Houses

Fits Barn Javelin Block Little Tew, Oxfordshire Completed 2017

This barn, located in Little Tew in the heart of the Cotswolds, was converted into a country retreat.

Our proposal converted the derelict site from a redundant machinery workshop into a 3 bedroom residence, an artist studio and 2 garages.

Ghost House Balaclava Projects Morton Paddox, Warwickshire Completed 2019

Completed in early 2019, Ghost House won a regional RIBA award in May and went on to be longlisted for the RIBA House of the Year Award.

Inspired by the work of Tadao Ando, the house is built entirely from in-situ concrete with all internal and external walls exposed.

Kuro Koti Private Client Harborne, BIrmingham Completed 2022

There has always been a rather unusual house on this prominent corner and most of it is still there under layers of insulation, concrete and charred timber.

The genius loci of this site is to be set apart from the suburban norm and this tradition has been maintained.

The client had a really clear vision for this transformation and an exacting approach to the detailed execution.

Recent occupiers include Channel 5’s The Gadget Show. www.kurokoti.com

Pittville Crescent Boo Homes Cheltenham Completed 2015

The development took reference from neighbouring properties and sought to provide a more contemporary solution to the Pittville semi-detached villa typology.

The built form is four storeys high and arranged symmetrically. It is stepped back from the road allowing a large planted front garden, and the top floor is significantly set back to allow the lower parapet height to read more prominently.

The Pittville Estate was planned by Joseph Pitt in the early 1800s whose

vision was to create an impressive estate of large villas, terraces and open parkland. The vision was never fully realised due to financial constraints, leading to infill housing of a poorer standard compared to the original Regency villas.

By introducing a building that was similar in height and scale to its neighbours, we sought to restore the street scene, and help realise Joseph Pitt’s original vision.

Hedge House 10M Knowle Completd 2019

Set in 6.5 acres close to the village of Knowle, near Solihull, Hedge House measures 55m in length by 10m in width over two storeys.

The Old Vicarage New House Private Client Claverdon, Warwickshire Completed 2022

Our clients had long dreamt of building a modest low energy home in their garden, in which to spend their later life.

Mary Street Malcolm Kirkham & Jan Arkwright Jewellery Quarter Completed 2018

Built in 1823 this previously derelict Grade II Listed workshop sits across the road from our office. Over the course of 2017 - 2018 the building underwent a sympathetic transformation for new owners Jan & Malcolm, who now call it home.

The project was awarded the Birmingham Civic Society Renaissance Award 2019.

Hiavens Javelin Block Banbury, Oxfordshire 2019 - present

An abandoned 100 acre site presented our client with an opportunity to replace a group of semi-derelict buildings with a contemporary version of a farmhouse.

Invisible House Balaclava Projects Warwickshire Completed 2022

Set in Morton Paddox, amongst a number of mature trees, the concept seeks to deconstruct a traditional house into its individual components, where each room is designed as a pavilion.

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These pavilions cantilever from a piled core giving the illusion that they are floating above the existing landscape.

The use of smoked mirrors reflecting the surrounding environment blurs the boundaries between the building and landscape. The pavilions are interlinked by a translucent glass bridge.

Marl House Private Client Staffordshire 2020 onwards Paragraph 80

The discovery of an old marl pool situated in the southern part of the site led us to conceive the house as a large extraction pit, dug into the sloping ground.

The Piggery Private Client Oxfordshire 2020 onwards Paragraph 80

The design of this one-off house has evolved over the last few years, with a fourth and final design review taking place in October 2022.

The design seeks to balance all of the requirements of Para 80, with aesthetics, sustainability, landscape, performance and character:

- Sustainable.

- Multi generational.

- Zero carbon in operation.

- Very low embodied carbon.

- On course to surpass RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge standards.

The Court House Private Client Gloucestershire Completed 2009

We worked with the owners of Court House over a period of 4-5 years involving a number of phases of works to the Grade II Listed property.

The initial phase of work was focused on improving the level of comfort within the main Grade II Listed dwelling. Works were sensitively carried out to improve its energy efficiency, draft proofing and insulation.

Through consultation and dialogue between the owners and the local authority conservation officer, an oakframed single storey extension was designed – replacing a previous PVC-u conservatory which was rarely used.

