We are a small but well-established architectural practice, based in offices in Old Hatfield, close to Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. The Practice was formed in 1994 by Andrew Neil, following ten years in partnership with a City based firm of architects.
Our Portfolio includes a diverse selection of work across several sectors from high quality new build and refurbishment projects in the residential field, to sports clubhouses and indoor swimming pools.
The variety of work is reflected in the projects illustrated on the following pages.
We have a design-led approach where we focus on our clients brief and what they aim to achieve from their project. Our response to the brief is an exploration of possible solutions through sketch alternatives and design development which we discuss and develop further with our clients.
This approach is adopted whether it be for instance new build residential projects in sensitive locations, such as Conservation Areas and The Metropolitan Green Belt, or in undertaking refurbishment work and extensions to historic and listed buildings. It is the nature of the site, building and location that presents to us the context in which to design appropriate solutions.
We aim to manage our Clients expectations throughout the design and build process, from commencement to completion.
Here is a selection of Residential projects we have undertaken.
Click on the > to see the full project details.
BOX TREE HOUSE, COOMBE HILL, KINGSTON, SURREY
Box Tree House when constructed was a new dwelling in the Coombe Hill Conservation Area of Kingston, Surrey. The Conservation Area is characterized by several notable houses designed by the renowned Victorian Architect George Devey, all of which are Grade II Listed Buildings.
Box Tree House was designed with Arts and Crafts references, in order to seamlessly blend in with the predominant character of the area, represented by Deveys work. The dwelling has a cruciform plan with a strong geometry of intersecting rooflines, traditional chimneys, and asymmetrical elements and details which make up the composition. It acts as a gate house to Hoppingwood House, hence the gated archway.
4 CROWN CLOSE, MILL HILL,
LONDON NW7
Planning Consent was granted in 2010 for this replacement dwelling in the Mill Hill Conservation Area in North London, which also lies within The Metropolitan Green Belt.
The House has been designed to comfortably fit within its sensitive context and totals circa 4,300 sq.ft internally.
Construction has recently commenced on site.
THREE PENTHOUSE APARTMENTS, LONDON HOUSE, CANONS CORNER, EDGWARE, MIDDLESEX
This project for three penthouse apartments is to be constructed upon an existing residential block of flats, originally constructed in the early 1980s.
Refused planning consent by the London Borough of Harrow, it has recently been allowed on Appeal. Construction is expected to commence towards the end of 2011.
ROWLEY LODGE, ROWLEY LANE, ARKLEY, BARNET
Rowley Lodge is a replacement dwelling within the Metropolitan Green Belt. The original house was in a sad state of disrepair and neglect when our Clients purchased the 15 acre estate.
It was decided to demolish the existing Rowley Lodge, but rebuild the new house as a facsimile of the original, with all its quirkiness, and using identical details. A large indoor swimming pool and leisure complex and triple garage wing were also added at the same time.
THE HUT, STREAM HILL, DALLINGTON, EAST SUSSEX
The Hut is a replacement dwelling within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in East Sussex. The original Hut was actually two Nissen Huts constructed in World War II as a listening station. It was later granted a Certificate of Lawful Use as a residence.
Our Clients purchased the site and buildings with the aim of constructing a replacement dwelling as a self-build.
The design is actually a modification of a standardized post-and-beam timber frame house, from Linwood Homes, based in Vancouver, Canada, which our Client was keen to purchase and import. Rather than take standard package we modified what is known as the Ranier design, to suit the site conditions and client requirements.
GLENDALE AVENUE, EDGWARE, MIDDLESEX
Planning Consent was originally refused by The London Borough of Barnet for 14 town houses, but overturned upon Appeal.
The site was purchased and built out by Martin Grant Homes Ltd.
HIGHFIELD, TOTTERIDGE GREEN, BARNET
Planning Consent was granted in 2008 for this replacement dwelling in the Totteridge Conservation Area of Barnet North London, which is also on the fringe of The Metropolitan Green Belt. The Conservation Area is noted for a number of late Arts and Crafts dwellings. Highfield is a sensitive location, being set between two Grade II Listed buildings, Fairspeir and The Croft, both by T E Colcutt, the latter being the Architects own house, dating from 1895.
Whilst appearing modest, the replacement dwelling totals circa 7,000 sq.ft including basement. Construction is expected to start in the summer of 2011.
LAURENS, FANBOROUGH PARK ESTATE, KENT
This un-built project was for the redevelopment of two plots with into a single residence on grounds of an acre within the Farnborough Park Conservation Area.
The design consists of a symmetrical /axial plan with a central house in a Queen Anne Revival style on three floors plus basement, with two flanking wings to accommodate staff and a large leisure complex incorporating an indoor pool and gymnasium.
Here is a selection of Conservation projects we have undertaken.
