Project at Box Bush

Presentation to the design commission wales

comisiwn dylunio cymru |

BOX BUSH FARMHOUSE Project: Proposal for residential re-development to an existing farmstead Type: Residential Address: Box Bush Farm, Capel-Y-Ffin, Llanthony, Abergavenny, NP7 7NP Client: Harry + Laura Marshall Architect: CO2 Architects Ltd Lead Architect: Sam Organ Project Architect: Stephen Bates Collaborators : Renewables | GemSolar Ltd Ecology | Natural Resources Wales Landscaping | OTM Geomatics / land Survey |Longdin and Browning Swansea Strategic Planning Consultancy| Geraint John Size: 15.59 Ha

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CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

Date: 12th April 2018

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David Jones | Capel-Y-Ffin 1926

CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

contents Pages vision| description |design review artist impression location maps + curtilage historic analysis precedent||gwern-Y-bustach precedent| nant-y-llanerch site strategy||layout site strategy||energy planning statement existing plan proposed plan materials artist impressions

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Vision The creation of an exemplary dwelling with a separate production studio and editing facilities in the heart of the Black Mountains. The ambition is a sustainably realised project, based on renewable principles and harmonious design that respects and enhances the historic fabric of the site and creates an exciting mix of residential and work spaces, sympathetically set within the dramatic natural landscapes of the Brecon Beacons National Park

Description Box Bush Farm was acquired in summer 2017, by Harry and Laura Marshall, founders of internationally recognised and award-winning Icon Films in Bristol, one of the UK’s leading independent television producers, specialising for 30 years in Natural History and environmental documentaries. The Marshalls have three grown-up daughters and wish to combine their home with an environmentally focused, multimedia production hub. The Marshalls are committed to LZCT across the site, including PV Solar, water catchment, biomass and potentially small-scale hydro.

They will be working closely with the conservation officer and team of the BBNPA Natural Resources Wales, to ensure the ongoing health of the land and its ecosystems under their stewardship (in particular the recovery of the SSSI that it includes). The aim is for Box Bush Farm to be a model of sensitive rural development aligned to local ecological renewal and to provide the space and inspiration for low-impact commercial /muti media activity in line with the Marshalls’ experience and expertise as environmental film-makers.

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CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

design review The proposed scheme represents an opportunity to both save and create an exemplary cluster of traditional and innovative buildings that will preserve and invigorate the live/work paradigm within the Black Mountains.

CO2 has presented schemes to the Design Review Panel previously and all have been significantly enhanced through the creative dialogue. As an architectural practice, CO2 are aware that design is an evolving process and the opportunity to discuss the merit of sensitive proposals with others can often stimulate further ideas and solutions.

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Box Bush farmhouse C

CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

CAPEL-Y-FFIN

- BRECON

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View southeast perspective

Location

CAPEL-Y-FFIN

- BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK

WALES

NP7 7NP

CAPEL-Y-FFIN BBNPA

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CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

LLANTHONY VALLEY OFFA’S DYKE PATH

LLANVEYNOE CAPEL-Y-FFIN

BOX BUSH

GRWYNE FAWR RESERVOIR

LLANTHONY

WAUN FACH

CHWAREL Y FAN PEN Y GADAIR FAWR

BOX BUSH CURTILAGE 15.9 HA RESIDENTIAL CURTILAGE 0.18 HA TALSARN

SSSI

BOX BUSH 15.59 Ha CAPEL-Y-FFIN

THE GRANGE

THE MONASTERY

Box Bush Farm is a 38.5-acre small holding set within the Vale of Ewyas with views over the small and dispersed settlement of Capel-y-Ffin and within the wider context of the enigmatic Llanthony Valley beyond. The partially wooded site sits within the Brecon Beacon National Park and includes an 8 acre SSSI – the Box Bush Meadows, described in the New Naturalist Library edition on the Brecon Beacons as “an outstanding examples of the once common herb-rich hay meadows of the Eastern Welsh uplands.

A number of unusual plant species have been recorded from the site including greater butterfly orchid and wood-crane’s bill germanium sylvaticum”. The nearest town is Hay-on-Wye, 8 miles north over the Gospel Pass, which provides the main facilities and is home to many book shops and the Hay on Wye literary festival, at which Harry Marshall participated one year, showing a film he made with David Attenborough and Wilfred Thesiger and taking questions.

