A challenging planning consent was achieved on this site for a retirement ‘cottage’ and additional family home in the grounds of a much-loved house that had become too large and impractical for it’s elderly inhabitant. The modest retirement ‘cottage’ was designed to maximise privacy and sunlight in a flexible and accessible layout – and centred around a series of important ‘moments’ identified by the client – these included reading the morning paper by the fireplace, a connected kitchen and a bedroom that could be opened onto a secluded courtyard.

The strategy for the site created a ‘family’ of homes – one older – two younger and more contemporary – retaining the prominence of the original house.