New Build
A Home Rooted in Place, Built for Life
From the outset, the design team worked closely with the clients to shape a home that could adapt to changing needs over time while feeling grounded in its landscape. Referencing the form and materiality of historic lime kilns nearby, the house responds sensitively to its elevated position with a design that both protects and celebrates its surroundings. The approach champions local character and thoughtful detailing, ensuring the building feels timeless and entirely of its place.
Design Development
As visitors approach the site, the new home comes into view, less visually dominant than the original dwelling, with parking areas discreetly concealed from sight. A green, vegetation-lined access drive leads to a turning circle, where the main entrance reveals itself. The lower row of north-facing arches, inspired by traditional lime kilns, remain hidden until further into the journey, adding a layer of architectural intrigue.
A newly integrated ha-ha defines the domestic curtilage while seamlessly separating the horse grazing field from the main house. This feature also incorporates a swale as part of a sustainable drainage (SuDS) strategy, channeling water to an enhanced wildlife-friendly pond lower in the valley. To the side, a new stable and workshop structure is positioned on the site of the former ménage, carefully nestled into the woodland edge to remain unobtrusive within the landscape.
Preliminary Sketch
Landscape Masterplan
Construction
How the build is going as of 27th November 2025… more updates coming soon!
Inspiration
Historic Lime Kilns
To the north of the site lies the locally protected heritage monument known as ‘Limekiln’s’—a pair of late 19th-century lime kilns featuring brick chambers, draw arches, and flint retaining walls. These historic kilns were originally linked to nearby chalk pits and represent a characteristic feature along the Kent Downs escarpment, contributing to the cultural and industrial history of the local landscape. The new home draws inspiration from these kilns, echoing their form and materiality in its north-facing arches and architectural character.
To the north of the site lies the locally protected heritage monument known as ‘Limekiln’s’—a pair of late 19th-century lime kilns featuring brick chambers, draw arches, and flint retaining walls. These historic kilns were originally linked to nearby chalk pits and represent a characteristic feature along the Kent Downs escarpment, contributing to the cultural and industrial history of the local landscape. The new home draws inspiration from these kilns, echoing their form and materiality in its north-facing arches and architectural character.
First Floor Plan
