CDMS Partners Ltd on Brighton & Hove’s listed buildings: conserving the future
Back to the future
A city’s history and that of its people is captured in its buildings, which over hundreds of years create the streets and public squares which form our everyday surroundings. With Brighton becoming ever more crowded, the need to protect its historical buildings and spaces becomes even more important.
“People greatly enjoy owning part of a city’s history”
Owning a listed building provides a home owner with a wonderful piece of a city’s history, as popular areas such as Brunswick Square, Lewes Crescent and Clifton exemplify. However, this also comes with more responsibility for its historical protection – in addition, there is a stricter planning process in place should you wish to extend or make any alterations to your home.
CDMS Partners is a firm of Brighton-based Architects who specialise in the refurbishment and renovation of listed buildings, in particular clients’ homes. It sees these projects as an important part of maintaining the historic nature of Brighton, but also as a great opportunity to breathe new life into buildings and make them habitable for future generations to come.
CDMS Partners Director Corin Morton says: “People greatly enjoy owning part of a city’s history; these properties often provide generous, beautifully proportioned spaces with fantastic natural light, but many have been unsympathetically altered or covered up throughout the years and require some thoughtful design to bring
them back to glory again.”
Additionally, CDMS Partners see these renovation projects as an opportunity to improve energy efficiency and reduce ongoing costs for clients.
Corin says: “Simple measures such as refurbishing sash windows and installing draft seals, installing roof insulation and upgrading a boiler can hugely improve matters. We often incorporate efficient underfloor heating within a project, systems which are hidden away and do not detract from the beauty of the original building features.”
CDMS Partners has recently completed the refurbishment of a Grade II listed house in a central Brighton conservation area. The house had previously been a series of bed-sits, with a separate lower ground flat. Through careful discussion with the local conservation officer, the building has been restored as a wonderful family home. It features a central top-lit staircase made from thin slate slabs, new bathrooms featuring Thomas Crapper sanitaryware, restored fireplaces, timber floors with underfloor heating, and a stone flagged hallway. These traditional features have been enhanced and offset against a modern kitchen, reinstated scullery room and a bespoke metal clad curved larder.
Corin says: “These are projects we gain a great deal of pleasure from; our clients are able to appreciate their homes how they were originally intended but tailored for a more contemporary lifestyle.”
If you have a building project in mind CDMS Partners are happy to talk to you about your ideas and plans and offer a free initial consultation.
CDMS Partners Ltd is an award winning Brighton based Architectural Practice. Call 01273 220407, email hello@cdmspartners.com or visit www.cdmspartners.com,
Twitter: @cdmspartnersltd