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“Its one thing living here... ...It’s another thing altogether making a living here” Gordon Watkins, Talsarn Farm, Capel-y-Ffin

Buildings formaly part of Box Bush

historic Analysis The distribution of redundant and or derelict buildings shown in figure 1.2 show the extent of agricultural and domestic structures that existed within this part of the Black Mountains. This human dimension was as much celebrated by the works of David Jones, Ravillious and Gill as the natural setting. Capel-y-Ffin was once a thriving community, scattered in clusters around the neighbouring monastery of LLanthony Priory. Post industrialisation the population dwindled, and many buildings were left and have since been entirely lost. Living on the Black Mountains can be very challenging and making a living from traditional farming methods from the 38 acres of Box Bush Farm is simply no longer an option. Without inventive diversification of use, these buildings, already crumbling, will also disappear into the ground. This would be a further loss to the already small community, many of whom remember the Box Bush as a functioning farm. The alternative proposed by the attached scheme is to bring vitality, use and purpose – as well as local employment - back to The Box Bush without compromising its fundamental character, historical, ecological or environmental integrity.

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CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

Redundant or derelict buildings Extract from ‘DERELICT STONE BUILDINGS OF THE BLACK MOUNTAINS MASSIF’ Christopher George Leslie Hodges, Oxford, 2015

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precedent gwern-y-bustach

Refurbishment, coversion and extension to a Farmstead, comprising a Farmhouse, attached barn, detached barn with outbuildings and the conversion of a steel frame shed into an office and training centre Planning Authority: BBNPA Location: Forest Coal Pit, Nr Abergavenny

New Parking Steel Shed | Converted to home working office and training centre

Modern 2 storey extension in counterpoint with existing farmhouse and capturing views of surrounding landscape Farmhouse | repaired and restored

Detached barn converted to ancillary residential accomodation

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CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

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Gwernybustach

Attached barn converted to extended residential accomodation

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precedent nant-y-llanerch

Refurbishment, coversion and extension to a Grade II listed Farmstead, comprising a Farmhouse, attached barn, detached barn with outbuildings

Repair | Design | Honest New cowl using vernacular stone

Planning Authority: BBNPA Location: Aber, Nr Talybont-on-Usk Large modern extension in counterpoint with existing farmhouse and capturing views of surrounding landscape New outbuilding

Recycled welsh slate

Durable timber left to weather naturally

Modern extension in counterpoint with existing farmhouse and capturing views of surrounding landscape White limewash used on rural structures throughout the National Park

Farmhouse

Attached Barn

Detached Barn Wildflower habitat | Haven for birds, wildlife and insects

Parking

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CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

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SITE STRATEGY 1

EXISTING Volume : 1176m3 2 -Remove low quality structures -Preserve + Re-use materials Farmhouse Attached Barn

Detached Barn

3 Organise access - Formal axial approach - Mess entrance

Store

Store 4 Repair and re-instate roof scape

5 Execute Brief.

Replace low quality structures with high quality-energy efficient extensions appropriate for modern standards of living using local materials + trades

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CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

Layout

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proposed Volume : 1420m3

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uplift

- Formal entrance - Frame view - Arrive heart of the home

Low Level Extension

Repair Roof

Retaining structure to form rear access

Entrance

Mess entrance Biomass Fuel IN

Plant Energy Store

Parking

ICON Workshop| Studio

KEY Historic Building Asset Outbuildings to be upgraded Low quality structures to be removed Access Aerial views from northern perspective Repair + Re-instate roof Replacement high quality energy efficient extensions Outbuildings upgraded

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SITE STRATEGY

ENergy

Direct South Orientation

Temple of the Sun 10Kw Solar System

Hydro Reserve

90-98% Energy Requirement

Solar 10kw Solar System 36x 280w Solar Panels 2x Tesla Powerwall 13.5kw Lithium batteries

Hydro Hydro Reserve harnessing renewable solar asset

Biomass 26kw Biomass hot water + space heating 2x 500L Energy store thermal store 250L Hot water cylinder to house Underfloor heating 300m2 Bulk hopper feed in plant room energy store

Temple of the Sun Hydro

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CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

5-10% Energy Requirement

Talysarn

Renwood Talysarn

Renwood

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Box Bush

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Boxbush

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BOX BUSH FARM FARMHOUSE

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Temple of the Sun )

Bungalow

Lower BOX BUSH FARM TEMPLE OF THE SUN

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The The

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Monastery Monastery

nts (c) Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Ordnance Survey 100035207

Plant room Biomass Boiler Energy store Box Bush Farmhouse

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Temple of the Sun

405 401 397 393 389

34m = 2 bar water pressure

385 380 375 373 A.O.D.

