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Vespers

  • Described as “one of the finest [properties] to come to market in recent years”, Vespers is a contemporary new build home in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham. The project involved demolishing an old, run-down bungalow and redeveloping the restricted site with a striking detached house designed for light, space and energy efficiency.
  • Status: Completed 2019
  • Location: Charlton Kings, Cheltenham
  • Value: Undisclosed
  • Contractor: SAID Properties
  • Structural Engineer: Simpson Associates Consulting Engineers
  • SIPs Supplier: Glosford Timber Solutions Ltd
  • Photo Credit: Infinity Unlimited and SAID Properties
  • Categories: Bespoke Homes, Developer Residential & Strategic Land
  • Tags: Charlton Kings, Contemporary Architecture, Contemporary Home Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, New Build Architect Cheltenham, Residential Architect Gloucestershire, SIPs House, Sustainable Residential Design
Wide evening view of Vespers, a contemporary new build home in Cheltenham, showing a brick ground floor, dark timber clad upper floor, large black framed glazing, rooflights, covered terrace and warm illuminated living spaces within its Charlton Kings setting
Full rear garden view of Vespers, a contemporary new build home in Cheltenham, showing red brickwork, dark timber cladding, slate roof, rooflights, large black framed glazing, paved terrace and lawn within its Charlton Kings garden setting
Front elevation of Vespers in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing dark timber cladding, brickwork, horizontal timber boarding, gravel driveway, entrance door, front steps and a spaniel standing near the entrance
Side elevation of Vespers in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing a long brick ground floor wall, black framed doors, dark timber cladding above, rooflights, paved terrace, lawn and covered external area on a restricted residential site.
Evening side elevation of Vespers in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing dark timber cladding above red brickwork, horizontal timber boarding, lit windows, exterior wall lights, gravel driveway and the contemporary new build home against a blue dusk sky.
Front elevation of Vespers in Cheltenham at evening, showing dark timber cladding above a brick ground floor, horizontal timber boarding, illuminated windows, entrance steps, gravel driveway and exterior wall lighting
Evening exterior view of Vespers, a contemporary new build home in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing red brick walls, black framed glazing, covered terrace, timber soffit, warm interior lighting and dark timber cladding above
Evening view through the rear glazing of Vespers in Cheltenham, showing the covered terrace, black framed windows, bright living room, artwork, seating, dining area and warm interior lighting
View from the colour drenched home office at Vespers in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing dark walls and ceiling, black Crittall-style glazing, a covered terrace beyond and views towards the garden and contemporary living spaces of the new build home.
Rear elevation of Vespers in Cheltenham at evening, showing black Crittall-style glazing across the ground floor, brickwork, timber soffit, covered terrace, warm interior lighting and views into the contemporary living space
Open-plan living and dining space inside Vespers in Cheltenham, showing a large wall of black framed glazing to the garden, pale floor tiles, pendant lights, dining table, sofa, rocking chair, artwork and natural daylight
Utility room or boot room at Vespers in Cheltenham, showing timber wall panels, a white worktop with inset sink, chrome taps, black framed window, recessed ceiling lights, grey floor tiles and tall storage cupboards.
Double height master bedroom at Vespers in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing a vaulted white wall, black metal mezzanine balustrade, pendant light, timber staircase and dressing area above the bedroom space
View down a pale timber staircase at Vespers in Cheltenham, showing plywood balustrades, split stair flights, white walls, timber detailing and natural light entering from a large, shuttered window
Contemporary white bathroom at Vespers in Cheltenham, showing a walk-in shower with black framed glass screen, white herringbone wall tiles, black shower head, wall-hung toilet, white basin, round mirror, recessed shelf and dark floor tiles
Overhead view of Vespers during construction in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing the SIP panel structure within a narrow residential plot, scaffolding around the building, materials stored tightly on site, a crane and neighbouring homes close to the boundaries.
Aerial view of Vespers during SIPs construction in Cheltenham, showing Structural Insulated Panels forming the walls and roof structure, scaffolding around the building, floor joists to the side and neighbouring properties close to the site.
Interior construction view of Vespers in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing exposed SIP panel walls, visible floor joists, installed black Crittall-style glazing, construction materials and sunlight entering the future open-plan living space.
  • Wide evening view of Vespers, a contemporary new build home in Cheltenham, showing a brick ground floor, dark timber clad upper floor, large black framed glazing, rooflights, covered terrace and warm illuminated living spaces within its Charlton Kings setting
  • Full rear garden view of Vespers, a contemporary new build home in Cheltenham, showing red brickwork, dark timber cladding, slate roof, rooflights, large black framed glazing, paved terrace and lawn within its Charlton Kings garden setting
  • Front elevation of Vespers in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing dark timber cladding, brickwork, horizontal timber boarding, gravel driveway, entrance door, front steps and a spaniel standing near the entrance
  • Side elevation of Vespers in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing a long brick ground floor wall, black framed doors, dark timber cladding above, rooflights, paved terrace, lawn and covered external area on a restricted residential site.
  • Evening side elevation of Vespers in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing dark timber cladding above red brickwork, horizontal timber boarding, lit windows, exterior wall lights, gravel driveway and the contemporary new build home against a blue dusk sky.
  • Front elevation of Vespers in Cheltenham at evening, showing dark timber cladding above a brick ground floor, horizontal timber boarding, illuminated windows, entrance steps, gravel driveway and exterior wall lighting
  • Evening exterior view of Vespers, a contemporary new build home in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing red brick walls, black framed glazing, covered terrace, timber soffit, warm interior lighting and dark timber cladding above
  • Evening view through the rear glazing of Vespers in Cheltenham, showing the covered terrace, black framed windows, bright living room, artwork, seating, dining area and warm interior lighting
  • View from the colour drenched home office at Vespers in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing dark walls and ceiling, black Crittall-style glazing, a covered terrace beyond and views towards the garden and contemporary living spaces of the new build home.
  • Rear elevation of Vespers in Cheltenham at evening, showing black Crittall-style glazing across the ground floor, brickwork, timber soffit, covered terrace, warm interior lighting and views into the contemporary living space
  • Open-plan living and dining space inside Vespers in Cheltenham, showing a large wall of black framed glazing to the garden, pale floor tiles, pendant lights, dining table, sofa, rocking chair, artwork and natural daylight
  • Utility room or boot room at Vespers in Cheltenham, showing timber wall panels, a white worktop with inset sink, chrome taps, black framed window, recessed ceiling lights, grey floor tiles and tall storage cupboards.
  • Double height master bedroom at Vespers in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing a vaulted white wall, black metal mezzanine balustrade, pendant light, timber staircase and dressing area above the bedroom space
  • View down a pale timber staircase at Vespers in Cheltenham, showing plywood balustrades, split stair flights, white walls, timber detailing and natural light entering from a large, shuttered window
  • Contemporary white bathroom at Vespers in Cheltenham, showing a walk-in shower with black framed glass screen, white herringbone wall tiles, black shower head, wall-hung toilet, white basin, round mirror, recessed shelf and dark floor tiles
  • Overhead view of Vespers during construction in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing the SIP panel structure within a narrow residential plot, scaffolding around the building, materials stored tightly on site, a crane and neighbouring homes close to the boundaries.
  • Aerial view of Vespers during SIPs construction in Cheltenham, showing Structural Insulated Panels forming the walls and roof structure, scaffolding around the building, floor joists to the side and neighbouring properties close to the site.
  • Interior construction view of Vespers in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, showing exposed SIP panel walls, visible floor joists, installed black Crittall-style glazing, construction materials and sunlight entering the future open-plan living space.

