Completed construction Project

This project was the construction of a bespoke artist studio located in Ashley Road in Montpelier Bristol for renowned local artist Chez Watts.

The construction presented a challenge as the site is an irregular triangle shape with one curved wall where existing historic stone walls had to be retained. To compound construction complexity, two sides were boundary walls and neighbours were unwilling to permit any access or the erection of scaffolding on their land. The only available access was from a narrow adopted lane on one side of the building, so permission from the Council for closure was necessary whilst maintaining safe pedestrian access for well-used route by the local community.

To meet the artist’s aspirations the single storey building was designed with a laminated timber structure supporting a hyperbolic parabola barrel-vaulted roof covered with raised seam zinc. As there were no windows in the external walls, at the end of the vaulted roof, a full width double-glazed North light was installed (supplied by Kitto Joinery) to give natural lighting to the studio area.

A key feature is the environmental sustainability of the building. Heating is provided from a ground-source heat-pump connected to two 110m deep boreholes. The sophisticated heat exchanger supplies heat from re-circulating ground water to an under-floor heating system.

This unique artist’s studio was completed on time and on budget in six months.