NEW SUB-BASEMENT TO 7 PELHAM PLACE, SOUTH KENSINGTON, LONDON SW7
7 Pelham Place is a Grade II* Listed Building, in South Kensington. We originally worked for our Clients to restore and refurbish the house when it was purchased by them in 1994. In 2009 we secured planning and Listed Buildings consents for a new sub-basement room under the rear patio garden, approximately 10 metres long by 6 metres wide.
This was a remarkable engineering project in many respects. The sole access for all materials and circa 300 tonnes of spoil was through the front basement window opening, with limited access from the rear. The perimeter was secant piled to a depth of 6 metres, then the concrete basement room constructed within, waterproofed and fitted out. The patio and planters were reconstructed to a new design, incorporating three walk-on rooflights to allow natural light to permeate into the basement room.
A small infill conservatory was also incorporated into the original basement level light well.
FREDLEY MANOR, MICKLEHAM, SURREY
Fredley Manor is a timber framed Grade II manor house dating from 1590, and set in grounds of 30 acres near Box Hill in Surrey. The house was further extended in the late18th century and owned by the politician Richard Conversation Sharp, who entertained Coleridge, Wordsworth and Watt amongst his many guests.
Our Clients have owned the house for several years, and over this period have sympathetically refurbished and extended the property. Our work has included an award winning two storey library and master en-suite extension, and a more recent enlargement of the kitchen and scullery to provide a breakfast room with a sensitively designed infill family room extension.
We have also gained planning and listed building consents for an orangery extension, unbuilt.
Our work in the grounds include a complete restoration of a Grade II listed barn and conversion of a further barn and stables into a separate dwelling.
THE LLANDOGER TROW PUBLIC HOUSE, KING STREET, BRISTOL
The Llandoger Trow is a historic Public House, in King Street Bristol and dates from 1664. It is a Grade II* Listed Building. It was originally five timber framed houses of four storeys and a basement built to meet the requirements of prosperous merchants.
The building was partially destroyed by a bomb in World War II, but three of the original buildings remain. No. 5 has been the Llandoger Trow for at least two centuries.
Tradition has it that Daniel Defoe met Alexander Selkirk, his inspiration for Robinson Crusoe here, and it was Robert Louis Stevensons inspiration for the Admiral Benbow in Treasure Island. In the Victorian era the pub was associated with the Theatre Royal which is across the road, and was visited by many performers and musicians including Henry Irving.
The first floor was developed as the first Berni Inn in the 1960s, but the floors above fell into neglect and disrepair over the following thirty years.
A complete refurbishment of the building was carried out with a full width extension at the rear. Original plaster work paneling and joinery was restored. The empty upper floors were brought back into use as staff accommodation.
MONTAGU PLACE HOTEL, 2-3 MONTAGU PLACE, LONDON W1
Originally associated with J.T. Parkinson's Montagu Square development for the Portman Estate, Nos 2 3 Montagu Place are Grade II Listed Georgian terraced town houses, circa 1810-11.
The houses were conjoined and converted to low budget hotel with very poor sanitary facilities in the more recent past. The building suffered extensive fire damage in 2003, and laid empty for three years.
A complete restoration project was undertaken in 2006, with full en-suite sanitary accommodation throughout. Andrew Neil Associates worked closely with Interior Design Consultants Occa Design of Glasgow to create a niche boutique hotel with just 16 rooms.
OAKFIELD COTTAGE, BALCOMBE ROAD, CRAWLEY, SURREY
Oakfield Cottage is an early C18 L-shaped cottage on two storeys and is Grade II Listed. The south wall has weatherboarding on both storeys, but other walls are brick to the ground floor and tile-hung on the upper storey. The brick chimneys on the tiled roof are original.
Our Clients wished to enlarge their small kitchen to form a kitchen/family room, and provide an additional bedroom on first floor. The resulting extension is a sympathetic and seamless addition to the original house, with careful choice of matching materials and joinery.
Here is a selection of Sport & Leisure projects we have undertaken.
NEW CLUBHOUSE FOR BOX END PARK WATER-SKI CENTRE, KEMPSTON, BEDFORDSHIRE
Box End Park Water-ski Centre is one of the Countrys Premier water ski clubs and venue. It consists of two man-made lakes set in 100 acres in the village of Kempston, Bedfordshire, one lake for speed-boat towing, the second with a mechanical ski-tow around its perimeter.
The Client brief was for a dramatic timber framed clubhouse incorporating reception and changing facilities, supplemented by restaurant, bar and conference facilities and four bedroom suites to boost income. We responded by designing a cathedral-like space, with a first floor mezzanine all focused on views overlooking the lake. Externally a timber board walk wraps around the lakeside elevation, where the public can relax and watch the fun.
Having designed the building and obtained planning consent, we worked up the scheme design and then embarked on a two-stage tender process with two Canadian timber frame building suppliers. Cedar Coast Homes of Muskoka Ontario was chosen to carry out the detailed design and to supply the building in kit and component form, which was shipped to the UK in nine containers. The Company then also sent over key personnel and labour to assist the UK contractor in erecting the building.
