Canvas House

The mid-20th century house in the Staffordshire countryside required a reworking of its relationship with the surrounding gardens and the agricultural landscape beyond. The project removed dilapidated elements, refurbished interior rooms and, through considered additions, established new ways of looking upon and entering the gardens.

To the south, a garden room for the clients' grandchildren to play within was built. Formed of timber-clad columns, referencing the house's original open veranda, the austere painted façade is conceived as a canvas to be painted daily by the shadows of the overhanging trees.

The columns are partially infilled with large, timber-framed windows and sliding doors to allow natural light into the depth of the house and to afford views to the fields beyond.

The garden room’s interior is then flanked by two covered external spaces, providing a middle-ground between inside and out, within which to sit, play and dine throughout the year. These rooms are then raised onto a plinth clad with locally sourced clay pavers.

To the north-west corner, a two-storey extension was built comprising additional living space and a large second bathroom.

A major challenge the studio and client set ourselves was to source all materials locally so as to reduce transport emissions, but also to enhance the design in terms of its localness – a theme that is important to the practice.

Canvas House is a project that aims to celebrate the impact of good design in remote, rural areas. This small, seemingly ordinary project held the ambition of showcasing the positive impact and the value of architectural design in everyday buildings.

Annual CO2 data was not provided