The project is a single family, modern, 21st century dwelling, adjacent to a fine Victorian villa in the conservation area at 59 York Place Harrogate. It is of a high quality, referential contemporary design that responds in a positive fashion to the character and appearance of its neighbours and the Conservation Area.
The design of new buildings to stand alongside historic buildings requires careful attention: this does not mean that new buildings have to copy older neighbours but that fundamental issues of scale, height, massing, materials and alignment must be respected.
In this project the internal spaces capture the sky and celebrate the landscape, where the urban area meets the open parkland of the Stray.
The entrance experience is consistent with the best in Victorian architecture prevalent in Harrogate, which draws the visitor visually and physically through the space.
Once inside the space a short route takes you into the main living room with full height glazed wall, revealing the views of the Stray beyond. This space contains a void which visually and physically connects to the lower floor, ensuring it is not a basement.
The main staircase leads down to the lower ground floor containing kitchen-dining -family living room–with primarily glazed walls. The smaller enclosed living room is also contained on this floor set behind a glazed scree. The external terrace provides fabulous space for amenity. The level of the window head and the depth of the lower ground floor ensure that privacy is maintained whist offering abundant natural daylight and views of trees and sky.
The bedrooms have large windows positioned to maximise daylight penetration and views whilst maintaining privacy. The ‘set back’ of the glazing from the colonnade enables fully glazed rooms to take advantage of light and sky and fantastic views of the Stray, whilst the stone columns maintain the privacy of the neighbours from oblique views.
The roof of the single storey element is softened by the sedum roof.
The use of stone as a defining principal material with a pure glass façade behind, creates in texture and detail a palette that is in harmony with buildings within the Conservation Area.
Completed 2020
