Highclere Estate

Highclere Estate

A phased programme of repair is being undertaken to the Grade I listed building for Lord and Lady Carnarvon. Highclere Castle itself was designed by Sir Charles Barry whilst the greater estate contains numerous listed structures by other notable architects in various states of repair.

Fabric repairs to Highclere Castle have included renewal of defective lead and slate roofs together with stone and render repairs. Works have also been undertaken within the cellarage to extend and improve the existing Egyptology and Equestrian exhibition areas. Other recent works have sought to improve visitor facilities following the recent success of the TV series, Downton Abbey.

Extensive surveys and condition reports have been undertaken on the numerous listed structures including follies, residences, stable blocks, an historic aisled barn and various garden structures. A phased programme of work is currently being undertaken to repair, conserve, adapt and reuse a number of these structures.

Works were completed last year to London Lodge, a Grade II* listed classical arched gateway with small, single-storey lodges to either side. The arch was constructed in 1793 to provide a grand London entrance to the Highclere Estate. The lodges were added to a design by Sir Charles Barry in the 1840s to form residences. The Lodges incorporate elements of nationally important Coade stone. Recent works by the practice have conserved these and repaired the structure; the lodges have been converted to a holiday let. The structure has now been removed from the English Heritage Buildings at Risk register and was a recipient of a Georgian Group award.

View other projects

Manor Farm Barn
Manor Farm Barn

Highclere Estate
Manor Farm Barn
St Peter & Paul's Church
St Peter & Paul's Church

Water Orton
St Peter & Paul's Church
Tamworth Assembly Rooms
Tamworth Assembly Rooms

Tamworth
Tamworth Assembly Rooms
Walsall Arboretum
Walsall Arboretum

Walsall
Walsall Arboretum
cross icon

CASE STUDY: Internal Wall Insulation

The Master’s House, St John’s Hosptial, Lichfield.

Assessment of historic fabric to ensure a secure understanding of the historic fabric, and how appropriate breathable insulat ions and secondary glazing could be sympathetically installed.

Solution: A breathable IWI Sheep Wool Insulation and lime mortar on wood wool. Sympathetic interiors following the completed installation of secondary glazing, breathable insulation, lime plaster and breathable decorations. The property has reduced its winter energy costs and enjoys a more comfortable thermal environment.

Internal wall insulation, The Master's House, St John's Hospital, Lichfield — BHB Architects conservation services
Breathable insulation installation, The Master's House, Lichfield — BHB Architects
Completed interior, The Master's House, St John's Hospital, Lichfield — BHB Architects
close
cross icon

CASE STUDY: BREEAM Office Fitout

Arca, Birmingham

CAT A fitout Office project located in Birmingham City Centre which achieved Excellent under the BREEAM UK Refurbishment and Fitout criteria. Careful design decisions chosen alongside consulting with BREEAM Professionals allowed us to achieve the required Excellent BREEAM Rating and achieve a modern, flexible and focus driven working space interior fitout.

Our design teams can identify when thermal modelling software, daylight assessment or building fabric analysis is required for U-value calculation or other aspects of building performance.

Arca Birmingham CAT A office fitout — BREEAM Excellent interior design by BHB Architects
Arca Birmingham office interior — architectural interior design services by BHB Architects
Arca Birmingham office fitout — commercial interior design, BHB Architects
close
cross icon

CASE STUDY: Church PV

St Peters Church, Maney Hill.

Works undertaken to provide solar panels to the south facing pitch of the nave, to reduce operational running costs.

Solar panel installation, St Peters Church, Maney Hill — sustainable architectural services by BHB Architects
Church PV solar panels, St Peters Church, Maney Hill — BHB Architects sustainability services
close
cross icon

Biodiversity

The role of a building and site in supporting and enhancing ecosystems and native species.

Examples of Solutions:

  • Create green roofs and walls to support pollinators and wildlife.
  • Design with native and local plant species in landscaping.
  • Incorporate wildlife corridors or habitats (e.g., bat boxes, bird-friendly designs).
  • Minimize site disruption during construction and restore degraded areas.
  • Reduce artificial lighting to avoid disrupting nocturnal species.
Biodiversity design — BHB Architects sustainable architectural services
close
cross icon

Embodied Carbon

The greenhouse gas emissions from the lifecycle of building materials, including extraction, manufacturing, transport, construction, maintenance, and disposal. The conservation team has an especially thorough understanding of how different building materials respond to climate and weather in the short and long term. This expertise helps us to avoid costly errors when specifying building materials.

Examples of Solutions:

  • Use low-carbon or carbon-negative materials (e.g., timber, recycled steel, hempcrete).
  • Design for material efficiency, reducing waste and unnecessary mass.
  • Incorporate recycled or reclaimed materials, such as bricks or aggregates.
  • Opt for modular construction to minimize waste and enable reuse.
  • Source materials locally to reduce transportation emissions.
Embodied carbon — BHB Architects sustainable architectural services
close
cross icon

Operational Carbon

The greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption required to operate a building (e.g., heating, cooling, lighting, appliances). The engagement of Services and Energy consultants from the feasibility stage onwards helps our clients to explore lifetime energy consumption and improve efficiency.

Examples of Solutions:

  • Design for passive heating, cooling, and ventilation.
  • Enhance insulation and airtightness and fabric performance.
  • Install energy-efficient appliances and LED lighting.
  • Integrate smart building technologies for energy monitoring.
  • Use renewable energy systems (solar panels, wind turbines).
Operational carbon — BHB Architects sustainable architectural services
close
cross icon

Water Use

The amount of water consumed during a building's operation and its broader impact on water resources.

Examples of Solutions:

  • Install low-flow fixtures and water-efficient appliances.
  • Collect and reuse rainwater for irrigation or flushing.
  • Design landscapes with permeable surfaces
  • Incorporate greywater recycling systems.
  • Utilize water-efficient cooling systems in HVAC designs.
Water efficiency — BHB Architects sustainable architectural services
close
cross icon

Health and Wellbeing

The impact of building design and materials on occupants' physical and mental health. We guide clients through all their options when it comes to occupant well being and technology.

Examples of Solutions:

  • Maximize natural light and views of nature.
  • Ensure good indoor air quality with proper ventilation and low-VOC materials.
  • Design acoustically comfortable spaces to reduce noise pollution.
  • Use biophilic design elements, such as greenery and natural textures.
  • Incorporate flexible, user-centred spaces promoting comfort and ergonomics.
Occupant wellbeing — BHB Architects sustainable architectural services
close