Knowle House, Cranham

Works are approaching completion on a contemporary extension to a Grade-II Listed house in Cranham. The modest extension has been carefully detailed to provide an exciting light filled living space. A single elongated window provides a stunning panoramic view to the north across the surrounding woodland, while a frameless rooflight joins the extension to the house, casting daylight across the natural stone wall.

High performance triple glazed doors minimize heat loss and this is coupled with exemplary levels of insulation in the walls, floor and roof. The roof awaits the installation of a sedum roof which will provide a finishing touch to the project.

As part of the project we also sensitively repaired and renovated an outbuilding to provide a work from home office, garage and store room. Our approach to sustainability applies to all aspects of the project, and this included the installation of photovoltaic (PV’s) slates on the roof. The slates provide the perfect finish to roof. They are both sensitive to the Grade-II property while also generating electricity to supply the office and house.

Green Cottage

We returned to site a year after the completion of the project to see how the project had adapted to its environment. The natural zinc roof has developed a darker patina closer to a traditional lead colour. The larch cladding is also beginning to silver, and together this means the two materials will soften in appearance, complementing the original stone of the Cotswold cottage.

We specified high quality composite timber and aluminium windows and doors to the project. The aluminium provides a contemporary feel to the design, while the timber gives a more tactile and softer appearance to the inside. This system utilises the natural insulating properties of the wood to minimize heat loss and running costs, while the aluminium protects the wood from long term weathering and movement.

Quietways, Whiteshill, Stroud

Works are underway on a two storey extension to a Cotswold cottage. The extension provides a new open plan kitchen/dining space, with a master bedroom, ensuite and dressing room at first floor which opens onto a covered roof terrace. The design uses natural zinc and larch cladding which will both weather over time and soften in appearance, complementing the setting.

Built into the hillside the extension is designed to its setting, with picturesque views across the valley to the west. Large sliding doors open the living space onto the terrace and connect with the garden.

Haveling Cottage, Chalford, Stroud

A contemporary zinc, oak and stone extension nearing completion. We used natural materials which will naturally weather and soften in appearance to complement the historic cottage. While the extension is contemporary in its design it will appear part of the natural evolution of the property. Careful use of glazing fills the new kitchen and dining space with natural light while providing views across the garden. Folding doors and large opening windows open the living space to the garden, giving a focal point to the house. The contractor will move onto the landscaping and finishing touches. Completed photos to follow shortly.

Brownshill Court, Wick Street, Stroud

Works starting on site for the renovation and residential conversion of two Grade-II Listed Stables to provide accommodation within the grounds of the main house. The Stables will be sensitively repaired and restore to their former glory, with an array of different living spaces, including a double height open plan living area with feature staircase. The renovations will add thermal insulation throughout the Stables as well as high performance windows to provide a modern, low energy and thermally efficient sustainable living space.

Old Glebe House, Bussage, Stroud

Planning permission has been received for a large contemporary single storey extension to a Grade-II Listed house. The extension links the house to an existing Stables, providing an open plan living space which opens onto the garden and capitalizes on the stunning views to the south across the Golden Valley. We carefully negotiated the design through planning, working closely with the Conservation Team at the Local Authority to develop the design. The design draws contrast to the original house to create a clear distinction between old and new. Sympathetic repairs will also restore some of the original features.

Sliding glass doors open onto the garden while a lantern brings daylight into the center of the living space. The lantern also helps to ventilate the space with opening windows drawing cooler air through the space during warmer weather. High performance glazing and exemplary levels of insulation will minimize energy consumption and long term running costs. The roof will project over the glazed doors, shielding against solar gain to maintain a comfortable year round temperature to the extension.

Daneway Millhouse, Sapperton, Cirencester

Planning permission received for the remodel and renovation of a historic Cotswold property located at Daneway Wharf. The design includes a new ground floor extension, first floor extension, replacement outbuilding + privy and landscaping works.

