A quaint ‘sticks and stones’ cottage which forms the heart of this family home is situated in a grade two listed site and is set within a concealed location, surrounded by scrub and woodlands. The key challenge for Alter & Company Studio was the modernisation process which involved preserving some of the buildings’ original features, which were removed and restored before being reinserted into the reconfigured interiors.
The proposed design sensitively organises the existing farm buildings, enabling an external – internal landscape approach to the otherwise disconnectedness of the farm buildings. The role of play as a modality has also been a key influence that forms a looping internal landscape through which imparts a journey of varying expansive spaces. Alongside this journey, sculptural landmarks were inserted between and into the building, either as a way of contributing to the journey – or diverting it. This approach to design invited a type of playfulness into everyday activities. The experimental journey throughout the buildings became one compressive space, full of light, materiality and history. ( Published with Bowerbird.io)
Photography : Jim Stephenson
See also :https://house-diaries.com/a-complete-gut-renovation-of-a-1920s-harold-zook-english-cottage-style-home/
