DCa were appointed to design a new five bedroom detached home on this site in Sywell, Northamptonshire, to replace an existing bungalow.

The site plan retains the existing vehicular and pedestrian access point, with an ‘in/out’ layout, revealing the full extent of the house as you move into the site around the existing trees. It has dense landscaping running along the majority of the boundaries, in particular the front, creating privacy and a visual barrier from the lane. The new house sits in the same location as the existing dwelling.

The exterior of the building has been designed to complement the character of the site and neighbouring properties. The combination of the pitched roof / flat roof arrangement and the palette of materials mimic the surrounding woodland context and relate to the modern neighbouring properties. The proportions of the two gables, combined with the strategically placed openings, assist in creating a contemporary take on the traditional design of a ‘family home’.

The positioning of the three interlocking fenestration elements seeks to enhance the relationship between the main house and relationship with the front and rear gardens without imposing on the setting of the surrounding context. This approach creates a building with a form that appears to have a robust massing at ground level. The division of the ground floor and first floor by change in the use of materials, breaks down the massing and achieves a visual transition to first floor. This, combined with an appeared ‘light-weight’ structure to the secondary gable, further reduces the bulk of the dwelling as well as representing a traditional gable form that can be found nearby.