Oxford Architects were asked by the client to design a luxury five bedroom home on the site of an existing 1980s stone clad cottage.

The proposal sought to reuse as much of the existing building and material as possible and create three pavilions connected via a double height space.

The kitchen, designed to be the centre of the home, opens out into the day living space and the double height volume. Internal sliding doors are used throughout the primary ground floor rooms to connect volumes and spaces and allow ease of transition between the rooms.

With a desire for a contemporary and sustainable construction methodology, the existing building was demolished in its entirety and a new timber framed house, clad in the existing stone and new render, was constructed.

The final building provides a house bathed in light. The double height space and roof windows allow natural light deep into the building with the large exterior windows, sliding doors and patio doors bringing a greater connectivity to the garden.

• High level of air tightness
• High levels of insulation
• Orientation maximised for natural daylight penetration
• High quality finishes
• Low running costs