Project description

We were asked to design a new family-sized living space that made the most of spectacular views across the english countryside. We loved the site – a characterful cottage in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty set within beautiful gardens and rolling hills.

The house was extended in the 1960’s in a mock-period style that lacked finesse and elegance. The living spaces were disjointed with small windows and had little relationship to the outside.

Our design is an exposed Douglas fir timber frame which curves in both plan and section. This creates a new courtyard where the client’s children play and dogs and chickens roam. The cladding – charred black timber – contrasts with the existing red-brick house and references black-timber barns in the area.

We delivered this project in close collaboration with the clients and their young children, who all lived on site throughout the build and were hands on and full of enthusiasm!