A new build rural family home on a sloping site in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. The client wanted to create a new home which could cater for the needs of three generations, adapting to the changing needs of their growing children and providing a comfortable independence living space for their aging parents.

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The site is set on a hillside with a south westerly aspect and woodland starting at the bottom of the garden. The concept was to maximise the beautiful aspect taking full advantage of the beautiful views and forests around. The house was designed to reference the existing two storey stone cottage expanding at the footprint at ground floor to maximise the living accommodation. A visually separate element replaces the existing garage to provide a home office and self-contained annex.  

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The clients were keen to explore options to reduce the environment impact of the building and were seeking to achieve very low running costs. The home has been designed to Passivhaus standards creating a home that has a healthier internal environment that can be kept warm with minimal energy consumption.  The south west facing façade presented the opportunity to maximise the glazing making full use of the passive solar gain whilst connecting the inside spaces with the beautiful natural context.

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The use of reclaimed stone from the original cottage beds the design within the history of the site whilst the use of raw timber connects the house to the surrounding woodland. The result is a beautiful, low carbon and adaptable  home that sits effortlessly in the site and provides the flexibility needed to make this a home for many generations to share.