RX Architects

Watcombe Cottage

WATCOMBE COTTAGE

RX Architects

Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek

ARCHITECTS
RX Architects

CONTRACTOR
ABS Carpentry

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Stephen Evans Associates

MANUFACTURERS
Havwoods, Vincent Timber, Wienerberger, Norrsken, Tile mountain

JOINERY
Chartwood Joinery

PHOTOGRAPHS
Ashley Gendek

AREA
146 m²

YEAR
2018

LOCATION
United Kingdom

CATEGORY
Houses

Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek

Text description provided by architect.

The project involved the demolition of a small 1920’s bungalow with a new contemporary three-bedroom house.

The site backs on to Flatropers Wood Nature reserve and is surrounded by woodland to the east but with views across open countryside to the west.

Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek
Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek

The main consideration of the design was to make best use of the site, which is a long narrow triangular wedge.

The existing cottage was very dark and felt very enclosed because of the high, dense boundary hedging.

Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek
Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek

A key move in the proposals was to remove the hedging and in doing so, open up uninterrupted views across the adjoining countryside and wood. This also vastly improves on the natural light getting into the site.

The new house has been designed to read as a cluster of buildings, typical of sporadic rural development of agricultural buildings.

Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek
Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek

The plans provide a single storey element which contains the open plan kitchen, living and dining space.

Off this is a two-storey building at 90 degrees which contains all of the bedrooms and bathrooms.

The change in orientation creates a south facing courtyard feel, which gives a combination of enclosed private space to the rear, and open garden space with far reaching views to the front.

Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek
Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek
Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek

There is also provision for a linking utility along with a detached garden studio building, a detached garden store and shed.

There are large glazed openings with the elevations clad in a combination of rough sawn cedar cladding and cedar shingles.

The house is of timber frame construction and highly insulated and is powered by an Air Source Heat pump resulting in very low running costs.

Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek


Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek
Watcombe Cottage
© Ashley Gendek


Watcombe Cottage
Plans
Watcombe Cottage
Plans


Watcombe Cottage
Elevation
Watcombe Cottage
Elevation
Watcombe Cottage
Elevation

RX Architects
T +44 1797 217220
RX Architects
Creative Centre, New Rd, Rye TN31 7LS, United Kingdom