refurbishment

The “Quinta de Gomariz” is an estate in Northern Portugal with documented references dating back to late 13^th century. It includes several heritage listed buildings, the most important being the Tower of Gomariz, which is a gothic defensive structure built in the late 15^th century. The manor was built at the beginning of the 18^th century, adjacent to the tower on the west side. From the 18^th century building campaign are also the chapel, the main gate and the walls that enclose the estate.

An abandoned plot in Shoreditch, East London has been transformed into a 220sqm new build family home by architects Urban Mesh Design ltd. Designed by and for practice director, Oliver Lazarus, and his family, Volcano House is complete with four bedrooms, ground floor studio, a series of home offices and garden terraces and a stunning facade of bespoke ‘Black Volcano’ brickwork.

Thames Lido, formerly King’s Meadow Baths, was built in 1902 as a Ladies only swimming pool beside the Thames in King’s Meadow, Reading. By the time work started in 2014 the building had been unused for forty years and was a particularly sorry state. The team that successfully brought Bristol’s Clifton Lido back from a similar state of decay were invited to do a similar resurrection. Three years later the small site team had completed a meticulous renovation, inserted a dozen new rooms for a Spa, enclosed a new restaurant and added a new ‘west wing’ containing kitchens and a function room. From the outset the aim had been to keep as much of the original building as possible.

In the beginning, our team was intrigued by the peculiar site of this house, which is formed by two small lots joined by a juncture of over one meter in width. This bridge acts as an important connection of living spaces in the residence.