Award winning contemporary extension to a 15th century thatched listed cottage nestled beside the dramatic Farleigh Hungerford Castle near Bath that transforms the flow, views, light, functionality, warmth and the feeling of space throughout. This striking addition compliments the historic building in both its purposeful difference in materiality and detail.

Featured in leading international design publications Dezeen, Plain, Åvonturra, La case in ordine and le Journal Du Design, as well as The Sunday Times on front page of their ‘Home’ supplement. Award winning property journalist Hugh Graham wrote, ‘This enchanting idyll has recently been transformed by a bold innovation: a modernist glass extension’… ‘it’s a thing of beauty’… ‘Greenaway Architecture, have solved the age-old conundrum: how do you bring light and space into a dark and pokey thatched cottage and create a place where you would actually want to live.’

Winner of The Sunday Times British Home Awards ‘Home Extension of the Year’ in association with World Architecture News and World Interior News, which celebrate excellence in architecture. The judges noted that, ‘Watercress Cottage is a delight. The clear contrast between the existing and extended element of the scheme is both sympathetic and successful on the project’.

This project has also been shortlisted for the Architects’ Journal Retrofit Awards – Listed Building Under £5m, and the Building Awards in association with Building Magazine.

The project has been featured on  Channel 4’s Extraordinary Extension, (Series 2, Episode 6 – 35:30mins in). Host, Tinie Tempah says, ’The best extension designs respect an original buildings aesthetic while creating a striking differentiation at the same time. This charming thatched cottage extension near Bath does just that. Dating back to the fifteenth century, it was dark and pokey, but the owners gave it a whole new lease of life by adding a contemporary single storey glazed extension, transforming flow, light and functionality. By opting for large, ultra thin panes on all three sides, the pavilion’s walls, windows and doors were installed within one day.’ 

The once cold solid stone north-west wall is now encapsulated by the warm, dry pavilion, which significantly reduces thermal losses. A sedum roof helps insulate whilst also manage rainwater and compliment the biodiverse surroundings. With ultra thin frames and glass-to-glass corners, the pavilion is designed to maintain legibility in allowing a clear reading of the original cottage’s form and evolutionary development. The transparency maintains views through the existing space whilst the gleaming surface reflects the surrounding landscape and the movement of the water. The pavilion provides a rich visual connection with the abundant natural environment and water surrounding the property.

The design demonstrates that it is possible to extend a historic building in a way that respects it whilst making a positive contemporary architectural statement, the result of which is a new life for the building. The design is an architectural expression which is both bold enough to demonstrate the commitment to quality and modernity and modest enough to sit happily in the setting, acknowledging that successful developments come about through both a difference from, and a respect for, their surroundings.By utilising large double glazed panes on all three sides the pavilion’s ‘walls’, ‘windows’ and ‘doors’ were installed within one day as one package for an incredibly time, labour, material and cost effective build process without waste, as well as ensuring excellent air tightness.The scheme delivers joy through the visual connection to the landscape, a greater variety and functionality of space, generous levels of natural daylight.
Daytime isometric illustration courtesy of artist Joseph Edwards