Location; Lincolnshire Wolds
Completion Date; 2025
ASHWOOD
Ashwood was conceived as a refined and contextually sensitive single-storey dwelling set within the Lincolnshire Wolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Located within the former garden curtilage of an existing property, the development responded carefully to the character of the area and the qualities of the site itself. Modest in scale but rich in detail, the completed dwelling now sits comfortably at the rural edge of the village, contributing positively to the architectural language of its surroundings through thoughtful material choices, restrained massing, and sensitive landscape integration. Ashwood is located within a small village, known for its mix of traditional stone cottages, brick-built homes, agricultural structures, and a winding rural lane network. The site lay along a quiet road serving a small cluster of dwellings and farms. Formerly a lawned garden enclosed by hedges, mature trees, and a stone boundary wall, the site enjoyed uninterrupted views across the Wolds to the west. The proposal sought to reimagine this private domestic landscape as the setting for a low-impact home that respected its neighbours, complemented the village grain, and engaged thoughtfully with the surrounding environment.
The completed design adopted an ‘L’-shaped configuration, splitting the internal accommodation into two clearly defined wings. One housed the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living spaces, while the other contained bedrooms, a study, utility room, and plant. A glazed link connected the two wings, creating a light-filled transitional space and visual break that helped reduce the building’s overall mass. The dwelling was purposefully kept to a single storey, with a modest ridge height and simple pitched roofs that echoed the proportions and rhythm of nearby farm buildings. This ensured that the structure settled comfortably into the site, avoiding any sense of visual overbearing while subtly enhancing the lane’s rural character.
Materiality played a key role in anchoring the house within its context. Locally sourced ironstone was used for boundary walls and sections of the external envelope, reinforcing continuity with other properties in the village and contributing to a sense of permanence. This was complemented by vertically oriented Siberian larch cladding to the roof forms, chosen for its durability and the way it would silver naturally over time to match the surrounding tree canopy. A standing seam metal roof provided a clean, contemporary finish and strong roofline while offering excellent weather protection. The restrained and cohesive palette helped achieve a quiet architectural presence that neither competed with nor mimicked the surrounding vernacular.
Access to the new dwelling was created via a revised entrance along the small road, carefully threaded between mature trees to preserve the site’s established greenery. The stone boundary wall was rebuilt and set back slightly to improve highway visibility and create a sense of arrival. Within the site, a simple gravel driveway led to discreet parking areas alongside the house, maintaining a clear and uncluttered front elevation. These interventions were designed to sit lightly on the landscape, with permeable surfaces and generous planting beds reinforcing the garden character of the site.
Internally, the completed home prioritised comfort, daylight, and views. Large windows and glazed sliding doors opened out to a west-facing private garden, capturing panoramic views across the Wolds and allowing the internal spaces to feel expansive and connected to the landscape. The living room was designed as a vaulted volume with a calm, neutral palette, creating a warm and inviting heart to the home. The bedroom wing, slightly stepped down in section to follow the site’s gentle fall, offered a more intimate series of rooms with framed views and carefully managed privacy. The central glazed link provided both visual relief and practical separation between social and private spaces, supporting varied modes of use and accommodating the evolving needs of the occupants.
The form and proportions of the house took cues from traditional rural buildings—long, low volumes, simple roof pitches, and clean architectural detailing—yet were reinterpreted in a contemporary way. Window openings were linear and precisely scaled, creating rhythm across the elevations without unnecessary ornamentation. Inside, the layout supported modern lifestyles, offering open living areas that encouraged connection and adaptability while maintaining spatial clarity. A dedicated home office enabled remote working, while service zones were carefully positioned to maximise efficiency and ensure acoustic separation from living and sleeping areas.
The landscaping strategy was an integral part of the design. Existing hedgerows and mature boundary trees were retained wherever possible, while new planting included native hedging, ornamental trees, and wildflower-rich grasslands. These elements enhanced biodiversity, restored natural habitats, and reinforced the visual softness of the development. Courtyard spaces were planted with a mix of herbs, flowering shrubs, and seasonal interest, ensuring year-round sensory engagement. Sustainable drainage was incorporated throughout the site, using permeable paving and below-ground soakaways to manage rainwater locally and reduce runoff.
Although not certified to the Passivhaus standard, the home embraced a strong environmental ethos. The construction followed a fabric-first approach, with high levels of insulation, airtight detailing, and thermally efficient windows and doors throughout. The building’s form and orientation were optimised for solar gain and natural ventilation, while low-energy lighting and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery ensured consistent indoor air quality. The heating system included underfloor circuits paired with a log burner in the main living space for additional comfort. Recycled and low-VOC materials were used where appropriate, and the building was designed to allow future upgrades such as solar PV installation or battery storage as technology and budget permitted.
This project also marked a significant refinement from a previously approved two-storey dwelling on the same plot. The earlier scheme, while consented, was considered visually more intrusive and out of scale with the surrounding village edge. The final design reduced the overall footprint and height, improved the sense of enclosure, and delivered a more spatially efficient internal layout. The reduction in visual impact and improved integration into the landscape were welcomed by neighbours and supported by the local authority, leading to a smooth planning approval process and successful delivery on site.
The dwelling was delivered in accordance with local and national planning policies and contributed to the modest, managed growth of village as outlined in the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan. Its location—within the historic curtilage of an existing property and nestled between two other dwellings—ensured it functioned as a natural infill plot, rather than a disruptive edge expansion. The project demonstrated how sensitive, well-crafted architecture can enhance the village fabric and support housing delivery without compromising the character of the AONB.
Now complete, Ashwood stands as an example of what can be achieved when traditional forms and materials are reinterpreted with care, precision, and restraint. It does not shout for attention but rewards closer inspection, revealing a home that is at once grounded in its setting and confident in its contemporary identity. The house offers a template for future rural development that is environmentally aware, spatially efficient, and rooted in local identity. It illustrates how small, bespoke projects can make a meaningful architectural contribution to their context while delivering comfortable, beautiful, and enduring places to live.
GALLERY