The property is located at the historic wharf, formally a hive of activity on the Thames & Severn Canal. The proposal includes the extensive renovation of the property to provide a sustainable and contemporary Cotswold home. The existing house will be thermally insulated throughout, providing an optimal arrangement to accommodate a new air source heat pump installation to heat the property, minimizing energy consumption while providing year round comfort.

We worked closely with the Conservation team at Cotswold District Council to develop a contemporary design to complement the historic property. An elegant oxidised copper roof, is joined to the house by a strip rooflight which fills the living space below with natural daylight. The extension reorganises the house, providing a bridge over the new living space, which connects to a new feature stairs. An additional extension at first floor adds a glazed gable, also with a copper roof to provide a stunning new master bedroom.

We thoroughly researched the history of the property and its role supporting the Cotswold Arts-and-Crafts movement. The house formerly occupied by workers at the Wharf; also neighboured the steam powered Sawmill, fuelled by coal arriving from boats on the canal. The Sawmill provided wood for use throughout the surrounding area, and in particular the notable Arts-and-Crafts pioneers Ernest Gimson and the Barnsley Brothers, who lived at the top of the valley in Sapperton.

We took inspiration from the site’s heritage, selecting a hand finished copper which has a dark oxidised finish. The roof will be installed by specialist local metalworkers echoing the Arts-and-Crafts traditions synonymous with the area. The roof will continue to weather and develop its natural patina over time.

Below the house an existing outbuilding will be replaced with a new workshop, providing a flexible ancillary space to serve the house. Built into the bankside a wildflower roof will blend the outbuilding with its natural setting, together with the use of natural stone and timber cladding. Large sliding timber doors, conceal the windows and doors to provide privacy and security when the building is not in use. The doors will create a seamless appearance with the vertical timber cladding, forming a modest yet precision detailed and elegant addition to the site.

The Knowle, Oakridge Lynch, Stroud

We were delighted to receive planning permission for a replacement dwelling on a complex site in Oakridge Lynch. The two storey split level home is built into the bank, with the low lying design opening onto the garden to enjoy the picturesque southerly views across the Golden Valley. The change in level across the site, protected Yew trees and historical significance of a neighbouring Grade-II Listed Weaver’s Cottage on the site provided a series of constraints, but also an opportunity to achieve a highly innovative and creative contemporary architectural design.

The design will provide a highly sustainable family home. Exemplary levels of insulation will minimize energy consumption and reduce the long term running costs, while providing year round comfort. A heat pump will be installed to provide heating and hot water, supplied by the electricity generated by the photovoltaic panels (PV’s).

The layout is tailored to the site, using the southerly orientation to provide a bright and daylight filled living space. Shading provided by a planted canopy will control solar gain during summer months.

The design was developed through close collaboration with the Local Authority to address the site constraints and opportunities. The design is positioned to the rear of the site, forming a harmonious relationship with the Grade-II Listed Weaver’s Cottage, whereby the new and old complement one another and demonstrate the evolution of modern living standards.

Timber cladding and natural stone are partnered with a green roof and high performance windows and doors. The materials are both contextually sensitive while being of high quality and hard wearing. They can be locally sourced and this helps to reduce the embodied energy. Furthermore with the demolition of an existing cottage these materials will be repurposed to help form the new home.

Fir Tree Cottage, Chalford

Planning permission received for a single storey contemporary extension to a historic Cotswold cottage, located in a Conservation Area.

The new extension provides an open plan kitchen/dining area, with glazed doors opening onto the garden. A natural zinc roof forms a cantilevered canopy to provide solar shading, while a slot rooflight brings daylight into the rear of the extension.

Haveling Cottage / Knowle House - Site Start

Knowle House and Haveling Cottage are both underway on site. Knowle House involves a contemporary single storey extension to a grade-II listed Cotswold Villa, while the works at Haveling Cottage will remodel the circulation to the traditional Cotswold cottage to centre around a light filled kitchen and dining space. The two projects use materials which naturally weather and age to sit comfortably in their setting including natural stone, zinc and oak. Specialist glazing is used in both projects which will fill the living space with natural daylight, opening onto to the garden, while also providing year round comfort with exemplary thermal performance and minimized heating costs.

