News

A New Culture and Environment for MRT

MRT Architects have always enjoyed the challenge of working abroad and absorbing a new culture and environment. After completion of a project, sometimes we are able to revisit the property.

MRT is pleased to confirm the new house has captured the spirit of the region and mellowed into the landscape of orchards and vineyards overlooking an ancient beautiful bastide village.

The MRT visit just happened to be on Bastille Day… Fireworks and Revolution!

A great project carried out with full MRT drawings and detailed design with the help of a local bilingual consultant with knowledge of the French way of doing things and not dissimilar to our own.

Brilliant visit and looking forward to the next international enquiry.

Scaffolding is down!

Scaffolding is down at this project for House alterations and extensions in Chipping Campden a beautiful town of the North Cotswolds.

Lying in the midst of the ancient church, almshouses and historic barns and houses the planning consent was carefully considered by officers who gave support. They accepted that the design would be an enhancement of the Conservation area and cause limited harm to very important surrounding listed buildings of great significance.

A new garage application is pending.

The Copper House

The planning for this house was always going to be challenging, situated at the rear of sixteenth century historic cottages on a gateway road into Shakespeare’s Stratford upon Avon.

The team at MRT Architects felt there was a potential housing plot on the land occupied by a single storey double garage. As the other buildings all around were modern, including the Hotel du Vin next door, a contemporary approach was taken to blend into surrounding architecture and not compete with half-timbered brick listed cottages at the front of the land. The house has a brick base and at first floor a zinc clad storey which dramatically cantilevers over a car parking space.

On the ground floor is a large open plan kitchen dining living room overlooking a garden with a staircase leading to 3 bedrooms and bathrooms and a feature balcony over the room below.

The developers have designed the interior with a flamboyant range of exciting urban luxurious materials creating a wonderful home in the centre of the famous town a few minutes’ walk away.

The proposal was contentious with the Conservation Officer at the Council initially refused but was successful later with the granting of full Planning Permission with an Appeal to the Secretary of State. The Inspector found no problem with the principle of development or the design, and neither did MRT Architects. Another successful project!

Period Living Magazine Feature for MRT Architects

We are delighted this renovation of a wonderful Cotswold Tudor House in Honeybourne has been published in the March edition this year.

This multi gabled very attractive old farmhouse was largely unoccupied for a number of years and needed upgrading with a new heating system both underfloor and with first floor radiators. A new kitchen and utility room was installed and four ensuites were created for four bedrooms by careful modification of an existing bathroom and the insertion of narrow well located shower rooms within two other bedrooms.

The Gables was refurbished from top to bottom with wonderful interior design by Susie Stocks. During the building work an old Rayburn range was removed to reveal a very special inglenook fireplace which had been covered up for over 70 years. This kitchen feature is now an open plan room with a dining table and window seat.

We also made-over the garden to create a sunny siting out area overlooking a new lawn and shrubbery beds with complimentary planting undertaken by our local landscape contractors.

MRT prepared all the design and construction drawings and specification, obtained Listed Building Consent and oversaw the year-long work on site until this very successful completion which is a joy to see.

BBC’s Melanie Hansen of the programme ‘A House Through Time’ created a historical document of The Gables including the latest MRT changes for the next chapter and future generations to enjoy.

Stunning interior design for new salon

MRT are delighted to be involved with the new salon for Martin at MODE, Bourton on the Hill, working in collaboration with Martin Crean and the contractors to produce this stunning interior design.

It was a challenging project in a tight timescale to open on time and on budget too! The feedback from Martin and his team’s clientele has been excellent. We have all created a world class environment here in the Cotswolds for national award winning hair care and design.