The building totals 9,000 sq.ft and is notable for the use of a ground source heat pump and heat exchanger to heat the building through the UFH pipe work. The system is able to reverse the cycle to cool the building in warm weather. Whilst having large areas of glass, the building is North-facing with its outlook across the lakes.
The Clubhouse won best building in the 2008 Bedfordshire Association of Architects Design and Craftsmanship Awards Commercial Architecture category.
NEW GOLF CLUBHOUSE, OTTERSHAW, SURREY
This is an un-built project for a Golf Clubhouse in Ottersaw Surrey for Japanese Clients, designed in a traditional Arts and Crafts style.
HEALTH AND LEISURE CLUBS
We were instrumental in updating the Dragons Health Club Interiors in the mid nineteen nineties, refurbishing clubs in Derby, Leeds Bedford and Copthorne amongst others, with a brand new Club in Orpington Kent. We also added an indoor swimming pool to the Copthorne Club. We also undertook to design a small gym facility at the Millennium and Copthorne Hotel Gloucester Road, London.
INDOOR SWIMMING POOLS
The projects here are a small selection of commercial and private indoor swimming pools in which we have been involved over many years.
We have designed Commercial Pools for St Christopher School Letchworth, and The Whitgift School Croydon. We have also designed the refurbishment of the Hydrotherapy Pool at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
NEW GOLF CLUBHOUSE FOR MOUNT PLEASANT GOLF CLUB, LOWER STONDON, BEDFORDSHIRE
Mount Pleasant Golf Club is a popular golf course in a village setting established in 1992, formed from farm land. Originally the Clubhouse was converted from a small milking shed, but by 2008 the club had outgrown the building.
We were commissioned to design a new single storey clubhouse and pro-shop in a more picturesque overlooking the course.
Our approach was to focus on the perfect setting for the 19th hole, to allow golfers to relax after a game of golf be it in the bar lounge or outside under a full width covered verandah, all overlooking the last green. This focus also allowed us to dramatise the roof form with a large cantilevered prow. The building also acts as a perfect backdrop as golfers drive from the 18th tee, and make their way up the final fairway.
The Clients very much welcome non-golfers from the village and beyond, and the interior reflects this with a neutrality which is comfortable for all concerned. The clubhouse incorporates two function rooms with views down the fairway, and a full commercial kitchen, to service the restaurant and small events and functions for golfers and non-golfers alike.
The building is heated via an air source heat pump, and hot water supplied via solar heating panels.
The Clubhouse was completed in the summer of 2010, won two prizes at The Club Mirror Awards 2010, including Proprietary Club of the Year 2010.
WATER SPORTS CLUBHOUSE AND CONFERENCE CENTRE, WILLEN LAKES, MILTON KEYNES
This project is an un-built design for Whitecap Leisure, who manage the water sports and other leisure activities in the Park.
The Client brief was to relocate and bring together all of the existing club facilities into one building, but to introduce new bar, restaurant and conference facilities which could be separately managed or sub-let to a specialist operator.
The lakeside setting gave a large panoramic outlook across the lakes, which could be exploited for the conference, food and beverage side, with the essential club facilities positioned to the rear. These diverse functions were incorporated by into a radial plan to respond to the site context and functional requirements that the project demanded.
Here is a selection of Commercial & Retail projects we have undertaken.
Commercial projects have included the refurbishment of a Ford Car Showroom and servicing centre for Fullers of Malden near Kingston Surrey.
We have designed demountable retail kiosks at The Galleria Outlet Centre in Hatfield.
We have designed small retail units for Liberty at the Yaohan Plaza in Colindale.
AWARDS
Club Mirror Awards 2010:
Best Proprietary Club if the Year
Best Refurbishment of the Year
for the new Clubhouse, Mount Pleasant Golf Club
Bedfordshire Association of Architects - Design and Craftsmanship Awards 2008:
Best Commercial Building for the Clubhouse Box End Park Kempston
Dorking and District Preservation Society Best Development Competition 2003:
Two storey extension to Fredley Manor Highly Commended
AD/Barrett House for Today competition 1987 Commendation Andrew Neil
The Sunday Times Wheelchair Garden 1981 Winner Andrew Neil
ANDREW NEIL ASSOCIATES LTD
19–-25 SALISBURY SQUARE,
OLD HATFIELD,
HERTS AL9 5BT
Telephone: 01707 264621
Facsimile: 01707 271087
Website: www.ana.uk.net
Email: mail_ana.uk.net
Director: Andrew Neil BA Arch Dip Arch RIBA ACArch
Registered address: 4a Gildredge Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 4RL
Registered in England No: 6921456
VAT Reg No: GB 657 0439 26
