Wellesley Cottage, Bristol

Once a pair of small cottages a few miles south of Wells in an isolated countryside location. The cottages had been knocked through to form a single house, but the layout was poor and the property was not in good condition. Our client was determined that the house would be as ecological as possible. The main rooms and the windows were at the front of the house which faced a long view to the hills but this was towards the north.

The interior of the house was reorganised to create a modern house with high levels of insulation including solar panels. New ground floor partitions were constructed with clay blocks. A single storey extension was added to contain an entrance porch, cloakroom and kitchen / breakfast room. This room has full height glazed panels facing the kitchen garden on the south side. In order to avoid overheating in the summer, projecting timber rafters and posts allow vines to grow up and form a screen. In winter the leaves fall off and a maximum amount of daylight can be enjoyed.