The Proposed Site & Existing Dwelling: The site is located in a rural setting within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and designed to carefully respect this protected environment. The site’s original farmhouse, replaced by the new dwelling, was extensively damaged by fire in February 2008 and was considered beyond economic repair. It was…

Design and Planning The Client approached me to design a “traditional” style replacement of his time worn 1960’s house situated in a picturesque village located in the leafy Cambridgeshire countryside. I visited site and undertook a physical survey to create a picture of the existing building for planning. Meeting with the Client on site also…

Design and Planning They’re decision to move out of town to a rural setting provided the Client with the task of finding the right plot for their needs with the best opportunity to develop and build their own home. Their search led them to an old and disused farmhouse located at the foot of the…

Design and Planning Although the site for this project was relatively generous, the position of the dwelling was restricted by the settlement boundary of the village and the planning departments’ desire to ensure that the boundary was not extended by the development. Consequently, the new dwelling had to be located within a relatively small portion…

Design and Planning This site offered a number of particular challenges located as it is on the side of a steeply sloping valley in a small rural village in Herefordshire. It’s also located on the edge of the Malvern Hills AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The plot was also occupied by a cottage of…

Site and Context The site for this dwelling lay on the slope of a green valley in a small rural hamlet offering challenges to both the design and build to accommodate the hillside requiring the internal levels to be split with the lower floor effectively being a semi basement. As a result, great care and…

The Brief The Client was keen to create a traditional style home incorporating an oak post and beam frame and incorporating green and energy saving features ensuring long term sustainability. The Solution Working closely with the Client we concluded that, in order to maximise the potential insulation levels, and to minimise CO2 emissions for the…

Design and Planning Prior to the Client approaching me the design for this dwelling was already predominantly in place and planning permission had been gained. However, they became interested in introducing green oak into the construction and I focused on introducing a full oak frame within the envelope as designed. Consequently, the layout required considerable…

Site Context The site for this house was particularly interesting as it lay on the shore overlooking a spectacular salt mash nature reserve on the east coast of England. Detail Design The plot, by definition, was challenging as it was prone to tidal flooding and occasional isolation by rising water levels. The lower ground floor…