JDW contemporary build featured in Live 24 Seven Magazine

One of our houses from our Aylestone Gate development was featured in the October 2016 edition of Live 24- Seven Magazine. The feature was a ‘Through the Keyhole’ article and it was a look at how the new owner has styled the house. Have a look at the magazine article here, it starts at page 42. 

Aylestone Gate comprises of four stylish contemporary houses that were designed, developed and built by ourselves. The houses are part of a select development on the edge of the Cathedral City of Hereford. 

JDW Building and Conservation in Cheltenham

We have great pride in announcing that JDW will be forming  a base in Cheltenham over the next year. Moving into Cheltenham has felt like a natural progression for us as a business due to the nature of our work. We feel we have a natural affinity with, and relevance to the architecture of Cheltenham. This suits our high attention to detail that is present in all projects that we manage and construct. 

Builders in Cheltenham: The right building ethos for Cheltenham’s architecture

JDW has an ethos of blending modern architectural buildings and extensions with historical, period and listed properties. It has been well documented that we have an expertise in unifying new and old architecture to high standards, getting the best from any project. This is why we thought it essential that we make Cheltenham head of our company expansion plan.  We relish complex building challenges which draw heavily on our experience of technical building and construction techniques. This has established us with a reputation for building structures that others have thought just too challenging. 

Demanding conservation and restoration projects need committed builders

Over the years we have built an excellent reputation for taking on unusual and demanding building projects. Working closely with local and national architects we have created buildings, structures and extensions that we are very proud of and that our clients have been exceptionally happy with. 

Building on conservation history in Regency Cheltenham 

One of the draws of Cheltenham for us is its rich vein of architecture. Cheltenham being famous for its Regency architecture is said to be the most complete Regency town in England. Because it was specifically designed in the 18th and 19th century as a pleasure and health resort for wealthy visitors, Cheltenham has an exceptional range of quality architecture. When it comes to renovation, building and extension work, this sort of architecture needs no compromise. Attention to detail and high quality conservation, restoration and additional building work is the key to keeping the striking looks of a city like Cheltenham. JDW aim to be part of the rich tapestry of this building tradition of quality structures within the city.

Conservation Building: Getting the best from builders in Cheltenham 

We love that many of the buildings are listed, including the Cheltenham Synagogue, which was judged by Nikolaus Pevsner to be one of the architecturally best non-Anglican ecclesiastical buildings in Britain. Conservation building services are a high priority for us. We have many years of conservation work and are specialists in many building techniques. This has given us the ability to tackle historical building restorations and complex extension work with a flare for detail and precision.

Builders with passion for working on listed buildings.

We have a passion for looking at listed buildings, restoration, and modern building projects. We have a great reputation for prompt and precise technical specification quotations. No project is ever too complex or technical, we revel in unchartered territory using our skills to create an elegant solution. Listed building refurbishment, extensions modern house builds and conversions are our passion and specialism.

3 Steps for planning a successful modern house build or extension In Cheltenham

With planning now favouring a clear demarkation between architectural periods and styles it is imperative that people get good advice from architects that can bring modern and traditional designs together cohesively; the correct tension fused between these two styles can create something truly stunning that will add to your architecture for centuries. 

Step 1: Choose your architect well

The first step is to find an architect that can deliver on your dream, someone that can truly look at the whole picture and create something elegant, exciting and visionary. We can help with this. We have worked with some truly exceptional architects within this field, just give us a call and we can give you a list of worthy contenders.

Step 2: Make sure you are looking at the right quote.

The next step is to find a building and construction company that can interpret the project and concept, feeding back accurate detailed costings and specifications to the architect. To get costings right at the outset is important for the health of the build. If your building company quote is too cheap and the project can't be realised for this quotation, It will have a hard-hitting affect on the project. Getting this initial part wrong can bring a project to its knees. You want the correct fit and finishes, you want the project to hit time milestones, on the other hand no one ever wants to pay too much money for a project either! JDW have a steadfast focus on this initial part of the process, we pride ourselves on getting all the relevant information back to the architect in a prompt professional manner, focusing on getting the costs right first time. 

Step 3: Working as one team produces great building projects

The next step is for the builders to work closely with their client and architect to bring the project to life. With an acute attention to detail they should be able to deliver an unrivalled finished project smoothly. Using strong project management and communication techniques, they should be on top of the project and give confidence to the client every step of the way. This is the truly important bit, it is where your project becomes a pleasure or pain. We know communication and organisation is one of the most important values to have as a company. JDW have a proven track record in this department and feel it sets us apart from most. We have enjoyed lasting relationships with many architects and have a long list of happy clients. This is the final piece of the jigsaw, get all these right and you will have many years of happy memories and architecture that you love. 

