British studio Greenaway Architecture attached a glass extension to a 15th-century, grade II-listed thatched roof cottage nestled beside the historic Farleigh Hungerford Castle near Bath, England.
The modern intervention on Watercress Cottage demonstrates the possibility of “extending a historic building in a way that respects it whilst making a positive contemporary architectural statement, the result of which is a new life for the building.”
Spanning 33-square meters, the new volume functions as an additional living and dining area. Its ultra-thin frames and glass-to-glass corners allow residents a visual connection to the surrounding landscape and let in generous amounts of natural light. Sustainability features include a sedum roof, rain chains, and high-performance glazed panes for energy efficiency.
Bold enough to make a statement yet modest enough not to overpower the idyllic setting, this clever intervention is a modern complement to the historic cottage’s charm. “The design is recognisably of our age whilst being subservient to the existing building through being: lower, narrower, and lighter,” says the studio. More from Greenaway Architecture here.
Photography © Ben Pipe