Typical of many 4 story Georgian terrace properties in the Clifton area of Bristol, 2 Worcester Terrace had been divided into a number of flats. Numerous partitioned rooms and rudimentary layouts had lent itself to student lets. Each flat was bought separately with the idea of renovating and returning this neglected Grade II building back to the its former glory.

The structural works were assessed by means of a thorough structural survey by KB² in liaison with the Architect. The client required minor structural works at ground to 2nd floor level, with more severe structural alterations the on 3rd floor and roof levels. A central oval void on the 3rd floor with a glazed ‘lantern’ above at roof level was planned to allow light into the main central stairwell that would percolate down to the other floors.

GALLERY: To support the oval gallery steelwork a series of steel columns had to be located and incorporated into the existing load bearing walls at 2nd floor. Positioning these columns and all supportive steel work within the existing structure required a fine level of detailing and close coordination with the Architect.
Analyzing the oval void to the gallery and detailing the curved lines required by the Architect meant using finite element design methods that would incorporate the existing building and new works.

LANTERN: Being a triple pitched roof the requirement for a central glazed ‘lantern’ meant removing the middle pitch and replacing it with a flat roof and the ‘lantern’ itself. The supportive frame on which the ‘lantern’ bears was also intimately detailed into the exiting structure. The final result saw the Grade II listed building being returned to the single terrace family home it had previously been, with the addition of natural light filtering down from the roof space without unnecessary structural lines and shadows being cast.