC Birmingham).

Manufactured to sit flush, this low profile rooflight meets all the standard requirements of a conservation rooflight suitable for a period property but is unique in its attention to detail. Everything from its fines lines of steel right down to its brass tag demonstrating its authenticity has been carefully crafted.

The Lumen rooflight has been especially made to replicate a traditional Victorian design whilst providing one of the highest specifications of glazing available today through incorporating Pilkington Activ – the world’s first self-cleaning glass. Specialist non-reactive silicone has also been sourced to bed and front the argon gas filled units to resemble the traditional putty appearance found on an orginal Victorian rooflight. In addition, every rooflight is produced with an anthracite timber liner, hand-crafted by a British carpenter to provide the finishing touch on the inside.

Paul Trace, Managing Director of Tuscan Foundry Products explains the need for detail:

“Our engineers have designed and produced every detail beautifully, for example the winder mechanism is made from solid brass. I wanted to produce a rooflight that is British made, indicative of our craftsmanship and deserving of our heritage properties.”

Each rooflight will be made according to the specification and will have optional features including remote control opening to allow flexibility. Where an excess of light is necessary, the Lumen rooflight has a seamless design which can be linked together with a minimum amount of visual framework. The Lumen is a unique rooflight of the highest quality and is ideal for installation in period properties that require a traditional skylight.

For more information please visit www.tuscanfoundry.co.uk
Email info@tuscanfoundry.co.uk Tel: 01403 860040

Conservation rooflight interior design choicePDF | Text | Print