Beech Cottage, Bisley, Stroud

Beech Cottage nears completion with only the external landscaping remaining to the house. Works can now begin on the nearby outbuilding to provide a workshop and studio.

The house includes a range of unique light filled spaces, which frame the stunning views across the valley. The exterior and interior share the same attention to detail and we worked closely with the client and contractor to develop the design of each space to achieve an exceptional quality of finish. This involves careful choice of materials to provide exciting and vibrant living spaces.

The high levels of thermal insulation throughout the house, including the upgrade of the historic cottage, meant an air source heat pump could be installed to work with optimal efficiency. The new pump supplies the underfloor heating system throughout the house, as well as providing hot water. This means the house can be sustainably heated, switching away from an oil fed boiler, while also reducing consumption and energy costs.

Green Cottage

Green Cottage has recently reached completion. We worked closely with the contractor to negotiate the steep site and provide two new extensions at the side and rear of the historic cottage. The two storey side extension provides a new kitchen opening onto the terrace. A new master bedroom at first floor benefits from a Juliet balcony to appreciate the stunning views across the valley.

The glazed single storey extension provides a garden room with high performance glazing to retain heat and provide year round comfort and use of the space. The use of natural materials including Larch timber cladding and natural zinc means they will age and weather, recording the history of the building, and complementing the natural stone of the original historic cottage.

Yokehouse Lane Barn, Painswick, Stroud

Planning permission received for the residential conversion and extension to a historic barn, located near Painswick. The Barn was historically a cottage which was later adapted into a Barn, with notable remaining features including a bread oven. We worked collaboratively with the Local Authority to develop the design, exploring design options with a Pre-Application prior to making a formal planning application.

The proposal will provide an exciting double height living space, which connects to a new extension. The extension combines timber and stone cladding, with a green sedum roof and zinc, bringing together traditional construction with contemporary design. In this way the extension complements and enhances the barns original features.

The Barn will be thermally insulated throughout to provide a comfortable and modern family home. The extension was developed to suit its orientation and setting with large areas of north facing glazing, providing a dynamic light filled living space. The Barn will also have large elegant glazed doors, opening the Barn to its picturesque rural setting.

Quietways, Whiteshill

Planning permission has been received for a two storey extension to a historic Cotswold cottage. The design capitalises on the stunning views to the east across the valley, with sliding glass doors and inset balcony at first floor, maximising light and transparency. The design uses timber and natural zinc to complement the natural stone of the original cottage. The timber cladding will gradually age and silver in its setting, while the zinc will develop a patina to give variation to the surface finish.

At ground floor a new open plan kitchen and dining space will open onto the garden with a terraced area. At first floor a new master bedroom, ensuite and dressing room will have an impressive vaulted ceiling, which opens to a covered roof terrace.

The extension is designed to suite its setting, using solar gain to warm the space through winter months, while providing a cool and comfortable living space throughout the summer. High performance windows and doors, together with added insulation throughout the design will minimize energy consumption, its long term footprint and running costs.

7 Parliament Street, Stroud

We were delighted to receive planning permission for x7 flats and x2 small offices spaces on a former garage site. The prominent site is visible approaching Stroud, located west of the town centre, and will provide a high quality addition to the eclectic mix of housing in this area.

We worked collaboratively with the Local Authority to develop the design, maximising the site’s potential while providing a sympathetic and highly contextual design. This developed out of thorough historical research and rigorous exploration of the design to provide a site specific design appropriate to Stroud. This is a key part of our approach to design, which results from our appreciation and understanding of the particular charm and character of Stroud and the Cotswolds.

