Case Studies

MDL Meadowstone in Coutts conversion on the Isle of Man

The project to transform the former Coutts Bank Off-Shore Headquarters in the Isle of Man into 16 lavish apartments is now nearing completion.  The conversion of the former banking headquarters is a unique and exclusive example of modern apartment living.  Coutts House incorporates a 12-metre swimming pool, sauna, spa and gym as well as a Concierge service and meeting room, all designed with luxury in mind.

An important part of the scheme has been the design and build of a new annexe to the existing building.  MDL Meadowstone, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of Cast Stone, has supplied a variety of bespoke stonework pieces to the project, which most notably included: Balustrading, two new Porticos, window surrounds, plinths, band course, quoins, copings and pier caps for the main building and the external works.

The significance of the work commissioned was vital to the overall finished look, feel and appeal of the project with the historical match, not only of the items against the original Coutts building, but also an exact colour match of the stone from the original building being of key importance.

Case Study: Mansion House

Mansion House is an apartment building at the centre of a large housing development in Chartfields, Kent. The £18m project by Ward Homes features cast stone architectural dressings from MDL Meadowstone Ltd. The exterior style of Mansion House was created with cast stone heads, cills, cornice, stringcourse, door surrounds and an entrance feature portico. Each cast stone detail was hand finished and vapour cured, to ensure quality and durability. Cast stone is ideal for adding character and personality to newly built housing developments. The material provides visually attractive features, which resemble the texture and finish of natural stone. The advantages of cast stone are that it is less expensive and is available within shorter lead times than natural stone.

Once a mould has been made for an item of cast stone it can be re-used to produce a number of identical stones. A considerable cost saving was made on Mansion House, due to the fact fewer moulds were needed to produce the large quantities of repeated stonework on the building. Ward Homes specified a bathstone colour cast stone to contrast with the redbrick work. Meadowstone manufactures bathstone to stock in its’ standard Homestyle range, for an even faster delivery to site. However, several items for Mansion House were bespoke due to unusual dimensions – something MDL Meadowstone is no stranger to and is able to accommodate. For further information on cast stone products contact: MDL Meadowstone Ltd, Meadowstone House, West Way, Somercotes, Derbyshire, DE55 4QJ. Tel: 01773 540707, Fax: 01773 528119 or e-mail: info@meadowstone.co.uk

Case Study: Hanbury Manor, Ware, Herts

Hanbury Manor is Marriott Hotels’ top Hotel and Country Club in Ware, Hertfordshire. Laing Construction and the Architects RWP specified extensive ashlar walling to be used on the new extension. Although we weren’t provided with terribly detailed drawings we produced our own detailed sheets showing how the ashlar walling and other details would work. The ashlar walling was used to integrate elements of the design with window surrounds matching walling panels which, in turn, matched arches and quoin details. Even the herbaceous flowerbeds were topped off with matching copings. The end result is a building that works well and all parties concerned are extremely pleased.

Case Study: Gala Bingo Club, Chatham, Kent

The Gala Bingo Club at Chatham, Kent was designed by the Henry Mein Partnership and combined the bold use of colour and geometric shapes to create a huge visual impact. A mix of ashlar cast stone walling with vibrant blue steel and curved glass was used to create a stunning new Bingo Club. The mix of textures made the building interesting and the blocks were laid in a random coursed way to break up the elevation, thus giving the building dimension. The Architects wanted to create a bold piece of contemporary architecture hence the use of bold colour and geometric shape.

Case Study: Brook House

Brook House situated in the historic village of Repton in Derbyshire, has been refurbished and converted into 16 apartments, with an extended newly built section at the rear. Originally an old Victorian boarding house, Brook House is one of thirty-listed buildings in Repton and was therefore subject to planning restrictions. The exact style and period of the building had to be maintained both in the replacement and replication of original stonework. Mainstream Properties were able to comply with planning authorities by the specification of Cast Stone, which is an approved material, supplied in this case by MDL Meadowstone Ltd. Mainstream Properties were eager to retain the original Victorian architectural features in the refurbishment of Brook House, ensuring the existing design was not compromised. The design of Brook House is in line with PPG3 planning guidelines, which give preference to re-developments asking that they be of a high quality design and layout with the most efficient use of land. Each of the apartments at Brook House was individually designed to maximise the potential of the original Brownfield site and the new three storey mews houses were adjoined without detracting from the listed building or its surroundings.