Residential: Hartland wiring accessories help to restore the splendour of Redland Court, blending period properties seamlessly with modern buildings and contemporary living.

The Project: Located in one of Bristol’s most popular locations, Redland Court is a visionary development by Juniper Homes that combines historic and new-build properties to create an exquisite collection of homes, with no two being quite the same.

Set in three acres of picturesque parkland, located on the old site of Redland High Girls’ School, the development has prioritised style, clever use of space, high quality specification and finishes. It has resulted in a collection of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom apartments, alongside 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom family townhouses, all providing stunning living spaces.

The challenge of the development was to balance the classic and contemporary – giving new purpose to Grade II listed buildings and restoring original features, while blending this with the new homes. For example, the stunning Manor House was built in the 1730s and takes prime position at Redland Court. This Grade II listed building has been transformed into apartments with exacting specifications, while retaining and restoring features such as the high ceilings and decorative architraves.

The Old School apartments have received similar treatment, having started life as an Assembly Hall built in 1906 and is also Grade II listed. Built later in 1931 and extended in 1955, The Science Building has been transformed into 17 design-led apartments that offer stunning views from outdoor terraces, Juliet balconies and Velux Cabrio windows.

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Woven between these historic buildings are modern-built homes. The Townhouses offer contemporary four-bedroom family homes with open-plan living spread over three floors, while East Range offers two- and three-bedroom newly built, contemporary style homes located on the site of the old School Gym. While newly constructed, West Villa has been built in the style of the original Georgian Manor House and offers a two-bedroom home with a roof terrace. Meanwhile, the most contemporary home is Woodstock Lodge – a contemporary, single storey, three-bedroom house with eco-friendly sedum roof that has its own private terrace.

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The Brief: The overarching challenge of the project was to create balance between the old and the new buildings: retaining existing features, elements of the classic style and the varied history of the area, while combining this with the requirements of modern living to create a cohesive overall look and feel.

Bristol-based developer Juniper Homes tasked its local electrical contractor, David Fear Electrical Contractors, to source decorative electrical wiring accessories that would create continuity throughout the development, while also being sympathetic to the different ages of the properties. High quality manufacture and finishes were of the utmost importance.

The Solution: Located in the South West, David Fear Electrical Contractors have worked with Bristol-based Hamilton Litestat with great success on multiple projects in the past. Assured of the company’s high quality, flexible solutions, Hamilton’s Hartland designer switch plates and sockets were selected for use throughout the development. The Hartland collection has a slim, elegant and classic design, while soft round edges nod to the contemporary.

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To complement the historic and contemporary buildings, the Hartland design was specified in two finishes: Antique Brass plates with Antique Brass Switches and Black inserts were chosen for the buildings with period features – including the Manor House, Old School and West Villa. Meanwhile, Satin Steel plates with Satin Steel switches and White inserts were used throughout the other properties.

With a vast range of functionality options available, power was delivered throughout each home with double switched sockets. In lounges, kitchens and bedrooms, select sockets were upgraded with dual USB 2.4A Ultra charging outlets. Lighting is controlled throughout with a mix of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-Gang LEDIT-B100 2-Way Dimmers.

In kitchens, a 6-Gang Grid plate on the kitchen counter controls all the modern electricals. Hamilton’s Grid-IT range provides flexibility, with a vast range of modules that simply and quickly clip into place on-site, featuring printed words or symbols to denote their function. Throughout the Redland Court properties, the labelled switches used are Oven, Dish Washer, Fridge/Freezer, Cooker Hood, Fan, with a final switch left blank for homeowner personalisation.

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Counter-top lighting has been installed on the underside of the wall-mounted kitchen units, which is controlled by Hamilton’s LEDIT-B100 2-Way Dimmer switches.

In the living rooms, media plates feature TV/FM/2x SAT outlets, plus a 1-Gang Telephone Slave to support contemporary media and connectivity requirements. In bedrooms, double switched sockets are positioned either side of the bed, alongside 2-Gang dimmer switches to control bedside lamps. A further 2-Gang dimmer switch controls the main lighting and is located at the entrance of the bedroom.

In all the bathrooms, Hamilton’s Hartland plates were specified in a coordinating finish with the shower and tap fittings. Dual voltage unswitched shaving sockets provide safe power for electricals, while a 20A cable outlet has been installed for the towel rail.

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The Result: The Redland Court development seamlessly melds period and contemporary aesthetics, while catering for modern living requirements. Hamilton’s Hartland designer switch plates and sockets complement both renovated and new-build properties, with its high-quality Antique Brass and Satin Steel finishes chosen to suit the requirements of each building.

Matt West, of David Fear Electrical Contractors, said: “Once again, Hamilton has proven to be the perfect partner for delivering to the requirement of such a high-quality, exacting project. The quality of Hamilton’s electrical wiring solutions is superb, and the flexibility of configurations and finishes means that we can always achieve the right functionality and style for a project – it’s why we continue to work with the brand. For example, the Grid-IT range comes with an excellent selection of module options, which makes it simple to fit for the challenges of each individual project. The solutions are straight forward to install and provide fantastic quality at a competitive price.”

Project Director, Jeff Spears from Juniper Homes said: “In this unique development that comprises period and contemporary buildings, Hamilton provided us with a stunning design solution that maintains consistency throughout, tailoring the finishes to suit the age of each building. Often an overlooked design element, Hamilton’s electrical wiring accessories contribute to the high-quality, polished finish that was the vision for the project. Additionally, being a Bristol-based developer, it’s great to work with and support another local company. With Hamilton being based in Brislington, the team understood the heritage of the property, the significance it has in the local landscape and the importance of getting the quality, look and feel right – it’s something Hamilton has achieved to an exceptionally high standard.”

Products Installed

Control Plates:

Hartland Collection – All mounted on Single/Double Plates + 1x 6 Gang Grid Plate

Period Buildings - Antique Brass effect plates with Antique Brass switches and Black inserts

New Build – Satin Steel effect plates with Satin Steel switches and White Inserts

Plates installed include:

79SS2USBULTAB-B - 2 Gang 13A Double Pole Switched Socket with 2 USB Ultra Outlets 2x2.4A

79R23AB-B – 3 Gang 2-Way Rocker Switch Plate

794XLEDITB100 – 4 Gang LEDITB100 2-Way Dimmer

74SHSW – Dual Voltage Unswitched Shaver Socket

746GP – 6 Gang Grid Fix Aperture Plate

74EURO2 – EuroFix 100x50 4 Module Aperture Plate

MOD-DENTW – EuroFix 50x50 TV+FM+2xSAT Module White