Made in Chelsea
The brief
Our challenge was to construct a four-bedroom town house over three storeys including basement in a parcel of land abutting two Georgian properties within the Chelsea Conservation Area.
It’s one of very few new-build freehold properties constructed recently in this area, a stone’s throw away from the many prestigious sites across Knightsbridge and Sloane Square, such as Harrods and the V&A.
Amazing customers allow us to do amazing work, and we were contracted on this project by the developer, Vigo Group, which has a reputation for creating high-end schemes within prime London locations.
We faced lots of logistical constraints – not just the close proximity of some of the UK’s most expensive real estate, but also the manner and times of working, both onsite and in the street.
This was precarious work. Constructing the basement meant excavating right up to the adjoining properties and below the level of their existing foundations, which we had to underpin and support as part of the project. Any mistakes could have been very costly.
In addition, the excavation work, as well as deliveries and removals, were limited by strict timescales and other restricted requirements as part of and detailed within in the planning conditions for the project.
The working area was pretty much the site footprint.
Method
Bringing a construction project such as this to a successful conclusion involves a flexible response to the conditions, and effective communication with all interested parties and the ability to deal with any oncoming issues, practically and efficiently.
For such a scheme to come to a successful conclusions, the client had assembled an experienced team of architects and civil engineers, with whom we worked hand in hand.
Our temporary works engineers worked alongside the permanent engineers to ensure the construction methodology was safe and effective. Because of its location, there was an ongoing presence of party wall surveyors monitoring the effects of the excavations on the adjoining buildings throughout the project.
The basement element of the project involved sheet piling, heavy temporary propping, as well as the deployment of resin injection technology to stabilise the ground whilst working.
In order to construct the complete house we had to erect a bespoke steel frame from basement to roof, accompanied above ground by a traditional brick build finished off with beautifully hand-carved stone and a bespoke zinc-cladded roof.
The luxury kitchen: from preparation of the space to the finished article
Outcome
Constructed in a prime location where such high-quality, new-build freehold properties are extremely rare, this four-bedroom property is a beautiful canvass from which to make a fantastic home.
Nestled between two period properties, this town house now enhances the street scene where once stood an ugly single-storey garage.
Its internal spaces contain numerous bespoke features, such as the staircase – constructed on-site – and its bathrooms.
The kitchen, imported from Spain, includes several bespoke features of its own, including the floor, the down-lighting and tiling.
The basement contains two of the property’s bedrooms, both ensuite, along with a walk-in wardrobe and a space benefiting from a light well.
Automation is a major theme throughout the property, providing smart controls for its lighting, heating and skylight.
Nd to cap it off, the lucky owner will not have to share any space above or below them, or shell out on leasehold charges.
The client
The client, Vigo Group, has been in the industry for more than 50 years. It creates high-quality schemes in prime central London locations, in addition to its many developments in northern England, where it is headquartered.
Given their rigorous selection process, we were very pleased that Vigo chose us to work with them on this project. And deploying a hands-on approach with Vigo’s experienced directors allowed us to overcome the challenges and enjoy the journey.
The view of one of the two bedrooms on the lower ground floor. Both bedrooms have their own ensuite facilities and doors onto an outside patio
Comments
Vigo Group CEO Nadeem Shah:
“The Stockbridge team was appointed to provide a management basement and steelwork construction for a new-build residential development in Chelsea SW3.
“Their team were flexible, worked within a restricted site and remained amicable throughout. And we have now appointed them on a larger prime site in south-west London.”
Stockbridge Design & Build’s construction director Adeel Bhatti:
“We were very fortunate to be shortlisted and chosen after being interviewed for the project.
“Successfully completing them is about how you deal with the issues that arise and how you manage them on an ongoing basis.
“This was one the most rewarding projects we’ve ever done. Having done much larger basements this was a real challenge but it was worth it, which is why we’re especially proud of this development.”
Along with under-stairs LEs, a skylight with patterned glass throws light across the stairwell