We believe in the highest quality building and construction techniques and pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in the world of modern building and construction. JDW have built new modern homes using contemporary architecturally driven designs to the highest of standards. We have produced some stunning iconic houses in our past. We have built traditional and modern extensions that have stood the test of time and design, with a fastidious focus on detailed finishes. We have been involved with restoration projects that have been both technically challenging and a labour of love. This is why we feel we are qualified to bring the JDW ethos to Cheltenham together with the working practices of a modern forward thinking building company. 

Modern House Builds: 10 great reasons to design and build contemporary and passive houses

Given the alarmingly unstable financial climate of the UK in recent years and the unpredictability of the market, it is perhaps unsurprising that so many people have begun to turn their attention to building houses of their own. Modern, contemporary house building has begun to gain sufficient and notable momentum, with more people beginning to look at designing and building contemporary and passive houses every day. Listed below are ten great reasons for you to think about jumping on the bandwagon and join those partaking in contemporary modern house build.

1. Green
Contemporary modern house build often involves use of exclusively environmentally-friendly materials, meaning that your new home does its very own bit for the carbon footprint.

2. Security
New build homes don’t just look better from the outside - they’re tougher to break into too. Many modern houses are equipped with double-glazed windows and solid new door frames, providing a stern exterior to prevent damage from rough weather and potential vandalism.

3. Safety
Many old houses are built with materials that are now considered to be unsafe or pose a general health risk in modern society. With new build homes this will never be an issue, as contemporary housing can be assembled with pre-approved materials that guarantee safe living conditions within the home.

4. High-Quality
When refurbishing or purchasing an existing home, you’re forced to deal with existing materials, technology and supplies that are now significantly outdated. Building a modern contemporary home gives you access to the best possible materials, supplies and facets on the market; allowing you to build yourself a state-of-the-art home of the highest possible quality.

5. Efficiency
A new mind-set has developed in recent years with regards to home supplies. Instead of making aspects in the home simply more powerful, modern-day designs are often focused around making homes run efficiently. Getting the most possible power for the lowest price not only helps the environment, but also saves you a lot of money in the long run.

6. Budget
Building a contemporary home is often much healthier financially, but also allows you to see exactly what you’re spending, and exactly where all this money is going. Assembling your very own property from the ground up provides you with a clear idea of what money is available from the off, with a number of contemporary support groups and additional funds available for certain eligible parties.

7. Modern Living
The modern world continues to advance at a rapid rate, and refurbishing an existing property to attempt to keep up with the frequent changes in the world can be a stressful and costly procedure. Contemporary house design allows you to assemble the type of home that can account for modern-day living, allowing you to go about your daily business unhampered by out-of-date housing that can slow your fast 21st Century lifestyle down to a crawl.

8. Room for Manoeuvre
Modern design and building allows you to take a step back away from your property and re-evaluate things to improve it where necessary. Unlike existing properties, contemporary houses by their very nature can be redesigned relatively easily, allowing you to tinker with your home until you get it just right, for minimal expense.

9. Flexibility
You can add on when you wish to. There are no regulations or old materials that need fixing right away with a modern-day house build. Designing and building can be as long/short process as you want it to be.

10. Future
Getting involved in contemporary modern house build allows you to create your very own dream home; providing a glorious future for you and your family. 

JDW Building and Conservation have extensive knowledge in contemporary and modern house design and build. We can advise on all aspects of the build and also supply turnkey solutions, working closely with our architects, bringing you peace of mind with a well managed project. Give us a call if you would like to discuss our services any more detail. 

Bespoke Joinery: The art of joinery and its benefits in construction projects

The appeal of any property can be enhanced by the charm and timeless beauty of natural wood features. Many home owners are now hiring a professional to construct custom made furnishing as opposed to buying already manufactured items. Bespoke joinery is often undertaken as part of construction or refurbishment projects. This art is employed in building a wide range of features including cupboards, custom doors, wardrobes, frames and panelling, as well as more complex projects like staircases, fitted kitchens and building infrastructures for wooden framed building projects.

These items are designed in accordance to the strict specifications of the client or architect. If you are interested in creating a unique style with your wooden constructions, a specialist in bespoke joinery will essentially build your home in a specific manner, while ensuring that all the decorative elements are in place. They will often pay attention to every aspect of the construction, including the wooden window frames and interior doors among others.

What are the benefits and considerations of bespoke joinery?

