The Arch House: A New Build Home 

Situated in the grounds of a Grade-II listed cottage in Moggerhanger, Bedfordshire, this project proposes a highly sustainable new dwelling that, once complete, will allow our clients to remain in a place they know and love while providing a home that is fully adaptable to their needs as they grow older, having lived in the existing cottage for several decades.

The brief was to create a long-term home that celebrates the distinctive character of the existing cottage and its curtilage, its wonderful garden and views outwards towards the Bedfordshire countryside, while offering modern comfort, flexibility and a strong connection between inside and out.

Our proposals establish a contemporary yet domestic architectural language, carefully balanced to sit in harmony with both the listed cottage and the rural setting. The arched ridgeline directly echoes the soft hips and gables of the thatched roof, as well as the proportions of the cottage’s original arched window openings. Framed views and generous openings provide a sense of connectivity between interior and exterior spaces, retaining the family’s cherished relationship with their beautiful garden.

The new home is designed to be comfortable, welcoming and contemporary, employing modern details and sustainable materials in a way that feels sensitive, sympathetic and rooted in context. The result will be a dwelling that is both highly individual, innovative and deeply respectful - a home that looks ahead while honouring its historic setting.

Approved in principle, detailed planning discussions with the Local Authority and Conservation Team are on-going in 2025, with the project positioned to deliver an exemplary piece of contemporary rural architecture.