Craftsmanship&Soul


Back to Practice

Craftsmanship & Soul

Craftsmanship		Kitchens, Cupboards, Staircases, Stone & Brickwork
		Having worked in many different locations with many different people over the last 30 years, Richard Twinch has established long-term relationships with a number of specialist craftsmen. In practice these craftsmen work alongside the main contractor providing the detailed finished items. As many of these craftsmen are also designers in their own right, they fully participate in client discussions and provide detailed design input.

Kitchens		Kitchens The general layout of the kitchen is arranged between the client and architect at an early stage. The kitchen designer/craftsman is consulted to determine the final positioning of the plumbing and electrics. Thereafter the kitchen design/manufacture is the result of a series of discussions between the craftsman and the client with only minimal advice from the architect.

		Finishes, such as tiling, and the connections to gas/electricity are also completed by the kitchen fitter - though these have to be finally checked and tested respectively by a qualified Corgi-registered plumber and a suitably qualified electrician.

Cupboards		Cupboards As with kitchens, other cupboards and detailed fittings are arranged outside the main building contract and, apart from general advice on materials and design principles, the detailed design and manufacture is left up to the craftsmen & clients.

Garden Buildings		Garden Buildings

		Highly crafted garden buildings and restoration works can be arranged directly between client and craftsmen. The architect can supply advice and arrange Listed Building Consents/Planning Applications as necessary.

		Costs: These are the result of discussions between the clients and craftsmen and are usually based on a daily rate plus materials. The craftsman will provide an estimate in advance. A handmade kitchen (excluding cooker etc.) can come anywhere between £6K and £15K depending on size and materials used.



Staircases & Specialist Trusses		Staircases & Specialist Trusses As these are integral to the main structure they come under the structural requirements of Building Regulations as well as engineering calculations. These items have to come under the main Building Contract, but can be out-sourced from specialist sub contractors (as at Wiggins Farm).

		Costs: These are included in the Contract Sum as estimated PC (Prime Cost) items and then are finally quoted for when detailed working drawings are produced - usually when the contract is underway and final heights and distances can be measured exactly.



Stone & Brick Work		Stone & Brick Work These are included as part of the main Building Contract and costed from the start - unless specialist stone carving/lettering is required for which a PC sum is included. Lintels and cills are generally cast rather than carved - unless on very prestigious projects (Ogilvy House).

		Matching bricks are selected from a wide range, which is usually done through the main contractor as all major suppliers have their own specialist brick departments. The planners are often the main arbiters of the final match.

		Where possible matching 2nd hand materials are used, provided they are in good condition, as these are the 'greenest' option. The availability of particular 2nd hand materials itself 'informs' the detailed design and special new bricks can be arranged to match (as at The Clark Library, Grantchester & Ogilvy House).