This project involved the comprehensive refurbishment and reconfiguration of a former workers’ cottage that had been extended on numerous occasions over the previous fifty years. The accumulation of later additions had compromised the clarity of the original building, while the property itself had gradually fallen into a state of disrepair.

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The proposals sought to give the cottage a renewed architectural identity, rationalising its internal arrangement while drawing inspiration from the character and material language of the local vernacular. The principal entrance was relocated to establish a clearer sense of arrival and create a more natural sequence through the house.

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At the heart of the reconfigured home is a generous open-plan kitchen and dining room, conceived as the principal family space, with a separate living room providing a quieter and more intimate setting. A compact hallway leads to the utility room and bathroom before connecting the principal and secondary bedrooms, with an en-suite positioned at the end of the plan.

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Externally, the design takes cues from the character of the original cottage, which was traditionally rendered and decorated in a distinctive pink finish. The new elevations reinterpret this local architectural language through rendered walls with carefully detailed brick quoins, handmade clay roof tiles and slender black steel-framed windows and doors. Together, these elements establish a robust but refined material palette that gives the cottage a renewed sense of identity and permanence.

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Internally, the architecture becomes more expressive. Pitched, vaulted ceilings continue through the principal spaces, creating a consistent architectural language and enhancing the sense of volume throughout the relatively modest footprint. Exposed oak roof trusses provide warmth and craftsmanship, complemented by slender steel rods and circular connection plates that introduce a more contemporary layer of structural detailing.

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The result is a carefully considered reinvention of a modest historic cottage, combining references to local vernacular architecture with contemporary detailing and a richly articulated interior. Traditional materials, vaulted spaces and expressive structural elements come together to create a distinctive home that respects the character of its origins while establishing a confident new architectural identity.