To take us into the bank holiday weekend we bring you the 7th project in our series, this beautiful house set within the Cotswold National Landscape.

The mid-20th century stone house had beautiful mature gardens, but its traditional form, small windows and enclosed rooms offered little connection between inside and out.

Our clients initially approached us with plans for a substantial new wing. We developed the design and successfully secured planning permission, but after spending their first summer in the house, they came to appreciate just how important the mature trees and established landscape were to the character of their home and together, we reconsidered the brief.

Rather than building the larger extension, we focused on a much smaller, lightweight, contemporary glazed extension within an existing patio area. A low-profile zinc roof, minimal framing and full-height sliding glass create a deliberate contrast with the original stone house, bringing light deep into the home and opening the living spaces directly onto the garden.

The result uses less land, fewer materials and required the removal of fewer established landscape features, while also reducing construction cost. Most importantly, it delivered a better home.

With the clients frequently overseas, we also managed the project through construction, building a relationship of close communication and trust. We were delighted when the project was shortlisted at the ‘Build It’ awards for ‘Best Architect or Designer for an Extension Project’, a huge credit to Bethan who was the project lead.

Fifteen years on, this project highlights that thoughtful architecture isn’t always about adding more. Sometimes it’s about understanding what already makes a place special, and designing just enough to make it better.