The extension provides open plan family living space and connected a number of the historic rooms without altering the layout of the listed house. It also enabled and encouraged connection with the main rear garden and other informal

external spaces and courtyards. The relocation of the existing kitchen into the centre of the plan allowed this to become the heart of the building.

Sensitive internal alterations and refurbishments to the first floor provided a new family bathroom and master bedroom with en-suite and walk-inwardrobe. The extension was finished with a green roof to reduce visual impact from the first floor.

Freshwater Lane Boo Homes St Mawes, Cornwall 2022 onwards

Concept designs for a bespoke house overlooking the Percuil River Esturary which included interesting explorations in: - Contextual v Contemporary - Views v Security - Sunshine v Privacy - Massive v Lightweight - Stone v Render

Windmill Lane Private Client Dorridge 2020 onwards Paragraph 80

A highly sustainable family home embedded into the landscape.

After a positive final review by Design: Midlands our proposals for Windmill Lane were submitted to planning.

The design of the house evolved from placing the accommodation onto the

existing topography, then lifting and folding the form and the ground until the right balance was achieved.

The ‘z’ shape offers the opportunity to enclose and frame external spaces with different qualities, emphasising and enhancing current landscape characteristics.

Windmill Lane Interior CGI

Beaconwood Private Client Stratford-Upon-Avon 2021 onwards Paragraph 80

With a burial mound 100 metres away, the concept design for this house takes inspiration from iron age settlements.

Designed to be hidden in the surrounding landscape, this negative carbon straw bale house was unanimously approved at planning in early August 2022.

Words and images by Rob Colbourne Landscape Architect

Reimagining a lost Warwickshire landscape: The proposal aims to reinvigorate this landscape by re-imagining woodland coverts that occupied Bordon Hill.

Warwickshire hedgerows, cleft post and rail fences can augment existing pathways around the site, whilst lost orchards and woodland ponds can find also new contemporary uses to improve biodiversity.

Beckford Glasshouse Private Client Beckford, Worcestershire 2021

Concept sketch for re-using a Glasshouse as a residential house.

Cedar House Steve Smith & Balaclava Projects Warwickshire 2020

Cantilevered house in the Warwickshire countryside.

The Compound Javelin Block Jewellery Quarter Completed 2014

The former textile factory’s steel frame was retained, brickwork left exposed, and industrial fixtures and fittings were left in place. The majority of the building was left open volume with parts of the space screened off with reclaimed steelframed windows and doors.

With a total of 8500sqft of floor space, the building is broken down into several

elements: a bar and 25-seater cinema are located in the basement; the ground floor is home to a large kitchen area and several lounge and dining areas, as well as vehicle parking; the first floor is made up of balconies and mezzanines with living spaces and private areas to be used for sleeping or studying; on the second floor, there’s an office and studio filled with natural light; and at the very top

of the building (‘The Treehouse’) there is a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.

Additional bedrooms and bathrooms exist throughout the building.

The space is regularly hired out for photoshoots, tv/filming and corporate events, and has hosted the likes of Channel 4, BBC, Ed Sheeran, MTV and Steven Spielberg.

Willow House Private Client Cowley, Cheltenham 2021 onwards

Planning permission was granted for a new house in a village to the south of Cheltenham in 2022.

Willow House completes the trilogy of houses we have worked on with this client since 2006.

The materials for the building are based upon how each section responds to the site levels, these include stone, charred timber cladding, glazing and traditional Cotswold stone tile.

The Haymes Private Client Cleeve Hill, Gloucester Completed 2006

The Haymes is a large, Grade II listed, country house built on the side of Cleeve Hill in Gloucestershire. The original house was started in the mid 18th century and was sensitively extended in the early 20th century and again, in a less appropriate way, in the latter half of the 20th century. Both of these extensions continued with a similar use of materials.

In 2006 we were appointed to reconfigure the house to suit the needs

of the new owners. This reconfiguration also required some modest extensions, which helped to better connect zones of the existing house. The extensions and remodelling of the existing had the added benefit of giving more coherence to the external form of the building.

The new additions continued to use the existing pallet of materials, but used them in a more contemporary way.