Well House

All for a pretty modest budget. By working closely with the client throughout planning and technical design, and sticking to a simple floor plan while creating areas of delight, surprising space and light, this challenge was surpassed. The inclusion of materials such as metal standing seam roofing, which wraps down over the north-facing elevations like a jacket, and UK ash timber cladding to the other faces, gives the exterior a look that belies the limited budget. Other generous details—deep porches at both front and side entrances, large picture windows soaking in wide rural views, and timber window seats—reinforce a sense of luxury often lost when working to a budget. Internally, sliding screens separate the snug from the large open-plan living area, an IKEA kitchen is dressed in bespoke birch ply details, as are the internal doors, and an MDF stair is elevated with a joinery handrail that wraps up into the double-height first floor hall. The clients worked tirelessly on the build alongside their contractors, with Tom taking a career break to serve as client, project manager, and builder. Exemplified by airtightness achieving 0.3 ACH—thanks to Tom’s fastidious taping and quality control—the house features super insulation, MVHR, an air source heat pump, and a large PV array, ensuring the dwelling is exceptionally low-carbon in use. The project was a joy to design, a joy to live in, and the results speak for themselves.