The brief for the project was to create a 3 bed modern family house for a young couple on a countryside plot in the Forest.

The Client’s indicated that the existing building, although technically in a salvageable condition, was to be demolished but replaced with a building of similar proportions and ‘feel’, yet with a high-end modern specification.

The Planners also indicated that in their eyes the new building should retain the general massing of the existing and retain a vernacular feel suitable to the exposed countryside location.

The site is surrounded by open farmland to the South and the new house was thus orientated to benefit from the views at first floor as well as a South facing living and dining area leading onto an enclosed garden on the ground floor. Internally a central galleried void with vaulted ceilings unifies both floors and the main daily living spaces.

The main element was designed as a pitched slate roof cottage, which sits within a subtle single storey element wrapping around three of its sides and providing the main living areas.

Externally this retains a simple vernacular feel whilst internally the house feels incredibly bright and contemporary.

Through the careful laying out of the plan the clients are able to very simply alter the internal spaces to either a ‘single’ space visually and aurally connected or to create ‘cocooned-off’ adult or child friendly areas dependant on their needs. A traditional Guernsey family home with a contemporary edge.