Duhamel Lane

We are pleased to have completed the Duhamel Lane Apartments for our Client JMEC. This was a particularly interesting project as it was a very tight infill site with a Heritage listing.

Part of the design process was to study and create an architecture that would bridge the gap on the facade, taking cues from the surrounding traditional elevations and materials. The roof became the dynamic structure crowning the development with its folding planes, informed and connected by each of the adjoining roof points from the neighbouring properties, the traditional dormer window also grafted into this form.

The roof houses the rooftop terrace which gives the top floor residential unit a stunning view across the St Helier roofscape architecture. This folded form also transformed the living space beneath, offering a gentle play on light and form from within.

Construction:
JMEC needed an offsite construction system to help them build a brand-new apartment block — a 4-storey steel frame building in the heart of St Helier with a striking modern design.

But this modern design came with its own distinct challenge: a sloping mansard roof with an asymmetrical shape.

We worked closely with a team of designers and engineers from Hadley to refine the design of the sloping roof to ensure it fit the pre-panelised HadleyFRAME system that JMEC had chosen.

With the modified design in place, JMEC was able to commit to the modern methods of construction they needed — while preserving the eye-catching silhouette that gives the apartment block its unique charm.

It was after visiting one of our sites in Derby (along with industry suppliers, Normans of Jersey), JMEC fell in love with the HadleyFRAME — a pre-panelised system of light-gauge steel framing designed for steel frame buildings where construction sites are tight.

With limited space and connected neighbouring buildings, this new apartment block was the perfect fit for our HadleyFRAME system. By delivering load-bearing steel wall panels to the site on a just-in-time schedule, we will be able to minimise the storage and laydown space they need, helping JMEC to make the most of the restricted space at the site.

We continue to work with JMEC and Hadley, helping them to overcome the boundary wall issues of the limited site — as well as adding improvements to the design to make the building more efficient.

Contact

Guernsey Studio

Guelles Court
Guelles Lane
St Peter Port
Guernsey
GY1 2DD

9am - 5:30pm   |   01481 712633

contact@pfaarchitecture.com

Ollie Muston MCIAT

E: ollie.muston@pfaarchitecture.com

T: 01481 712633

Having been educated and grown up in Guernsey and developing a passion for technical design work, information technology and an intrigue for building design and history during his GCSE years, Oliver decided to commence his career in 1999 as an Architectural Technologist with Lovell Ozanne one of the largest architectural practices in the Channel Islands,  During those first inspiring 9 years he gained his BTEC HNC qualification increasing his fundamental experience and developing his knowledge base by working on multi-million pound commercial and residential developments including, Mixed Use and Redevelopment Areas (MURA), offices, apartments and industrial units.  

Moving to the States of Guernsey’s Property Services Team in 2008, Oliver was able to learn invaluable working skills and practices, increasing his expanding skillset in tendering and contract administration, whilst having the opportunity to work on public buildings and the differing challenges brought about by these types of projects. These projects encompassed education premises, States buildings with high security requirements, projects at the airport and harbours and fully accessible health facilities.  Full Accessibility audits for the health facilities became a prominent project for Oliver as his career progressed and he carried out a number of audits and reports for substantial business within the Island.

Now with a total of 21 years’ experience within the industry, his expansive knowledge not only covers all areas of a very vast field, but includes all aspects of a project from inception right through to the final handover of a completed project; which, for Oliver is the most rewarding experience. 

Oliver’s exceptional wealth of knowledge has lead him to gain his chartership with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and was formally invited to become an Interview Assessor for the Institute in 2015, a position limited to only a small number and in which someone can only be invited by the Institute.  Oliver completed the necessary assessor training a few months later.  

Ever striving to continue growing and expanding his professional knowledge, Oliver is a driven member of PF+A and one of the top in his field. With his professional yet friendly approachable nature he is an individual able to facilitate and communicate to clients, contractors, sub-contractors and other third parties to ensure that a project is always the best it can be.  Internally an exceptional trainer to the less experienced members of the team with an ease of teaching methods to ensure an unseamingly level of continuity for their development.

In his spare time Oliver enjoys spending time with his young family of three daughters, experiencing travelling and cultural diversity and of course Guernsey’s beautiful outdoor environment.

Chloe Whitmore

E: chloe.whitmore@pfaarchitecture.com

T: 01481 712633

Chloe is the first point of contact in the Guernsey studio. She has moved from a career of more than 20 years in the legal profession to managing a creative environment and its people - a welcome change for her! Her experience and legal background are a great asset for the Group.