The design is highly sustainable, repurposing a brownfield site to provide a modern living and working environment. PV’s/Solar Panels are located atop the office space, generating and storing sufficient energy to surpass annual energy requirements. The use of an extensive green roofs also provide a biodiverse environment to support local ecology, together with a generous communal garden for all to enjoy. A combination of ‘Juliet-style’ balconies and inset rooftop balconies capitalise on the stunning views across Stroud, while flooding the living spaces with natural daylight. High quality composite (aluminium + timber) windows provide exemplary thermal efficiency, which together with high levels of insulation throughout the design will radically reduce the long term operational energy, running costs and resulting carbon footprint.

The design is based on a modern interpretation of the terraced housing which formerly occupied the site that was later demolished during the works to redirect Parliament Street in the mid 20th century. Zinc, red brickwork and render create the stepped terrace design which follows the steep gradient of Parliament Street. The terraced design reforms the vertical street rhythm which historically characterised this part of Stroud, with slim and elegant proportions to each ‘unit’ contributing to a more vibrant street setting.

The design developed out of a response to the complex site constraints, including the ground contamination resulting from the site’s former use as a scrapyard and garage, as well as the complex site levels. The layout consequently follows the natural topography of the land, with the car park set down to the rear of the site to preserve the impressive westerly views across Stroud.

Brownshill Court, Wick Street

Planning permission granted for the residential conversion and extension to two former Stable Outbuildings within the grounds of the Grade-II* Listed Brownshill Court. The conversion will provide 2 separate 1-Bed and a 3-Bed properties, serving as ancillary living space to the main house. The design retains the charm of the original stables, with extensive repairs to the two buildings to restore their day to day use.

A series of rooflights and new windows/doors will bring natural daylight into the living space. The East Stables will also benefit from a double height living space with mezzanine and feature staircase. The existing building fabric will be thermally insulated throughout to minimize energy consumption and long term maintenance costs. This will be supported by a highly efficient underfloor heating system ideally suited to the buildings volume, ensuring year round comfort to the two buildings.

Beech Cottage, Bisley

Glazing installation in progress at Beech Cottage to provide a weather tight building ready to receive the internal finishes. Specialist cranes were used to negotiate the tricky access constraints to the site.

High performance triple glazing is used throughout the design to minimize heat loss and reduce running costs. An Air Source Heat pump hidden to the rear supplies the underfloor heating to the house. The underfloor heating is cast into a concrete screed which provides a thermal mass that maintains a comfortable temperature throughout the day and night.

The Buckholt, Cranham

Planning permission granted for a replacement rear extension to The Buckholt, Cranham. The historic property is complemented by a sensitively designed single storey glazed extension with large sliding glass doors which open onto the garden. A slot type rooflight brings together new and old, joining the existing house with the extension, while bringing daylight into the living space. A light weight and thin profile green sedum roof, floats above the extension, complementing the natural stone and glazing. This extends into a solar canopy which controls solar gain during the summer months. Internally, a feature fireplace and a dramatic double height entrance hall with clerestory windows will provide eye catching features within the design.

4 Castle Villas, Stroud

With the extension largely complete works now begins on the garden and external solar canopy.

We completed a shadow analysis to help develop the design of the solar canopy to be installed at 4 Castle Villas, Stroud. The design of the louvres is responsive to seasonality. Due to the south facing orientation of the extension a series of overhead stainless steel louvres will provide shade during the summer months, controlling solar gain to provide a comfortable living space. During winter, the louvres allow the lower angle of the sun to warm the extension through solar gain, reducing energy consumption as part of the highly sustainable design.

Green Cottage, Chalford

Work begins on the internals at Green Cottage with the two extensions now water tight. A new side extension to the historic cottage adds a kitchen and utility room with a master bedroom at first floor including a Juliet balcony. Clad in timber and zinc the materials will naturally weather, ‘silvering’ to complement the stone of the cottage. The second extension, a new glazed summer room, capitalises on the stunning views across the Golden Valley, with sliding glass doors which will open onto an external terrace to be installed in the coming weeks.