news feature 21 CASE STUDY
early form of beam and pot flooring. This used concrete beams to support the terracotta tubes and then the pouring a screed on top to set the tubes in place and provide the surface of the floor. This was the first time City & Country had dealt with this type of floor structure, which required considerable strengthening with sensitive steel beams to bring it up to allowable deflection standards. City & Country’s team of professional’s also
paid particular attention to the building’s historic details by studying original photographs and his- torical documents and trialing various methods to carry out works. This included researching the most effective way to clean the exterior’s Pennant and Bath Stone, steam bathing the original win- dow frames, and restoring fireplaces as well as stone vaulted ceilings, masonry,
joinery,
stonework and mouldings. The central courtyard of the hospital has always
provided the main vehicular access to the build- ing. Unfortunately as modern vehicles developed in size and shape, the original fountain, which acted as a ‘roundabout’ for traffic, had to be relo- cated within the site. Rather than creating a new focal point for the beautiful fountain it was relo- cated behind the King Edward VII Wing and left to deteriorate. The stone fountain has now been cleaned,
restored and carefully transported back to its rightful place in the central courtyard. To help local businesses benefit from the
restoration and conversion of the iconic buildings, City & Country recruited a locally based manage- ment team to ensure that the project is delivered to the company’s high standards. City & Country also made sure that the work was undertaken by a wide range of specialist contractors from across the South West to bring the landmark building
back to life. This included demolition experts, scaffolders, slate roofers, window remedial special- ists, structural groundwork engineers, grit blasters and external decorators. Externally, the building combines Bath and
Pennant Stone dressings, arched sash windows and stained glass roundels. The stone has been carefully cleaned using a gentle restorative tech- nique which soaks the elevations with a fine mist spray of water, before brushing with a bristle brush to lift away the deposits and clean the stone work. The local community has been amazed by the intricacy in the stonework and contrasts in colour that had been hidden behind hundreds of years of soot and dirt, but is now revealed. Originally the hospital had iron balconies,
which were removed to make way for some unsightly 1960s extensions. As part of the restora- tion these are being replaced in a modern interpretation. As a result, many of the converted apartments feature their own terrace or balcony, which is a luxury that listed conversion properties do not often offer. The new mansard roofs are to be slate-covered
with metal clad dormer windows and details derived from original photographs of the build- ing. The roofs facing the inner courtyard are being replaced with modern structures, clad in standing seam zinc to match the materials used elsewhere in the buildings. The General boasts beautiful timber framed
windows which over the years have not been main- tained and needed significant intervention to restore them. Each of the hardwood windows which do not require entire replacement has been carefully removed, de-glazed and then placed into a steam box to remove layers of lead paint, putty and filler. This process takes up to two hours per window. Once removed the windows are treated,
primed and their sash counterweights reset before reglazing in preparation for re-decoration. Patience has been a requirement, but it has paid dividends, with a real transformation having resulted.
A new community
When complete The General will offer a number of idiosyncratic properties, including a converted chapel, triplex apartments, with glazed upper floors, and a penthouse apartment located in an octagonal tower. Views will include the harbour- side and across the Somerset countryside. A hallmark of all City & Country develop-
ments is the unique nature of the homes on offer and The General is no different. Original pan- elling and joinery, intricate plasterwork and cornices, ironmongery and brassware will all be retained, creating a distinctly different offering to standard new build fare. With its city centre location and distinguished
character, The General offers a selection of chic urban homes, juxtaposing modern interiors with classic exterior building work. Its stylish interiors complement the Italianate facade, Pennant and Bath Stone dressings as well as the arched sash windows stand out among the building’s architec- tural highlights. This bold combination provides residents with a unique blend of old and new, while forging a new identity for the historic site. Contemporary interiors have been achieved
through a neutral colour palette consistent throughout the homes, with contemporary matt finish handle-less linear kitchens from Ballerina. Bathrooms are modern and understated. They
feature sanitaryware from Laufen, Brassware from Crosswater and showers from Simpsons or Kermi. Bathrooms are finished with porcelain tiles as well as heated towel radiators.
Continued overleaf...
respond online at
www.hbdonline.co.uk
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