• Custom designed and fit joinery will essentially allow you to make the most of every space in your home while maximising storage in the most visually appealing and neatest manner. This is as opposed to purchasing ready made furniture from the store, which will usually not fit into the available space you have. A well designed joinery project will not only fit into your space perfectly, it will also provide you with an inconspicuous method for hiding away your clutter. Custom joinery serves to add value to your home by allowing you to have a big usable living space. 
• A bespoke joinery company will help you not only with designing the joinery you need, they will also assist you with making it work with the rest of the house. There is nothing more fun than being able to plan the number of shelves you want in your bathroom cabinet, the exact layout of your wardrobe, or getting some extra hidden space to store your unsightly cables.
• While the initial cost of custom made joinery is a bit higher than buying ready made furniture, the numerous functional benefits derived from having everything around the layout of your house will make the price worthwhile. Adding bespoke features to your property is arguably the easiest and most affordable way through which you can add value to your home. Indeed, bespoke features are known to make properties more appealing to potential buyers as well as tenants. The extra financial cost of bespoke joinery is nothing compared to the aesthetic benefits that can be brought into your living space by a custom designed piece of work.
• Bespoke joinery can also significantly reduce both your heating and lighting costs. This is because it allows more light into your home, letting the sun naturally heat zones of the house, also it can add additional spaces for insulation. Studies reveal that the majority of bespoke constructions can provide vast improvements to a home’s thermal performance.
• Bi-folding doors that are the products of bespoke joinery not only efficiently open up your rooms to the outdoors, when closed they also bring in the much needed extra light and sensation of space especially when the weather is not so good, which is unfortunately an all too frequent occurrence in the UK.
• Wood is an extremely popular choice among homeowners and builders as it is efficient in construction and insulation terms.  With internal finishes it always looks amazing, bringing an organic natural feel to traditional and modern homes. To get the fit and feel right for your project is essential, this is where a skilled professional is worth their money. They can evaluate the vast array of different types of wood and finishes and advise on what is best for your project. 

JDW Building and Conservation feel so passionate about this subject that we started our own joinery sister company, making sure we have full control of all aspects of the creative process. If you need any further information on this subject why not contact JDW Joinery for all the expert advice you will ever need. 

The top ten considerations of conservation and construction projects

When looking at conservation building and construction on sensitive buildings or in conservation areas, there are extra considerations to be made, and more powerful legislation to abide by. It is important that before embarking on the project, you are fully aware of what is required and who will need to be involved. There are a number of pointers to consider which will raise questions, but the overriding principle of any conservation project is: to enhance and preserve.  

1 Assess
Carefully assess what is there and what you wish to add in the way of improvements or enhancements. Extra scrutiny is always applied on conservation projects, so it is important to ask about specific stipulations to avoid issues later.

2. Planning
Planning is a more complex issue so having them made and checked in advance is essential.

3. Working together 
In most conservation projects, a conservation officer will be assigned.  This is an extra layer of inspection and your plans need to be passed by the officer to stand any chance of approval. Working with them from the outset is the best action. Check if this is a requirement of your building.

4. Pre application
Involve the local authority and Parish council from an early date.  Ultimately, it will be down to them on whether planning permission will be granted.  Pre application engagement is vital, so involving all interested parties and your designer/building contractor is essential.

5. Local legislation
Follow legislation.  This may seem logical but certain rules apply in certain areas.  For example an Article 4 direction may apply, insisting that all doors are painted a particular colour.  This may affect the choices you are making for exterior fitment or window choices. Again, asking the questions early in the project may save time and money later. More information on Article 4 Direction can be found at http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/advice/hpg/historicenvironment/article4directions/

6. Preserve
Help preserve what is there.  There may be certain aspects of your conservation building and construction project that are unique or rare and researching these with a view to incorporating them into your design will assist in your planning application and enhance the end result.

7. The area
Research the area.  Getting a feel for the area and its history will help you in deciding how to incorporate local features into your design.  

8. The Building
Research the building.  Again, research on the actual property that you wish to conserve can only assist in the design and planning phase, increasing your chances of getting permission granted.

9. The real needs
Consider the needs of the property.  Old buildings in general have different requirements from new builds, and applying modern techniques, though technically acceptable in some circumstances, may cause major issues later.  It is therefore important to check what the building needs before making any final decisions on building products and techniques.

10. The best advice
Employ the best.  Buying the best advice and commissioning experienced planners and conservationists from the outset will undoubtedly answer many of your questions and guide you through any regulatory needs with the minimum of problems.  In conservation, skill and experience is everything.

These are considerations, pointers and questions regarding the conservation building and construction of a sensitive project which should give food for thought. Essentially,  asking questions of the relevant authorities and involving all interested parties as soon as practically possible is the key to ensuring that your conservation project is completed successfully. JDW Building and Conservation are here to advise you in any way on a range of conservation projects, we are always happy to chat about your project, so give us a call at any time.