08
feature
a house of wood and shingle, bath
Light, landscape and liveability Spatial clarity was another key move. Forgeworks reoriented the entrance to the side of the house, enabling a clean divide between living and sleeping zones. Facing west, the main living spaces benefit from afternoon and evening sunlight, with expansive views over the valley framed by large-scale windows and sliding doors that open onto the terrace. The bedrooms and bathrooms to the rear get the best of the early morning light and secluded views of the rear garden, while the main bedroom in its own compact extension enjoys natural light across the whole day. Deep timber frames bring character and a crafted quality to the new high-performance glazing. The new layout also simplifies the house’s two levels, with a step up from the entrance and new living space to the rest of the rooms, adding a playful sense of change that coordinates with the external forms. The welcoming interiors make the most of the building’s new sense of height, with large spaces that feel cosy yet open, and carefully curated art and objects bringing visual interest to every corner. Bold colour gives each area its own personality, with the kitchen’s pink and
green toned terrazzo setting the palette – dusty pink in the main bedroom, soft black in the entrance lobby, and the joyful surprise of bright yellow in the hallway. This plays out against a backdrop of natural materials including textured lime plastered walls, exposed spruce beams and engineered oak flooring. A home grounded in its setting Outside, the approach from the driveway to the front door is considered as a series of platforms with different planted zones avoiding a dense block of hillside foliage. The planting includes a mix of wildflowers and edibles to encourage insects and bees. A set of terraces around the edge of the house provide a stepped plateau that relates to the interior spaces, deftly
overcoming the challenging topography which included a 7.5m level change from front to back. Blue label Canadian cedar is the
statement material of the project, chosen for its sustainability and ability to age timelessly. The small shingle size breaks down the scale of the building, while the purity of the overall form is maintained by positioning the roof lights, solar panels and vents to the rear roof slope where they are hidden from general view. Sustainability was a key consideration of the material choices which include the UK-grown timber used for the exposed beams, wood wool acoustic panels in the kitchen and living space soffits, natural lime breathable plaster and breathable bio-based paints. The exterior landscaping reused rubble from the site works to fill planters and features regional Cotswold gravel pathways. A House of Wood Shingle illustrates
Forgeworks’ core belief: that architecture should quietly elevate daily life. Through strategic restraint and intelligent adaptation, the firm creates homes that feel as if they’ve always belonged– not because they mimic the past, but because they make sense for the future.
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