This house is a replacement for two undistinguished cottages in a rural setting. Planning permission was gained in the normal 8 week period and construction has recently commenced.

The design reconciles the need for a very large house without dominating it’s seting, by breaking the accommodation down into three distinct volumes with different heights and characteristics. The brief was for “traditional” architecture and tries to achieve this with integrity by interpreting the local vernacular with contemporary detailing. It addresses the dual public and private aspects and makes the most of long views to the South over the Mendips.

The house will also be very low energy and low maintenance, and will use passive solar gains, ground source heat pumps and a wind turbine to provide a zero carbon emissions system.