LOW POINT
“Matthew: Taking longer than we
intended due to work commitments, and finance – we’ve had to work and earn to build. If we’d had the money in place we’d have got it done quicker!”
The floor to ceiling glass at the rear of the house makes the most of the panoramic views
CONTACTS/ SUPPLIERS
MAIN BUILDING &
ROOFING CONTRACTOR Matthew Greenland Limited
ARCHITECT
Roger Bell, Bell Designs
www.belldesigns.org.uk
OAK FLOORING / GENERAL BUILDING SUPPLIES
LBS Builders Merchants (Cardigan)
www.lbsbm.co.uk
STEEL FRAME CTP Fabrications
www.ctp-cardigan.co.uk
ENGINEERED JOISTS &
ROOF TRUSSES Melingoed Timber
www.melingoed.co.uk
CONCRETE Gamallt
www.gamallt.co.uk
LIQUID SCREEDING KJR Liquid Screeding
www.kjrliquidscreeding.co.uk
the first job was bringing all the utilities up the hill. The road had mains gas, electric and water connections so it was a reasonably simple job to extend these slightly further up the slope to the site. However, connecting to mains drainage was a different story. “We had to bring it a good 200 metres from the lowest point on the road, and then it swept round the back of the other sites to get to ours,” Matthew explains. “That was very expensive.”
They looked at other options – they even had a septic tank onsite temporarily while living in the barn – but ultimately wanted to be connected to mains. It also seemed the logical thing to do, given it was being brought up the road for the other two houses anyway. However, in hindsight Matthew says: “Had I known what the end result would be I would have stuck with an alternative.” The work meant closing the road for three weeks and the estimated cost ended up doubling. “But once we’d started,” he says, “we were committed to it.”
DESIGN & BUILD
Being a builder, Matthew took on the majority of work himself, along with his team. But this naturally meant fitting it in around other jobs. “I was busy doing other stuff so we built the main house over the space of two to three years, taking bites at it when we could,” he explains. “We got the slab in, then we worked to get the blockwork up, then we came back and did the roof and got it watertight. It was a stage by stage process.” Hitting a timescale wasn’t Matthew and Emma’s biggest concern, as they were “comfortable” in the barn conversion. The only work not undertaken by Matthew’s team was the plumbing, electrics, and steel frame. He also worked with a structural engineer
12
www.sbhonline.co.uk
to figure out the logistics of certain aspects. Having not had full drawings done meant a lot of structural decisions were made on the hoof, as well as cost-saving tweaks. “My experience in the building trade made it a lot easier,” he admits, adding: “I’ve enjoyed doing this with Emma, designing it as we go.” Matthew’s experience also meant he knew plenty of local places to source materials.
Due to the slope, the basement level doesn’t cover the same footprint as the rest of the house. The entrance is at the level above, the front door leading into a large Australian- inspired open plan living/dining/kitchen area – a must-have for Matthew and Emma – along with a pantry. The angle of the front door means guests are immediately faced with floor-to- ceiling windows in the opposite corner, delivering the panoramic view. “The main thing when you walk through the front door is you see that view,” Matthew explains.
Making the most of the surroundings was a high priority in the design. Having both lived in and worked on Welsh cottages and farmhouses, Matthew wanted something different. “It’s great to have that ‘comfy’ feel, but we wanted to have something that could let plenty of light in and feel airy and open,” he says.
The ground level also features a utility room and toilet. Upstairs is the master suite, including a large ensuite and dressing room, situated at the back of the house and maximising the view with more floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass balustrade balcony. There are also a further four double bedrooms, all with ensuite shower rooms. “We wanted bathrooms for everybody,” says Matthew. “The kids have got that flexibility – that was something we liked.” The 52 m2
basement level, which sits on a raft january/february 2019
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