Notting Hill I

Design Brief

A fully completed and occupied property by the owners. Retrofit air-conditioning to serve various rooms across the 5-storey property – Master Suite, two Guest Suites, and a Basement family and leisure space. External plant to be architecturally and environmentally sensitive to the property and the area.

Solution

The large, open-plan Basement family space has a high level of solar gain – with glass on two sides and in the roof. Designed in conjunction with the existing kitchen layout, a fan-coil unit is mounted within the bulkhead at one end of the room (the dedicated access panel hides above the kitchen work surface). A carefully specified, full-length triple slot diffuser provides the high level of cooling with a direct yet gentle airflow into the space, and aligns with the tall Kitchen cabinetry.

On the Second Floor the Master Suite, comprising of a high-ceilinged vaulted space, had an eaves void in the luxurious bathing space on the higher level above the bedroom which provided the best location for the internal air conditioning fan-coil unit to be situated. Linear bar grilles are mounted within the space looking down onto the Master suite, set flush in the joinery, providing an unobtrusive but constant conditioning of the entire Master Suite.

The two Guest suites mirror each other on the First floor, the air-conditioning scheme in each of these individual spaces are identical. Utilising the adjacent Dressing room the fan-coil unit is integrated above a false ceiling. The ceiling in each is lowered to accommodate the unit and provide the best air path from unit to space served, reducing static pressure through the system and eradicating any grille noise. Dedicated local controllers in each of the areas served ensures each space can be used individually at the various times birthday, including Guest accommodation.

Pipework from air conditioning units in each of these spaces across the property was painstakingly set out and installed thoroughly in finished rooms throughout the home. It exits at basement level into the front lightwell of the property, where the two external condenser units are situated. In keeping with local area and being sensitive to neighbouring properties we designed and constructed a series of bespoke steel louvred enclosures, which also incorporate a new bin store for the property.