Ellen Kitson was Project Architect and Daniel Peacock Project Assistant on this landmark building in Altrincham Town Centre. As part of the larger refurbishment of the Grafton Retail Centre, a 92 bedroom Travelodge was created by converting the existing, under-occupied, 1960s office block into bedrooms over 6 floors and included a ground floor extension to house the reception, bar and restaurant.
This resort hotel set in a spectacular 18 hole golf course overlooking the Ironbridge Gorge was fully refurbished throughout. A new health and beauty spa was added along with 16 additional bedrooms and a new golf bar and facilities. Mark Kitson led the design team to complete the project including the installation of temporary facilities to maintain the running of the hotel.
For part of the redevelopment the use of a SIP building system was incorporated to form a 16 bed extension which was constructed in an extremely short period to minimise disruption to the hotel which remained operational throughout.
The proprietors of this residence appointed KITSON Architecture Ltd to completely re-model and extend their family home, a detached four bedroom house, on one of Altrincham’s most prestigious residential roads. Although the family loved their home, its location and the fantastic gardens, the house itself looked dated and more room was needed to meet the demands of a growing family. After evaluating the client’s detailed brief KITSON Architecture prepared a series of sketch proposals from which the family were able to refine and crystallise their favoured scheme. Full planning permission was then secured followed by a full Building Regulations submission. KITSON Architecture also provided advice on tendering and the formation of a suitable design team.
The re-modelled property benefits from a dramatic new gable to the main façade which allowed an existing bedroom in the eaves to be enlarged and full height ceilings introduced. The master suite was also enlarged and re-modelled and a fifth bedroom was added to meet the needs of the changing family dynamics. This bedroom is split level with a sleeping platform created over a stylish en-suite shower room and further space for a study and lounge area at the lower level. This room has provided the property with a real wow factor and has created self-contained accommodation right at the heart of the family home. Externally matching brickwork was interspersed with modern render and the house was entirely re-roofed with a high spec roofing tile. A new timber framed porch provides a stylish and contemporary main entrance. The end result is an enlarged and completely updated and refreshed family home befitting of its prestigious location.
Ellen Kitson was the project architect for this extensive retirement village on the Lancashire coast. The phased development consisted of a variety of house types and apartments alongside amenity and leisure facilities for the newly created community. While located adjacent to the beach the village is just a few miles from the bustling centre of Lancaster and is within easy reach of the motorway network and neighbouring resorts.
Being directly adjacent to the coast careful detail design and specification was needed to ensure the properties could stand up to the punishing marine environment.
Ellen Kitson was project architect for the new clubhouse working on behalf of a regional house builder. The local tennis courts were acquired for housing allowing the club to relocate to new premises combining with the local football team. This allowed an efficient use of the new building for both sports and provided new facilities for the community.
The development included a bar and function room along with up to date changing facilities compliant with the sporting national bodies. The site was sensitive with regard to the proximity of the site to local housing and the Bridgewater Canal.
Mark was Project Architect for the new clubhouse facilities for Unsworth Cricket Club in the Central Lancashire League. Following acquisition of the original sports fields for housing development the new pavilion was built at the new pitch location to provide improved and enlarged facilities for the club.
Along with new player and umpire changing and showering facilities the new development included a club bar and a function suite with its own dedicated bar, kitchen and toilets allowing the club to increase revenue by hiring the room out to the local community for events and parties. The club house is in an elevated position from the pitch and players and spectators can view the action from the veranda or from the inside the bar.
Mark Kitson has been involved with the implementation of the refurbishment masterplan for Newton Aycliffe town centre since its inception. The second phase of the works was the construction of a new bespoke Aldi store.
As project architect Mark worked closely with the retailers consultants to provide a standard footprint store with an exterior which coordinated with the Masterplan. The store forms a key anchor in the retail centre which has now been refurbished under Phase III by KITSON Architecture.
This Altrincham shopping centre complex, featuring ground floor retail and a 6 storey office block, was tired and sparsely occupied. As project architect, Ellen Kitson was instrumental in bringing the building up-to-date by converting the 7 storey office block into a hotel, and re-organising the retail spaces into units of much more appeal to tenants, with Home Bargains taking the largest unit.
We work with multiple data centre providers across the country, providing a suite of architectural services to assist clients from concept to completion.
Proposals vary from site to site, including:
Working closely with the client, Vodafone and the M+E consultants, KWA of Stoke, Mark Kitson was the project architect for this new Backup Energy Centre at an existing Data Solutions Centre in the South West. This challenging project involved the design of a windowless building which still needed a strong aesthetic quality. The design has met with much praise from the client.
KITSON Architecture has now been appointed to continue this phased project with the fit out of the existing Data Centre.
To fulfil a need for office space where there was none available, an existing industrial unit was converted into a high specification, high-technology media centre for an internet company. Ellen Kitson was Project Architect and designed the scheme which included a new façade, a mezzanine floor and a feature staircase.
KITSON Architecture have been involved in the upgrading of the hospital building fabric on a phased rolling programme.
Working in sensitive areas of the hospital has proved challenging but the highly detailed information issued has led to a more standardised approach which has allowed the contractor to make good progress under difficult conditions whilst minimising the disruption to the hospital staff and patients.
The practice have been involved in numerous small works projects at the hospital including refurbishment projects and extensions. Most recently, we have been looking at the upgrade of a ward to help mitigate the problems associated with COVID-19.
We were also appointed to undertake similar works at Congleton War Memorial Hospital for East Cheshire NHS trust.
Working with ROM Construction, KITSON Architecture won planning approval and undertook detail design for this project at the Saraniya Dhamma Meditation Centre in Salford; the scheme consists of a large, single storey meditation hall and a two-storey block for services and accommodation.
Our design had to work within strict budgetary constraints whilst developing elevations that respected the conservation area within which the site lies.
Ellen Kitson was Project Architect for this new-build store on a constricted and challenging urban site, with many planning obstacles to overcome. The design had to respect the locality whilst highlighting the M&S brand.
