Client: Ross Investments
Location: Winchester, Hampshire
Value: £1,500,000

Sunley House

The client’s aim was to transform an existing, tired office block dating back to the early 1960’s into a modern building which meets current building regulations and also complies with the Disability Discrimination Act. Additionally, it would be necessary to increase the floor area to fund the refurbishment works. The ground floor retail users would remain unaffected by the development.

The existing building is of concrete frame with infill ribbon windows, creating a horizontal emphasis that is not sympathetic to its situation. The proposals place greater emphasis on the vertical, by creating distinct bays to the roadside elevations, and also by the addition of a new roof top extension, set back from the building line. This storey will be fully glazed to lighten its apparent weight and also to form an attractive crown at night-time.

A new projecting bay is created to the exposed corner to add emphasis to the prominent road junction that was previously lacking. Materially, the proposals comprise insulated render to the external walls, coloured to match the various hues of cream and terracotta in the surrounding buildings.

Internally, the ancillary accommodation is to be re-configured, and a lift is to be inserted to serve all floors including the basement car park.