Planning application has gone in

The application for planning for the house was hand delivered on Monday 8th January (by my sister). Now its wait and see. I'm glad its all over, that part at least. Here are the south elevation, section and perspective view to show some of the design changes.


south eleavtion

section




view from south west

Wheelie bins in Edinburgh

Wheelie bins in Edinburgh sizes and dimensions and types:

Basically you get a two wheelies - a green one for everyday trash and a brown one for garden waste. Green one is picked up once a week - the brown one seems to be every blue moon.

There are an additional two recycling crates, one is for glass and tin cans, the other's for cardboard. There are two big bags for newspapers too.

(There are on street recycling bins for plastics and papers and any other recycling.)

The wheelies are 600mm wide by 750mm deep and 1100mm high.
The small crates are 570mm wide by 450mm deep by 350mm high.

If you have a big family (3 kids or more I think) you get a bigger trash wheely but I ain't got one to measure. I've seen one though and it's huge. Better leave about 850mm squarex1100mm high

Thanks and credit to my sister!

Neighbour notification

With planning applications you need to notify neighbours.
From application form D1 page 7

What do you need to send?

(1) a completed copy of the “NEIGHBOUR NOTIFICATION” form provided with the application form;

(2) a copy of a location plan showing the site of the proposed development.

(3) a copy of the guidance note “ADVICE TO NEIGHBOURS”.

If the neighbouring property is DOMESTIC (a house/flat), 2 copies of each of the above 3 items must be sent, one addressed to “The Owner” and the other to “The Occupier”.

If the neighbouring property is NON-DOMESTIC, a copy of each of the above 3 items must be sent ... to “The Owner”, “The Lessee”, and “The Occupier” ... [of] the neighbouring property.

In my case this would be like this:

Write to them

Democracy in action. The write to them website gives you all you need to know to get involved and write to your COUNCILLOR / MSP / MP / MEP

Planning application

Phew getting planning permission is a drag! And I've only just started reading the permission form and guidance...

Here is the South Elevation that I am preparing as part of my application

application history

Here is the list of applications for my site. More information at Edinburgh City Planning Portal

Colour in Edinburgh

I'm starting to feel that Edinburgh and the UK in general are too over regulated. Not that I disagree with the points made here its just... well have a read of the edited version (the real thing is 8 pages long):

CITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
DEVELOPMENT QUALITY HANDBOOK
Colour of Buildings
Approved 22 July 1999

■ POLICY CONTEXT

Local plan policies promote high quality design and protect the character and appearance of listed buildings and conservation areas. For example, policy CD19 of the Central Edinburgh Local Plan states:

“The Council will permit alterations and extensions to buildings which in their design and form, choice of materials and positioning are compatible with the character of the original building, will not result in an unreasonable loss of privacy or natural light to neighbouring properties and are not detrimental to neighbourhood amenity and character. Particular attention will be paid to ensuring that works to listed buildings and non listed buildings within conservation areas do not damage their special character”.

■ SCOPE OF GUIDANCE

This guideline applies city-wide to proposals for new buildings or to change the colour of existing buildings.

1. COLOUR OF NEW DEVELOPMENT

a) The predominant materials and colours of existing good quality neighbouring buildings should generally be reflected in the choice of colours for new development. Colours should reflect, complement and be part of the design characteristics of the new building and the streetscene in general. Large areas of incongruous colours which are not “earth colours” or “natural colours” must be avoided. Stone and brick walls should not be painted.

b) In areas where the Scottish Vernacular style predominates, there is scope for allowing a more innovative treatment such as the use of coloured rendering on facades, although it will usually be inappropriate to use strong, non-traditional colours on large and prominent areas of walls and roofs.

(i) Large expanses of assertive and brightly coloured surfaces should be avoided. They can emphasise bulk and make a facade look overwhelming.

(ii) Contrasting shades of colour can help to accentuate and link proportions between new and old buildings, give variety and interest, and help to break the scale of bulky elevational compositions. They can also help to enliven the streetscene.

(iii) Architectural details can be picked out in neutral tones or highlighted to contrast with their background.

(iv) Buildings that have roofs darker than their walls tend to create a more stable and robust effect and are encouraged.

(v) For major new buildings and complexes in a modern style, the choice of colours should reflect the context but also be an intrinsic part of the architectural design concept. In such cases, colours of buildings will be assessed on their individual merits, taking into account texture/context and aesthetic balance.

(vi) Innovative schemes of demonstrable quality may justify a departure from recommended guidance, and provided they are acceptable in the context of their surroundings

Revised design again

Simplified design, smaller corner window new velux roof lights.

Flues

Okay so most people know that flues from boilers etc are a bit more complex. Here are the regulations on placement from gas fired appliances. The risks are again, fire but more likely noxious gases in the extract.

The humble chimney

Who knew that chimneys were so complex?

Here are the Scottish guidlines on chimney location, the aim being to avoid setting the house on fire when the chimney goes on fire (a relatively frequent occurance)

Velux windows

This is one of the Velux range of windows. It is a vertical bit with the more usual 'in roof' window that velux are famous for attached.

Below are the prices and dimensional options. I'm considering the 1400x780 with 600mm deep vertical window. 558 pounds sterling (2006 catalogue prices).

December update

December 4th update

The house is starting to rationalise itself: I am starting to get real and cutting inaffordable things. Outwardly not massive changes just tweaks... Still not resolve dthe glazing to the west yet.




interior image (ignore the cooker hood that's just for showing something)



The engineering issues (sent to my structural engineer Tall Engineers)

03 Muchen

are a practice of 3 architects in Munich. They have done some nice small houses, their larger scale stuff is not so impressive and their ehibition and furniture design downright mediocre. They look very young in their practice photos but have built a lot.

