Strongly influenced by the client’s design intentions and the existing context, this dwelling is both site and client specific. From the outset, the existing environment informed the development resulting in a building that sits well within the natural topography and exploits the passive opportunities presented by solar gain and thermal mass. The new house uses and extends the footprint of the existing dwelling, and is semi-submerged within the slope, maximising the south-facing aspect, whilst presenting a relatively modest frontage to the northern elevation. A single, ‘folded’ element forms a crescent-shaped plan which radiates from the current driveway to the upper approach level. As the roof drops down to the east and west of the dwelling it creates unexpected, interesting internal spaces, varied in height and ceiling form and externally this form further embeds the dwelling into the existing site context.

The Chalet is a new 4 bedroomed family dwelling in a secluded, tree lined site. The first floor is largely open in plan, and large panels of glass afford panoramic views over the pond. The first floor is timber-clad and sits over a heavy limestone ‘plinth’.  Sleeping accommodation is on the ground floor, with direct access from each room into the garden. The house is conceived as a simple and elegant block with a mono-pitch roof that anchors the house into the topography and opens up views to the south, whilst also providing solar shading to the large area of south facing glazing. A separate artist’s studio sits adjacent to the pond, over a small jetty, and references the main house in its design and style.

Oakhill, previously known as Alison House, is a Grade II Listed building situated within the village of Cromford, Derbyshire. Located in both the UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and the Cromford Conservation Area, Oakhill has a fascinating history intertwined with its neighbour, The Old Vicarage. The two buildings were built by Richard Arkwright in the mid-19th century as two large family dwellings, hence their shared architectural language and orientation facing each other across the valley.

Nowadays, Oakhill is a successful hotel, restaurant and wedding venue, having been sympathetically restored and refurbished by its new owners during 2021. In March 2022, we secured planning permission for a replacement venue building as an extension to Oakhill. The new venue looks to be of ‘its time’ without being in conflict or looking to replicate the existing house and associated curtilage buildings to the west. The proposed carefully considers analysis of the immediate and wider regional context associated with the Grade II Listed Oakhill as part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site.

This scheme redevelops the East Site at the John Smedley factory, which is currently redundant due to the increasingly streamlined modern production methods. The original Lea Mills were built in the 1700s. The complex of buildings continued to expand in line with increased production until the mid-1900s. The scheme will reintroduce life and community into this dormant cluster of buildings through the conversion of the East Mill building, the stock warehouse and the old doctor’s house. 2 rows of new-build houses will also be introduced on the site. In order to create terraces, and allow natural light to penetrate into the ground floor of the deep existing plan, a section of the East Mill saw-tooth roof will be removed to create light and liveable units.

In November 2022, we successfully were granted planning permission for this 3-bedroom, replacement dwelling in Kirk Ireton, Derbyshire. The site previously housed a poorly built 1960s bungalow. We developed the brief with the client to propose a highly efficient home, which was aesthetically sympathetic to the surrounding Conservation Area.

Our design was inspired by the historic vernacular of the area, but in a contemporary idiom which clearly expresses that this is a 21st-century addition to the village, respectful of its past.

Originally named Tissington Silo, this intriguing structure was introduced to us through the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) grant scheme. The structure is located within the Tissington Estate, near Thorpe Pasture. Surrounded by farmland, it sits within a disused quarry.

Despite extensive research in to map regression and historic archives, the original purpose of the structure is still unknown. After ruling out the possibilities of prior uses being a silo (for silage), a limekiln, or a windmill, it is tentatively believed that the limestone tower may have been an observatory or a munitions store (possibly for artillery practice during WW1).

The tower’s restoration includes sensitive repair and partial reconstruction. The intent is to reinstate the conical roof, completed with timber rafters, natural slate with associated lead flashings, with overhanging eaves to protect the silo.

Snuffless Dip and Chandlers is a replacement, highly energy efficient dwelling hidden in the hillside in Wirksworth, Derbyshire. The design approach aims to compliment the existing stone barn known as Snuffless Dip, and provide a modern dwelling that adapts to the family’s needs.

The design pays homage to Snuffless Dip, the traditional barn on the site boundary, by not appearing domestic in nature through the use of stone and matching roof pitches. The new dwelling on the other side of the rubble stone wall will provide a clean contemporary and modern look taking cues from the industrial nature of Snuffless Dip.

Set in to the hillside, the house is two stories which increases the living area while utilising the topography of the site to avoid impacting on the surrounding buildings and changing the current streetscape, as the second storey isn’t visible from the roadside. To take advantage of the site’s fantastic views across the Derbyshire countryside, the design opts for an upside down living arrangement.

This project was successfully granted planning permission in April 2022, and is now under construction.

The brief set by our client sought to build an exemplary, 3-bedroom ‘eco-house’ for their family in Upper Padley, taking full advantage of the magnificent southerly views.

The replacement house is designed to work with and complement the existing topography and landscape. The house sits among a series of outdoor rooms that include an arrival courtyard, a terrace to the east and a yard at the rear.

The roofs will be of a shallow pitch and ‘green’ to both tie into the slope of the site and for water attenuation. Different roofscapes were explored to understand their relationship to the site and were developed to allow the living and the bedroom wings to face opposite directions in a ‘love seat’ orientation. This design has also been design to echo the flow of the slope of the site, with the house itself gently signaling both upwards and downwards.

The new house will be highly energy-efficient and low-energy using Passivhaus methods.