new-build dwelling in conservation area

This project involves the replacement of an existing 1960s bungalow within a designated conservation area, creating a new contemporary family home that balances sustainability with contextual sensitivity. The new two-storey, five-bedroom detached house with an attached double garage is designed to provide flexible, lifetime use for its occupants.

The new home adopts a highly sustainable approach to both construction and operation. Built using a high-performance, insulated timber frame, the house significantly reduces energy demand while maintaining excellent thermal comfort. The design incorporates wheelchair adaptability and future-proofed accessibility, ensuring the building can evolve with the needs of its residents. Environmental strategies include an air-source heat pump, photovoltaic solar panels, smart solar shading, and a whole-house ventilation and cooling system, collectively delivering a low-carbon, energy-efficient living environment.

While contemporary in expression, the dwelling is carefully scaled and composed to respect the established character of neighbouring properties and the wider conservation setting. The form, massing, and rooflines respond to the prevailing rhythm of the street, ensuring the building sits comfortably within its context.

The architectural language draws on the proportions and detailing of adjacent homes, reinterpreting traditional elements through a modern lens. Familiar forms are simplified and refined, creating a clean, contemporary aesthetic that maintains a strong relationship with the local vernacular. Materials reflect the palette of surrounding dwellings, including a dual-finish treatment that differentiates the ground and upper floors and reinforces the building’s horizontal composition.

To the rear, the design opens up considerably, with generous glazing and carefully framed views that maximise the connection to the garden and adjacent canal. This more transparent elevation contrasts with the contextual street frontage, creating bright, open living spaces that strengthen the relationship between the home and its landscape.