Attached is an image of their Hellmuth house. Check out their website here and more information about their Hellmuth house here (both in German).

Fire regulations

The Scottish Building Regulations 2004 and their associated 'Technical Handbooks' (available to download free from here) provide the followiing guidance on 'Escape Windows' under Domestic part 2, fire:

2.9.4 Escape windows (E2.17)

The normal means of escape from a dwelling in the event of a fire will be by way of the internal stairs or other circulation areas.

In order to provide the occupants with early warning of the outbreak of fire, mains operated fire detection should be installed in circulation routes (see guidance to standard 2.11). The early detection of smoke should allow the occupants sufficient time to evacuate the building safely. However in some cases the circulation area may become impassable due to smoke or heat and openable windows large enough to escape through should be provided from every apartment from which the occupants could make their escape by lowering themselves from the window.

The use of an escape window will be the last resort for the occupants and inevitably involves some risk.

An escape window should be provided in every apartment on an upper storeyat a height of not more than 4.5 m. In addition, escape windows should also be provided in every apartment that is an inner room on any storey at a height of not more than 4.5 m. Escape windows are not necessary from apartments where there are alternative routes from the apartment to circulation areas or other rooms.

Escape windows should be a window, or door (french window) situated in an external wall or roof; and having an unobstructed openable area that is at least 0.33 m2 and at least 450 mm high and 450 mm wide (the route through the window maybe at an angle rather than straight through). The bottom of the openable area should not be more than 1100 mm above the floor.

Locks and safety fittings for many types of windows continue to present practical difficulties. This is because the design of the fittings needs to consider child safety, safe cleaning and security as well as escape in the event of a fire. At present there is no guidance provided on the type of lock or fastening that can provide both security and escape, and the occupants of dwellings can choose to fit devices most suitable for their situation. Devices that should be prohibited are permanent obstructions such as fixed security grills. The intention is to assist escape, but not to prohibit the use of locks, restrictors or other safety devices.

Developments

Two options, one with one dormers to the west




One with three dormers to the west

I wonder if I'll still be posting changes to the design in 2007? My goal was to have the deisgn finished by the end of October and although I feel like I am getting closer when I change the design the old deisgn looks ridiculous to my eyes: how could I have thought that was good?

I am leaning towards one...

And here the view from the south east

Schmoozing and other things

Some good advice on the essential art of schmoozing (there is also stuff on presentations which is how I was directed to it...) from the blog of Guy Kawasaki (a venture capitalist).

Interior views, November

Interior views (images are doing some weird things at the moment :-( so hope it works)

Latest design

Some images of the latest design, the main decision is to separate the top from the bottom, have a heavy stone base and lightweight timber top... next I need to find materials

Stories of Houses

A very interesting blog which presents the stories of fairly well known houses and their architects. Here is a plan of a Ben Van Berkel (of UN Studio) house for a couple and their two children who wanted:

"a house that would be acknowledged as a reference for the renovation of the architectural language"

A pretentious brief but an interesting house.

double glazed windows glazing bar thickness

Part of an interesting debate on double glazed windows on historic properties. he full deabte is here.

Biff

posted on 05-11-06

...it's obvious which windows are double glazed and which single. But the real issue over maintaining the architectural heritage of British townscapes is the width of glazing bars. Through much of the 18th and 19th centuries these were tpically about 20mm, sometimes even slimmer. For a standard insulated glazed unit, a rebate of about 12mm is requires to hide the seal, both for aesthetic reasons and to protect the seal from uv-light. A 12mm rebate either side of the glazing bar plus 6mm of timber between the units adds up to about 30mm for the width of the bar. This really is a practical minimum and many manufacturers make the bars nearer 40mm. While this might not look out of place in a Queen Anne or early 18th century building it really makes a difference to the appearance of many later buildings. Applying thin fake glazing bars to the outside surfaces of a large continuous igu, with corresponding bars inserted between the panes, gives a semblance of the traditional pattern but is, nevertheless, a fake and does little for the respect of historic fabric. The glue used to bond the bars to the glass probably has a limited life. The appearance of windows replaced by modern units is further compromised by the ubiquitous use of float glass. Its optically flat and parallel surfaces gives a dull and lifeless character, quite different from the movement created by cylinder or crown glass. Crown glass, in particular, is completely irreplaceable. The skills employed in making it have been lost, perhaps permanently. To remove a piece of crown glass and replace it with float is, in my opinion, akin to throwing away a piece of antique furniture or old masters painting and replacing them with self assembly flatpack furniture and prints from IKEA. Hand made, mouth blown, cylinder glass is still made at a couple of factories in Europe but if folk knew the cost they might be less ready to break their old windows. With the growing awareness that global warming is the greatest threat that humanity has ever faced, there is obvious pressure to throw out anything that is thought to be energy profligate. However, that our irreplaceable historic heritage should be the first victim of our effort to live sustainably, is a tradgedy that cannot be repaired. There are other more energy efficient routes to be travelled first. I would recommend Richard Heinberg's book, Powerdown, and particularly the chapter, Building Lifeboats - The Path of Community Solidarity and Preservation, as a particularly pertinent contribution to the debate. Let us build sustainably, and let us convert our existing housing stock to be fit for sustainable living, but let us not destroy our heritage and the beauty that our forefathers have left us. It was not the 18th century lifestyle not resulted in global warming.