Westerton Loft - Converting the Attic of a 1930s Railway Cottage.
This project involved easing the access to an attic space over the existing 1930’s cottage and creating a new room.out of that.
With such a high ground floor ceiling height for a small cottage APPROX 3.0 m - access to this storage space had been torturous and dangerous via a ladder.
The cottage was a stock issue English model that came "off Plan" with the railways sporting a foreign pitch to its roof at under 30 degrees . As such it was not destined for easy conversion.
The cottage sits within the Westerton Garden suburb conservation area and any alterations would be scrutinised by a Historic Buildings Officer. If the awkward arrangement could be converted it might largely increase the accommodation of the house .
The position of existing central props to the Trusses prevented ease of movement along the length of the space. The alterations undertaken improved access to this space via removal of the central Props and re-engineering of the Roof truss. It also allowed for the the provision of a workable stair.
At the same time improvements to the existing roof and separating floor were completed with a view to improving the energy performance of the dwelling.
Much as we like a Tardis - we could not "magic" the proportions of the cottage in to what they were not. Within very limited parameters and budget we made practical use of what we found and added an extra 60% of the footprint of the cottage .
Basic ergonomic data and Building standards had to be adhered to.
Joy and ease in movement of people up the stair and within the attic room were achieved.
Improvements were made as Follows. Additional Day lighting, improved electrics, smoke alarming etc.
The crafted metal and hardwood stair detailed below was instead carried out in MDF at the behest of the contractor.... gggrrrrr The tiny budget did not allow for the Manhatten Loft aesthetic to flow.
However the clients son in law, was still able to work the Decks without much interruption till his mother In Law suggested another House in the neighbourhood .