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Trevolt - Converted Substation,

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Individual Self-Build in St Ives East, Lelant & Carbis Bay

completed: 2022

Architect: Jacob Down Architect


About this home:

Once the old electricity poles, concrete extension and cracked pointing was removed, the tower has polished up beautifully. Arched windows with brick surrounds, chunky walls and exposed granite in the extension situate you in the historical fabric. Lime plaster with insulating fibre on the interior walls allows the building to breathe and stay warm. The soft finish of the lime paired with stone floors, wooden staircase, considered lighting and bespoke furniture is a testament to Abi's interior design skills. From the roof, there are stunning views of both coasts and surrounding moor land. On top of the hill with the sea on two sides, the tower stands firm against the storms and sea mist.


Features:

Individual Self-Build icon

Individual Self-Build

Timber Frame icon

Timber Frame

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Ground Source Heatpumps

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Council Committee Decision

Historic Preservation icon

Historic Preservation

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Historic Building

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Retrofit

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Landscape House

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Women in Construction


Planning Insights:

11 months at planning

They had an option on the land sale subject to obtaining planning permission. 20 years ago the site had planning for the tower to be converted, but they wanted to add an extension to suit their family's needs. The tower is a 'non-designated heritage asset' which has less restrictions than a listed building. By being sensitive to the building's historical context and working to preserve its integrity, they won permission. They won the Cornish Buildings Group award for Best Building 2023.



Project Challenges

Completed during Covid-19

Being relaxed about the timeline reduced the stress for themselves and the builders. They rarely set deadlines and accepted things would take longer than anticipated.

Achieving U-value on granite walls

They wanted to preserve the character of the granite walls and keep the arched windows, so they used a thick layer of lime plaster with insulating fibre to allow the wall to breathe and be insulated.

Choosing trusted builders

Most of the builders they hired were through personal connections. This supports the local economy and means everyone in the team is invested in the project.

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