Box Bush Farmhouse

SECTION AA NANT BWCH

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planning statement These proposals represent the upgrade of an existing dwelling and the conversion of attached and neighbouring ancillary domestic buildings (they have not been used for agriculture in over 10 years). The BBNPA (LPA) have granted similar approvals at NantY-Llanerch and Gwern-Y-Bustach. The current local development plan, against which planning applications are determined, presents a vision and planning policies which support these proposals.

The primary vision of the LDP is to ensure ‘The Brecon Beacons National Park will continue to be a living working landscape with many uses, where development will be sustainable and compatible with the statutory National Park purposes. This LDP will guide development in a way which will ensure that within the lifetime of the plan, the Brecon Beacons will be a place which:• Continues to be recognised internationally for its value as a protected area, whose character continues to be shaped by the longstanding interactions between people and the processes of nature’ • ‘Continues to be widely acclaimed for its natural beauty, geodiversity, biodiversity, and cultural heritage which are being conserved and enhanced by its stakeholders through traditional and innovative means’ • ‘Continues to be a living landscape where innovative approaches to sustainable development and renewable energy are encouraged and tested for the benefit of the environment, the economy and local communities’ This project meets all these aspirational objectives. It secures the future of built heritage which is at the heart of a dwindling community, preserving the cultural heritage of the place. The project offers enhanced opportunities for nature, particularly the flora of the neighbouring SSSI which is of national importance.

Box Bush will remain a living landscape, using renewable energy in a innovative, prudent and sensitive way. Mr and Mrs Marshall have already started working with NRW to manage and improve the SSSI and are dedicated to ensuring this project has a positive impact upon biodiversity.

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CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

BBNPA Policy CYD LP1 Enabling Appropriate Development states that ‘proposals for development within countryside locations will be required to contribute positively to their countryside setting and enhance the quality of the landscape without adverse impact on the wildlife, natural beauty, cultural heritage, environmental assets or biodiversity of the area.’

This proposal meets these requirements in every respect. The existing buildings, desperately in need of repair, will become an invigorating group of buildings, sensitively managed within the rural context. Wildlife, natural beauty, cultural heritage and the biodiversity of the area will not be adversely affected: In fact they will be enhanced.

Specific Policy regarding house extensions (Policy 27) ‘House Extensions and Ancillary Buildings’ requires the proposal to be ‘appropriate to the scale and design and setting of the original dwelling.’

A clear hierarchy of visual differential and dominance, both in terms of scale and materiality between the various build forms, is retained. The existing cottage dominates the scene, followed by the existing secondary stone outbuildings with the tertiary ancillary extensions retiring into the background. The BBNPA have an established principle that the size of extensions should be limited to no more that 30% of the original volume. This proposal’s scope for converting and replacing existing structures and extensions is limited to a 26% volumetric increase.

The overarching site strategy includes a new agricultural building (potentially erected under permitted development rights) at the top of the site for the storage of agricultural machinery, hay and straw. This is affectionately known as the ‘temple of the sun’ as it is suggested that this building is utilised as the hub for water collection and storage as well as being the structure to carry the PV solar cells required to power the development.

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EXISTING N

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Ground Floor Plan CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

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Store Deatched Barn Living Kitchen utilty Larder Bedroom W.C Attached Barn void

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First Floor Plan

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proposed N

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Ground Floor Plan CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

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Icon films / box bush productions Plant + Energy store log store Main Entrance Hall Library dining void Bedroom Ensuite laundry + air Snug Study Winter Garden link Utility boot room W.C Bins Drinking trough Pond bridge Bio-Diverse green roof Kitchen living larder earth

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Lower Ground Floor Plan

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First Floor Plan

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vernacular Slate

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CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

limewash stone

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vernacular Stone

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CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

weathered timber

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vernacular new 14/3 Corrugated

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CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

re|used 14/3 Corrugated

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Box Bush farmhouse C

CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

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CAPEL-Y-FFIN

- BRECON

Perspective aerial view from North

Box Bush farmhouse C

CO2 Architects Ltd 2018

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CAPEL-Y-FFIN

- BRECON

View easterly perspective