From Ruins to Remarkable: The Transformation of Cann Orchard

The rolling hills of North Cornwall hide countless architectural treasures waiting to be uncovered. Cann Orchard, situated on the outskirts of the peaceful village of Marhamchurch near Bude, is one such discovery—a derelict barn that will be transformed into a stunning contemporary home.

A Vision Amidst Decay

When we first encountered the original structure, it stood as a testament to its agricultural heritage, with weathered stone walls telling stories of generations past. The barn's deteriorating condition demanded urgent intervention, yet within its crumbling framework lay immense potential. Our team recognised an opportunity to preserve this piece of Cornwall's architectural history while reimagining its purpose for modern living.

Design Philosophy

Our approach centred on creating a harmonious dialogue between old and new. The original barn's distinctive character - its robust stone walls, traditional roof pitch, and time-worn timber - inspired a design that respects original architecture while embracing contemporary elements.

The modern extension, crafted with timber cladding and floor-to-ceiling glazing, creates a striking visual contrast while complementing the barn's historic fabric. Large windows frame spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, bringing natural light deep into living spaces and establishing a seamless connection with the Cornish landscape.

Navigating Planning Complexities

The journey from concept to approval required careful navigation of planning regulations, including preparing detailed statements and negotiations with planning authorities to secure the necessary approvals. Despite the challenges, we successfully obtained consent for the project.

A Sustainable Approach

Sustainability drove many design decisions. This eco-friendly home is orientated to respond to its surroundings, taking advantage of available views and maximising exposure to the south for optimum solar panel efficiency.

Both the existing barn and extension are designed with extremely high insulation and airtightness levels exceeding standard requirements to minimise energy consumption.

The landscape layout has been designed to accommodate areas of new wildflowers and lavender planting with the addition of fruit bearing trees. New Cornish hedge bank with mix of native plants are to be planted to encourage biodiversity net gains.

A ground-source heat pump combined with a large solar array provides on-site energy generation, minimising reliance on the national grid and reducing energy costs. This sustainable, eco-friendly home will be fit for the future.

Client Experience

"From start to finish, their professionalism was outstanding," shares the property owner. "Emails were responded to instantly and they took control of the whole project, liaising with planning and all the reports and professional people needed to achieve the planning permission... I'd highly recommend anyone to use them."

Despite challenges, our team's persistence and expertise secured the necessary planning permission. This collaborative approach with our client exemplifies our commitment to guiding projects from concept to completion.

Looking Forward

As this project moves into its construction phase, our CGI visualisations offer a compelling preview of Cann Orchard's future and showcase the property for estate agents to reach potential buyers for the project. These images showcase how thoughtful architectural intervention can breathe new life into forgotten buildings, creating spaces that honour their past while serving contemporary needs.

The transformation of Cann Orchard represents more than just a renovation—it's a testament to the possibility of preserving Cornwall's architectural heritage through sensitive, contemporary design. We look forward to working with the new owners to realise this vision and create a home that will stand proudly in the landscape for generations to come.

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How Metters and Wellby's cutting-edge CGI Services Support Property Industry Professional Success

You have a vision and know exactly what that house renovation project or new apartment block could look like. Communicating that to stakeholders and potential buyers isn't always as easy. Often, they cannot "see" the outcome you do. Cutting-edge CGI services can eliminate confusion and create opportunities for impressive collaborations. With our CGI services for estate agents, property developers, and architects, it has never been easier to see a successful future.

What can Metters and Wellby's CGI services do for the property industry?

Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) utilises technology to create photorealistic images. Utilising an architect's drawings for a property or other detailed descriptions, our CGI services can take ideas and make them look like they've already been built long before a single brick is put in place.

As an experienced architectural practice, we understand the benefits that CGI can bring to a project. We go beyond design. Our CGI visuals accurately reflect the form and function of your project, ensuring realism and precision.

The Benefits of Visualising Through CGI

Providing an image to a prospective investor allows them to see the vision that you do, as a property developer, designer, or architect has to offer. There are numerous benefits to visualising property development long before any money is invested:

Improve clarity on projects during the design phase

One of the first and most impressive benefits of CGI for property developers and architects occurs in the design stage. Certainly, two-dimensional architectural drawings are very important resources for creating goals and project details.

However, taking those two-dimensional drawings and creating a more realistic and clearer image using CGI transforms the process. Your ideas and designs are transformed into life-like photos as if the project is already complete and move-in-ready.

An added benefit to visualising the project is that it speeds up the design process. From the start, there is better communication and clarity on the project’s objectives and expectations. That clarity can help minimise the amount of back-and-forth communication required to get it just right, saving time.

Sell the property project to local planners

Accurate, highly professional CGI images provide clarity and erase doubt. When working with local planners or other parties who could decide on whether the project can go ahead or not, it is critical to have a clear visual available to support your submission.

