Whitley

The site sits within the established grain of the village, characterised by natural stone buildings, slate roofs and traditional proportions. Its proximity to a non-designated heritage asset required a proposal that would respect local scale, materiality and architectural rhythm.

The brief was to create a high-quality, fully accessible home that would provide wheelchair accessible accommodation and energy efficient housing, whilst also responding to the local vernacular.

The project responded to the increasing demand for thoughtfully designed accessible housing within rural communities.

The architectural approach focused on proportion, material authenticity and simplicity of form.

The house adopts a clear, legible massing strategy informed by surrounding village typologies. A palette of natural stone, slate roof tiles and traditionally detailed timber windows ensures visual continuity with neighbouring buildings while maintaining crisp contemporary detailing.

Accessibility requirements were embedded into the design from the outset rather than appended later. The layout is organised to provide level thresholds, generous circulation spaces and adaptable accommodation, ensuring the home remains functional and comfortable over the long term.

The restrained architectural language allows the building to sit quietly within its setting, with subtle contemporary refinement elevating the overall quality.

Planning approval was successfully secured, reflecting the project’s careful balance between contextual sensitivity and modern living standards.

The design contributes positively to the village streetscape while addressing a genuine housing need for accessible, high-quality rural homes. It demonstrates that inclusive design and heritage awareness are not competing priorities, but complementary drivers of good architecture.

The dwelling is constructed using a robust, locally appropriate material palette, including natural stone walling, slate roof tiles and timber windows detailed to reflect traditional proportions

The building envelope is designed to meet contemporary performance standards, ensuring comfort and efficiency without compromising its contextual character.

Level access is integrated throughout, with carefully coordinated floor levels and threshold detailing to maintain accessibility while preserving traditional external proportions.

Heritage Adjacency

Designing next to a non-designated heritage asset required disciplined massing, considered window placement and an authentic material palette to ensure the proposal enhances its surroundings.

Accessibility Integration

A key challenge was embedding accessibility requirements without altering the traditional village character. This was resolved through careful spatial planning and subtle proportional adjustments rather than overt visual cues.

Rural Context

Delivering a modern, policy-compliant home within a rural setting demanded a balanced approach — ensuring the building feels both rooted in its context and fit for contemporary living.