Hillend: Shropshire Hills AONB

Hillend is the conversion and extension of a tiny cottage on a narrow wooded site. The original wood-mans cottage has been squashed between ad-hoc extensions on both sides and we have been looking at ways to improve these to provide a better set of spaces internally and a more coherent form externally.

The new design will build on the existing footprint but provide large, open spaces with coordinated views out over the wooded landscape on all sides. I often use simple block models to help get the scale and from right and then collage over these on the computer using materials cropped from photos and reference images to explore materials and colours. I like the flexibility this gives to the design process and also the clarity in communicating the overall concept.

Planning has now been approved with detailed design work starting later in the year.