For example, local planners may not be confident of a project’s ability to fit within the community or operate in a way that is safe for the area. With the use of CGI, it is possible to clearly communicate every detail of a project. That visualisation eliminates doubt and provides clarity on project outcomes, which is so critical for getting approval to move a project forward.

Securing financing for the project

With so much risk in various areas of the property development world, financiers need to mitigate risk in any way they can. The utilisation of CGI by project owners could help defray the frustration and provide a clearer, more on-point visual of the project. This answers questions and builds confidence in all stakeholders.

CGI makes it easier to pitch for financing your project. It is not just a concept or a flat drawing that you are using to ask for funding. Instead, you are providing ample clarity that allows finance companies and equity partners to clearly see the advantages of funding the project.

Early stage selling

Another of the benefits of utilising CGI is that it enables you to sell your property. Not every stakeholder can visualise a project from a drawing. They want to see how it looks, room by room, and one feature to the next., This provides prospective buyers with a more realistic representation of what the property will provide to them and enables them to make better decisions.

CGI is not simply for exterior views of the property, though. It also enables buyers to see the shapes, colours, textures, and layouts of various rooms within the space. Use it to get a better representation of colour combinations, the natural light of a space, and the floor plan of various options. This improves the early stage selling of such properties.

CGI Is Changing the Property Industry One Project at a Time

All parties invested in the development, sale, and eventual living within a project must have clarity on the realistic expectations available. CGI creates clarity, answers questions, and boosts confidence. It is a small investment for the pre-planning, approval, and sales process. More so, today's consumers expect to have a true visual experience of any project before a single brick is put into place.

For estate agents, the use of virtual tools and detailed, three-dimensional images helps property buyers clearly see what their future could hold. These types of experiences help to save agents time, allowing the buyer to clearly see whether a property is worthy of consideration long before visiting the location.

 This has resulted in numerous benefits to all stakeholders in these projects. That may include:

With a higher potential selling point for your next property, improved interest from buyers who may not have ever considered the project before now, and a wide range of time-saving features, CGI services are a must today.

Explore how these tools are being used every day in the property industry to build confidence, increase revenue, secure financing, and move property development to the next level. With visualised examples of what a property development may look like, there is absolutely no doubt you can have the confidence to move your project forward.

Find out more about our CGI Service

The Benefits of Passivhaus Design: A Pathway to Sustainable Living

Passivhaus Design, or "passive house," is a groundbreaking concept in sustainable architecture that prioritizes energy efficiency, comfort, and environmental responsibility. Originating in Germany, the Passivhaus standard has become synonymous with high-performance building design, offering a blueprint for the future of sustainable living.

What Makes Passivhaus Special?

At the heart of Passivhaus design is the pursuit of unparalleled energy efficiency. By focusing on meticulous insulation, airtight construction, and advanced ventilation systems, Passivhaus buildings drastically reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling—often by as much as 90% compared to traditional buildings. This not only results in significant cost savings for homeowners but also ensures a healthier indoor environment, characterised by consistent temperatures, superior air quality, and a dramatically reduced carbon footprint.

The Core Principles of Passivhaus

To achieve the Passivhaus standard, a building must adhere to several key principles:

  1. High-Performance Insulation: The building envelope must be highly insulated to minimize heat loss during winter and keep interiors cool during summer.
  2. Airtight Construction: A well-sealed building prevents drafts and uncontrolled air leakage, which can lead to energy loss.
  3. Thermal Bridge-Free Design: By eliminating thermal bridges, areas where heat can escape, the building maintains a consistent internal temperature with minimal energy input.
  4. High-Performance Windows: Windows in a Passivhaus building are energy-efficient and designed with insulated frames to prevent heat loss.
  5. Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery: A sophisticated ventilation system ensures that fresh air circulates throughout the building without compromising energy efficiency. Heat recovery systems extract warmth from outgoing air, further reducing energy needs.
  6. Accurate Design Modelling: Using tools like the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), architects and builders can precisely model energy use and performance, ensuring that the design meets the stringent Passivhaus criteria.

Why Choose Passivhaus?

Opting for Passivhaus design is not just about constructing a building; it's about embracing a philosophy of sustainability. Buildings that meet the Passivhaus standard are not only energy-efficient but also contribute to a more sustainable future by reducing the overall environmental impact. For homeowners, this means lower energy bills, a more comfortable living environment, and the satisfaction of knowing that they are making a positive contribution to the planet.

Passivhaus design represents a commitment to a greener future, offering a clear pathway to achieving significant energy savings and reducing carbon emissions. For those passionate about sustainable living, Passivhaus is the gold standard.

Get in Touch

If you're interested in exploring how Passivhaus principles can be applied to your next project, don't hesitate to contact us. With the expertise of Sam, our in-house Passivhaus designer, you can ensure that your building is not only energy-efficient but also aligned with the highest standards of sustainability.

Embrace Passivhaus—build for the future, today.

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