A future-proof family home in the Five Valleys

The main 18th Century Cotswold stone cottage and outbuilding were renovated and extended to link to what was an old garage outbuilding. The house had been in the family for a few generations. We ‘future proofed’ the home by retrofitting the existing buildings with energy efficiency measures. The house is now highly insulated using breathable wood fibre, and new windows have been fitted throughout. Linking the older parts with a modern extension creates a sociable, flexible and long term family home.

“Austin Design Works are a lovely team, professional, thoughtful, friendly and calm - very important for a complex building project! There were many unexpected problems with the old buildings, but ADW adapted the designs quickly and worked with the builders to resolve them effortlessly. Throughout the project, they listened and really worked hard to incorporate our vision, often melding our ideas with theirs to fantastic effect - this is why you hire them! Many of the ideas for the two old buildings fell into place just by working to restore them to their original beauty, but it was the architects' vision that linked them together so elegantly. It’s much bigger than we imagined, much roomier but with great flow and we love how their design has revealed so many stunning views previously invisible from inside the house. There isn’t anything we don’t like.”

SANDRA HYMAS