HISTORIC LANDSCAPE LYTCHETT MINSTER SCHOOL STOWE SCHOOL COOMBE HOUSE TRACY PARK

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1 New design in the context of a historic setting is an exciting challenge, allowing both modern and traditional design motifs to be used. Integrating new design having understood the history of the site is an important starting point. New design and stylistic approaches are seen as important new additions to a landscape, providing they are appropriately located and not in conflict with the prime setting of the historic site. Quality in materials is usually essential, to ensure that we are building gardens and landscapes worthy of their setting. Similarly, a close attention to design detailing, often utilising traditional methods in a modern context, allows new and old to sit comfortably together and provide another era in the history of the site. Illman Young are specialists in the design and detailing of hard landscape works in particular, and enjoy the challenge that the juxtaposition that old and new brings. STOWE SCHOOL COOMBE HOUSE TRACY PARK LYTCHETT MINSTER SCHOOL

2 Combe House is a Grade 1 listed building set within its original ornamental garden and parkland setting, and is currently used as a hotel. Plans by the tenant to provide additional accommodation through conversions and new development both within the pleasure grounds, and adjacent to the walled garden and stables required the preparation of a historic assessment by English Heritage. Site not a registered park, but the assessment researched and identified the development phases and extent of designed landscape. It s ultimate purpose was to consider the impact of the proposed development on the landscape and potential effect on the unspoilt nature of the setting of the listed building. An archive of estate papers was found on site, which along with the family archive and diaries supplemented the extensive site survey work undertaken. Key development periods also confirmed by a comprehensive tree survey; some trees dated back to the seventeenth century. Report outcome showed how little the estate had changed since its heyday, but how much detail had been lost through natural decline and lack of management - exacerbated by inappropriate replanting. The design of the proposed development was therefore guided in a careful and sensitive manner, to contribute to the regeneration of parts of the pleasure grounds, and more importantly, to bring parts of the estate back into beneficial use. - Client: Coombe House Hotel - Scope: Work stages C-L - Location: Devon COOMBE HOUSE

3 Although Tracy Park was a large designed estate in its heyday, the damage caused to the character of the park by the installation of two golf courses was so fundamental that it had not been considered for listing. A change in ownership brought a new approach. The new owner wished to develop the hotel side of the business; to restore the house, its outbuildings and setting to a high quality, appropriate to the house, and to add substantial modern facilities Illman Young were initially engaged to undertake Historic Assessment and Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. The structure of the park and the majority of its historic features remained - including the majority of the parkland trees. Park locally important and extensive, though much of the detail had been lost, and surviving features were in poor repair. New development located within the existing car park, away from the historic core of the site. This allowed restoration of some of the landscape features. The design aspect therefore centred around: - Restoring some of the historic features - Minimising the impact of development - Appropriate designs and planting - New design work for the new buildings. This allowed a blend of old with very modern design, utilising traditional plants and motifs in a modern way. - Client: Tracy Park Golf and Country Hotel - Scope: Work stages C-L - Location: Wick, near Bath TRACY PARK

4 Stowe School is an independent school sited in rural Buckinghamshire, a series of Grade 1 listed buildings set within a Registered Grade I Park and Garden. Whilst the National Trust owns much of the parkland and the gardens, a separate trust leases the buildings and remaining grounds to the school. The challenge for the school and the Trusts is to preserve, restore and respect the historic significance and fabric of Stowe, whilst managing and meeting the needs of a modern school. The school s long term masterplan is currently being reviewed to meet this challenge. Parking study and review of historic fabric referenced to guide appropriate design and management solutions. Designs to be congruent with the Conservation Management Plan and the aspirations of the school. Also to take account of the considerable number of historic trees. Illman Young s current involvement is to develop the landscape aspects of the various plans - including plaza spaces, building settings, parking and car parks. Parking is a particular issue, infront of the historic building facades. Areas of the site considered thus far include: - Parking along the entrance avenue - Setting for the refurbished Science Block - Landscaping to the new Music School - Landscaping to the Roxburgh Theatre - Woodland car park - Client: Stowe School - Architects: Roberts Limbrick Squires and Brown - Arboricultural Consultant: Patrick Stileman - Conservation Consultant: Dr Sarah Rutherford STOWE SCHOOL

5 Lytchett Minster school occupies a Grade II* listed building within a designed landscape at Lytchett Minster, near Poole in Dorset. Following a fire, a significant part of its accommodation consisted of temporary buildings and the County Council therefore wished to build new facilities to replace those lost and to provide for the schools wider curriculum needs - giving appropriate regard to the historic setting. Illman Young engaged to research the history of the site, and to provide an evaluation of the designed landscape to ensure that the new development respected the historic environment Also to provide a set of constraints within which new development could be accommodated. It was not intended to be a full restoration plan but to provide sufficient information to allow English Heritage to evaluate the school s development proposals in the context of its historic setting. Following the initial historic landscape report, we provided a landscape masterplan and full working drawings for the development and were involved in construction on site. - Location : Lytchett Minster - Scope : Historic Landscape assessment Work stages C-L - Client : Dorset County Council - Architect : cube_design - Landscape Value : 450K LYTCHETT MINSTER SCHOOL