Genefax House

Genefax House, Tapton Park Gardens, Tapton Park Road, Ranmoor

Reconfiguration of a historic manor and its grounds, formerly used as the headquarters of a major Sheffield industrial company, to create a mixture of apartments, townhouses, mews homes and new-build houses within the Ranmoor Conservation Area.

Now known as Tapton Park House and Tapton Park Gardens, the 3.5-acre site in Ranmoor presented a number of unusual development challenges. Although the property was not listed, its historic character and the quality of the surrounding landscape required a sensitive approach to both the existing buildings and the wider site.

The original house was constructed as the home of a Sheffield industrialist before being converted to commercial use between the wars as the headquarters of General Refractories, which gave the property the name Genefax House.

The site was acquired as a whole and comprised the original manor house together with approximately 40,000 square feet of office accommodation in two multi-storey buildings adjoining the west side of the house. To the east, a range of brick and concrete-framed structures provided garages with accommodation above for the company chauffeur and gardener.

Much of the original Victorian garden layout remained, including specimen trees and planting and a croquet lawn. General Refractories, subsequently Hepworth Refractories PLC, had maintained the property and grounds to a high standard, including employing a full-time gardener/groundsman. The main interiors had also been maintained and refurbished, including extensive decorative plasterwork in the principal rooms.

A project team was assembled to develop a scheme appropriate to the character and setting of the property, including Axis Architecture, DLP Planning Consultants and Brown Associates Landscape Architects.

The development was based around a number of key design principles:

• Demolition of the post-war concrete-framed office buildings.

• Restoration of the original house.

• Use of locally sourced natural stone for extensions and alterations.

• Saw-cut ashlar stone facings with matching stone mullions and transoms.

• Retention of the Victorian gardens and significant specimen trees and planting.

• Retention and enhancement of the principal road entrance.

• Relocation of the secondary road entrance away from a blind corner.

The Ranmoor Society was closely consulted during the development of the proposals and was invited to visit the site and contribute local knowledge and ideas. The resulting scheme was subsequently welcomed by Sheffield City Council's Planning Department and Conservation Officer.