Page 117 - Homes & Interiors Scotland

PLANNING PERMISSION

Avoid stress and ensure you are fully aware
of the legalities and limitations involved with
building a mezzanine – these can make or
break your project and, in some cases, could
even require you to scrap it altogether. Nest’s
Debbie Happell offers her advice:
“If the mezzanine is internal and the building
is not listed, planning permission is not
required to build an extra level.
“If the mezzanine is within an existing
bedroom and is being constructed to sleep
on or be used as a small office etc, it is not
necessary to obtain a building warrant.
“On the other hand, if the mezzanine is
being constructed to create another room or
another floor, a building warrant should be
applied for. A structural engineer should be
enlisted to ensure the loadings and integrity
of the mezzanine are correct. Daylight,
ventilation and fire-escape requirements
must also be considered.
“Above all else, always contact the local
authority before carrying out any alterations.
You don’t want to build something that has to
be removed at a later stage.”

The stripped-back bare bones of the building should
dictate the size and positioning of the mezzanine, but
not necessarily the function. Consider what an extra level
might add to your lifestyle and how can it change the
way you use the room for the better. Desjardins Bherer’s
Iron Lace gallery (top right) serves as a decorative
feature in a starkly modern room with tall shelving. The
austerity of the sharp lines and monochrome walls is
more palatable with a concentrated, detailed focal point
such as this iron banister.
Acoustics will also play an important role in the
decision-making. “Any sound will tend to be heard in the
whole space,” points out interior designer Pat Renson.
“It’s no good having the mezzanine as a TV room unless
you want everyone above and below to hear it.” Only
lower mezzanines positioned in compact spaces, such
as Richard Burbidge’s project (right), can be con sidered
inclusive enough to function well as a TV room, but these
still require more fluidity between levels: Burbidge’s stair
features glass panels that allow daylight to flow through
and the mezzanine to appear less defined in the space.