Vespers began with a small site, restricted access and an old bungalow that had reached the end of its useful life. Following demolition of the existing bungalow, the site was redeveloped with a contemporary new build home in Cheltenham, creating a spacious five-bedroom property in Charlton Kings with strong architectural character and a clear focus on energy performance.

Working with Cheltenham-based developer SAID Properties, RRA Architects explored the use of Structural Insulated Panels, known as SIP panels, as a practical and efficient construction method for the new house. While SIPs are not new, they are still less commonly used by many developers, despite offering several clear benefits. RRA Architects’ experience with SIPs dates back to 2000, when we delivered a pioneering project believed to be the first SIPs panel constructed house in the UK. So, while Vespers felt contemporary in both design and construction, the thinking behind it was built on long-standing experience rather than a leap into the unknown.

The speed of construction was a major advantage. From damp proof course to completion of the SIP structure took just 23 days. Not bad for a house that looks anything but rushed.

Because SIP panels create such an airtight structure, Vespers uses a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system. This helps control airflow by extracting stale air and using its heat to warm incoming fresh air, reducing heat loss while keeping the home properly ventilated.

 

Project Highlights

  • Contemporary new build home in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham
  • Five-bedroom detached house following demolition of an old bungalow
  • Restricted site carefully redeveloped for modern family living
  • Built using Structural Insulated Panels, known as SIP panels
  • SIP structure completed in just 23 days from damp proof course
  • Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system to support airtight construction
  • High-performance Crittall-style glazing
  • Double height master bedroom with mezzanine dressing area
  • Generous kitchen, dining and family space
  • Home office and formal sitting room with garden connections
  • Burnt larch cladding to the first floor
  • Brick slip cladding at ground floor level to respond to neighbouring buildings
  • Covered terrace and strong indoor-outdoor connection

 

The completed house combines practical performance with strong contemporary design. Crittall-style glazing brings natural light deep into the plan, while double-height spaces create a generous sense of volume. Burnt larch cladding gives the first floor a bold modern finish, with brick slip cladding at ground floor level helping the building sit comfortably alongside its neighbours.

Inside, natural materials, clean detailing and carefully framed views create a calm, spacious family home. A wide entrance hall, practical boot room, generous kitchen, dining and family space, formal sitting room, home office and well-proportioned bedrooms give the house flexibility as well as scale. The master bedroom includes a double height volume with a mezzanine dressing area, adding a distinctive architectural feature within the private suite.

Outside, large areas of glazing, a covered terrace, private gardens and a crisp material palette give Vespers a distinctive identity within its Charlton Kings setting.

This contemporary new build home in Cheltenham demonstrates how a restricted site can be used intelligently to create a light, efficient and beautifully detailed property, with generous family spaces, carefully planned private rooms and strong connections to the garden. It also reflects RRA Architects’ wider residential expertise across Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, the Cotswolds, Bristol and Avon, Monmouthshire and South Wales.

The project was the focus of Mandarin Stone’s ‘Inspiration’ case study, ‘Contemporary Cheltenham Home.’

To read more about SIPs and their benefits visit dedicated SIPS specialists Glosford SIPs