Contemporary Eco-Extension to a historic stonebuilt farmhouse. Case Study #6

​After inheriting their 17th Century traditional stone-built Lancashire farmhouse, my clients decided to develop it as a second home. They loved its historic charm, but needed more space with modern conveniences, and sought an innovative eco-friendly approach for a house extension design.

Initially they employed a specialist historic buildings surveyor with experience preserving National Trust properties to renovate the original farm building, who then introduced me as an architect who could design their modern extension. 
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They needed an architect who could marry the old with the new - able to strike a balance between preserving and enhancing the heritage building with creating a contemporary, innovative eco-build. With my specialisms in working with historic buildings and eco-design approaches they realised that I had the right combination of expertise to design and deliver their property renovation.
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Extending in the green belt has added difficulty, and my clients were limited by strict planning regulations. The original farmhouse had been subdivided and their portion was narrow and restricted, with an unusual and out-dated combined lean-to kitchen cum bathroom. The site contained two large asbestos garages and was accessed from a fast main road with limited sitelines. Alongside these challenges, my clients didn’t want to settle for a standard extension that would detract from their beautiful farmhouse. They wanted something especially sustainable that would enhance the character of the original building, and push the boundaries of green belt legislation without compromise.
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We began with an initial sketch design package, the Big Picture Plan, a process that allowed us to step back and take a holistic view of the home, its surroundings, and my clients' lifestyle and wishes. This was followed with further design packages to develop the design to planning and then to construction.
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The design I developed is an eye-catching contemporary extension—a white-rendered, simple form punctuated with glazing, inspired by the original farmhouse’s window patterns. A glazed entrance hall separates the old and new, an element that visually separates while physically seamlessly connecting the spaces.
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Although it pushed planning boundaries to the limit for a green belt property, the design was so outstanding and sensitive to its context that when I followed up with the planning officer, I was delighted to hear, “I wish we had more good quality designs like this in the area.” Not only was the application approved swiftly, but there was no need for negotiation or compromise—a rare achievement in such a restrictive area.

​Although my clients initially planned to build the extension, their circumstances changed, and they decided to sell the property. But that was not the end of this design story!

Interior designer, Claire Pilkington of Orsa Interiors, and her developer husband fell in love with the vision. They purchased the property and completed the build, layering Claire’s own glamorous interior design over the contemporary architectural framework I had created.

Claire’s dark, moody interior contrasts with the light and clean lines of the modern extension, creating a striking yet harmonious balance between old-world charm and modern sophistication.

The unique combination of a beautifully restored historic farmhouse with a cutting-edge modern extension has made this property a standout in the market. The completed building is considered a local landmark, comparable with a nearby footballers home, and is known locally as The White Box.
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After living in the property for several years Claire and her husband have decided that it is time to move to a larger property. Since deciding to sell, multiple buyers have expressed interest, with several willing to pay the full asking price, which represents a great return on their initial investment.

Are you dreaming of creating a home that preserves its period charm, while enhancing its ease of use for modern sustainable living?

Let’s collaborate to redesign your home in a way that marries together the best of both worlds - historic character and contemporary eco-design innovation.

Contact me today for a coffee chat for a relaxed conversation to check that I’m the right architect for you here: Book a Coffee Chat

Or simply book your Big Picture Plan today and start your pre-design preparation straight away here: Start Your Redesign Today