A self-build wasn’t on Mike and Sue Nicholls’ agenda when they purchased a 1960s house on Chichester Harbour seafront in 2014. The couple, both watersports enthusiasts, initially used the property as a place to retreat to at weekends, travelling down from their permanent base in Kent, for weekends spent sailing and windsurfing.
In 2017, when Mike started to think about retirement, the pair decided to move to the south coast permanently. “We’d always wanted to live near the water, but we didn’t buy the house with the aim of knocking it down,” says Mike. “Our initial idea was to refurbish it.” After a false start with their first architect, Mike and Sue appointed local practice Helyer Davies Architects to take the project forward. “Our first architect was too slow and we knew things were unlikely to improve as the build progressed,” says Mike.
CHANGE OF PLAN
Tom Davies, a director at Helyer Davies, put forward an interesting proposal for the scheme. “The roof was sagging, the electrics were poor and the kitchen was tiny,” says Mike. “Tom told us we’d need to take the back of the property off and replace the roof. He suggested that we start again from scratch, enabling us to build to modern standards of thermal efficiency.”
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Homebuilding & Renovating.
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Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Homebuilding & Renovating.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Back to black
Dramatic black finishes and industrial touches add impact to Charlotte and Sam Tisdall's extended end-terrace home
Change for good
A last-minute decision to build a kitchen extension instead of a general update turned out to be a wise move for the owners of this detached period property
High praise
After converting a run-down gospel hall into a unique 1930s-inspired home-complete with geodesic dome - Alice Deuchar and Daniel Schamroth pronounced it a resounding succes
Lifetime achievement
Replacing a tired 1960s bungalow with a bespoke prefabricated contemporary house allowed retired architect Helen Heslop Brunt and her husband Martin to fulfil a long-held dream
Self-build for beginners PART 13 PRE-CONSTRUCTION GUIDE
Make sure that your insurance, health and safety, build and cost schedules and all documents are all in place before kick-off
ECO LANDSCAPING
Creating a garden with green credentials isn't without its challenges, but there are plenty of ways you can reduce its impact on the environment, once you know how
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT PASSIVHAUS VENTILATION?
Heat and energy expert David Hilton explains the benefits, options and costs of this ultimate heating standard
HOW MUCH DOES EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION COST?
It's touted as an affordable home insulation method, but is external wall insulation worth the outlay and what are the lifetime costs? We look at the figures...
Open-plan kitchen DAVID HOCKNEY EXTENSIONS
From structural considerations and zoning to layout ideas and lighting, our practical guide to creating your new space has it covered
RENOVATING A GEORGIAN HOME
Known for their elegant architectural features, Georgian homes need to be restored sensitively to make them fit for modern life
