The volume and ground floor footprint limit on the site equated to a 3-bedroom bungalow with a pitched roof. However the clients wanted to create a contemporary forever home with wow-factor, more accommodation, privacy and architectural merit. They also didn’t want to feel like they lived in a ‘bungalow’.
the cedar house
The site is located within the Whalley Green Belt, on a sloping site, adjacent to a Grade II Listed Building, with a volume and height restriction.
The proposal utilised the available volume, however redistributed to maximise accommodation. To achieve this, the orientation was designed to utilise the existing sloping site and creating 2-storeys without exceeding the height limit.
The property was designed as an ‘upside-down house’ with the primary living spaces and master bedroom located on the upper level, with the secondary bedrooms and service spaces located on the lower level.
The sloping site allowed both floors to benefit from direct access to the rear garden, countryside views to the rear, and as the master suite is positioned at an elevated level, you maintain the privacy you would experience in a typical 2-storey house.
“The proposal incorporates an attractive design which has commendable architectural merit and is befitting of a rural setting with its effective us of materials and form. The style and use of the surrounding topography ensures that it is a subtle addition to the landscape. Officers have given great weight to the quality and innovation which can raise the bar for design in the area.”
Planning Officer - The Cedar House Hyndburn Council
