Project: Ground floor conversion

Type of project: Change of use to residential

Date: 2019 – 2020

Phase: Tender and working stages

Description: Our client approached us to develop a project for the change of use and consequent refurbishment of a ground floor commercial unit localed within a consolidated urban area with an Urban Rehabilitation Detail Plan in place.

The aim was to carry out works of interior refurbishment, without changing the facades or the existing structure of the property and therefore these works were exempt from planning application.

One of the challenges of the project was the fact that the unit was located in a semi-basement, i.e. open to street level on one side and enclosed against a reatining wall on the other. This feature together with the elongated geometry of the floor plan makes it difficult to provide good natural light and ventilation throughout the space, essential to ensure the suitability of the unit for the intended residential purpose.

Thus the project aimed to create a large one-bedroom apartment, paying special attention to the layout design and making sure that all habitable compartments had an external window. A large translucent sliding panel was also designed to offer greater flexibility in the use of the apartment.