On our most recent site visit to Courtyard House, we were thrilled to see the roof completed, the scaffolding removed, and the external cladding almost completed, marking another positive milestone in the construction phase.
The vertical timber cladding wraps the whole building, helping to blend the new structure into the rural setting. Two complementary timber finishes have been introduced to subtly break down the building’s massing and add visual depth.
The work is now shifting to the interior works, and we are very much looking forward to documenting how this projects continues to evolve onsite.
We are pleased to annouce that Darren Bray will be delivering a RIBA CPD session, alongside Professor Lorraine Farrelly, on Laying the Foundations: Navigating feasibility studies for project success, as part of the 2026 RIBA Core CPD programme.
On this course they will be discussing the pivotal role feasibility studies play in delivering successful architectural projects. Learning outcomes will include:
Analysing site constraints, planning policy, budgets, environmental factors, and client briefs to inform project feasibility
Evaluating risks and opportunities for a range of project typologies, including new builds, retrofits, community assets, and housing
Genegrating feasibility study data into proposals that demonstrate project value, sustainability, and deliverability.
We really enjoyed working with the RIBA to put these together, find out more and sign up here. As part of the 2026 core programme you can learn on demand at a time that suits you, and complete the courses in any order.
In this month’s update, we’re pleased to share our newly published Church brochure, early concept designs for two new-build homes within the New Forest National Park, and details of The Politics of Space lecture series, where Darren will be presenting.
Securing Church Buildings Through Design
We have recently published our first brochure dedidated to our architectural work focused on church buildings. As a design practice, we are passionate about working with these existing buildings, using architecture as a catalyst for positive change. Through our experience working with 20 + churches dotted across the UK, we have developed tailored design proposals for a wide range of denominations, settings and building types. We deliver designs that respond to each projects distinct challenges and opportunities, to bring long-term resilience to these extraordinary spaces.
Many churches share common concerns: reducing maintenance costs, unlocking the potential of their buildings and sites, improving usability, strengthening engagement with the wider community, above all ensuring the building can continue to support the church’s mission for generations to come.
Garden Plot Concept Designs, New Forest National Park
We are currently working with the owners of Paddock House, to explore the potential of redeveloping their site, to deliver a low energy replacement dwelling, and to create an additional new home within their generous grounds.
Our designs carefully respond to the rural village setting, while also considering the plot ratios of neighbouring homes. The aim is to deliver these two new house with a design that is balanced and appropriate for its context, while also reaching the full potential of the site.
Darren has been invited to present as part of Reading University, Architecture Society (RUAS) event ‘The Politics of Space’ on 12th March, 2026.
He has been asked to share his thoughts on how architecture reflects, and shapes social hierarchies. How design can impact accessibility, and inclusion across society.
As a current Studio Practitioner at Reading University, Darren is always keen to support the work of RUAS.
Get in touch to request the presentation slides after the event if you are unable to attend.
As a design practice, we are passionate about working with existing church buildings and using architecture as a catalyst for positive change. Through our experience with 20 + churches dotted across the UK, we have developed tailored design proposals for a wide range of denominations, settings and building types, each proposal responding to its own distinct challenges and opportunities. Our work focuses on bringing renewed life and long-term resilience to these extraordinary spaces.
Many churches share common concerns: reducing maintenance costs, unlocking the potential of their buildings and sites, improving usability, strengthening engagement with the wider community, above all ensuring the building can continue to support the church’s mission for generations to come.
Our approach centres on careful adaptation and reuse. By working with what already exists, we help churches remain relevant, sustainable, and welcoming, while addressing long-term maintenance and environmental performance.
If you are considering a church project, we would be delighted to discuss how we can help reimagine the potential of your building. We have also published a dedicated brochure showcasing our work in this sector, which you can view here.
We’re delighted to see Brockenhurst House featured in Build It’s Best of Self Build & Renovation supplement, which showcases the award-winning projects from the 2025 Build It Awards.
Brockenhurst House was the winner of the Extensions & Renovation category. The judges praised the project for its beautifully detailed, fabric-first approach, highlighting how thoughtful design can be truly transformative, even within an average budget.
The scheme reimagines a tired 1970s property as a contemporary, low-energy home. Carefully tailored to support the owners’ needs, the design incorporates a high degree of flexibility, ensuring the house is resilient, adaptable and future-proofed for years to come.
We visited the Courtyard House site last week, located in the New Forest near the village of Burley, and were delighted to see that the building is now ‘watertight’; an important milestone in the construction process.
With the glazing fully installed and the roof now tiled, the project is now completely enclosed and protected from the elements. This marks a key transition on site, allowing the construction team to move their focus to the internal works, including plumbing, electrics, and finishes. From this stage on, the scheme will begins to feel more like a home and less like a building site.
Internally, the house feels spacious and filled with natural light, something we have worked incredibly hard to achieve on this narrow site. The internal courtyards, carefully cut into the building form, respond to the constraints of the elongated plot by drawing daylight deep into the plan and strengthening the connection between inside and out.
We look forward to sharing further updates as this New Forest residential project continues to take shape.
