Gordon Road
Transformation of a Family Cottage
This project was a personal and rewarding endeavor for Rural Workshop, focused on transforming a small family home into a more functional, welcoming space. The family needed to reimagine their home within a modest budget while prioritizing sustainability, functionality and a natural aesthetic.
Originally envisioned as a rear extension, the project evolved when the family re-evaluated their priorities. After securing planning and building control approvals for the extension, the focus shifted to an immediate and impactful reconfiguration of the interior, including a semi-garage conversion.
The redesign provided essential new spaces: a downstairs toilet, airing cupboard, utility area, boot room and an upgraded porch complete with a cat flap. Materials were carefully chosen to align with the family’s commitment to sustainability and natural aesthetics. Locally felled sweet chestnut cladding, clay plaster ceilings, Valchromat panels, solid oak floors, and clay tiles brought warmth and texture to the spaces. The use of breathable materials such as Pavaflex wood fiber insulation and wood wool boards ensured the home was not only comfortable but also environmentally conscious.
Rural Workshop guided the project from design to completion, managing technical drawings, coordinating trades, and ensuring all work adhered to building control requirements. The result is a transformed home that balances functionality with thoughtful design, meeting the family’s immediate needs while preserving their vision for a sustainable future.
The result is a cohesive, warm, and practical living space that reflects their values while bringing tangible improvements to their daily life. This project showcases how thoughtful, sustainable design can enhance a family home, proving that even modest interventions can achieve meaningful transformations. It remains a testament to Rural Workshop’s dedication to creating spaces that improve lives and resonate with those who live in them.
House Extension Design
This rear extension for a 1900s semi-detached cottage was designed to enhance the home’s functionality and connection with the garden, creating a light-filled, modern living space for a growing family. With the goal of transforming the ground floor, the extension sought to integrate a new entrance, additional storage, a bathroom, and a spacious open-plan kitchen/living area that would become the heart of the home.
The design features a combination of traditional timber framing and sleek steel sections, allowing for a beautiful blend of structural integrity and modern aesthetics. The focal point of the design is the clerestory roof, which incorporates large skylights and perimeter windows, flooding the interior with natural light throughout the day. This thoughtful massing design ensures that the space feels expansive and airy, while also aligning perfectly with the surrounding architecture and garden. Exposed sweet chestnut roof joists, sourced locally, add warmth and character to the space, reflecting the project’s ethos of using natural materials with a sense of place.
Sustainability was a core consideration in this design. The materials selected for the build, including wood fibre insulation and bespoke finishes, were chosen not only for their performance but also for their environmental credentials. These eco-conscious choices ensured that the extension met the highest standards of thermal efficiency and comfort, contributing to a reduced carbon footprint.
The design was extensively developed and refined in close collaboration with the clients, ensuring that the extension both complemented the existing home and seamlessly connected with the garden. The planning application was approved by Wealden District Council, and the building control sign-off was successfully achieved, ensuring the project met all necessary regulations.
The design features a combination of traditional timber framing and sleek steel sections, allowing for a beautiful blend of structural integrity and modern aesthetics. The focal point of the design is the clerestory roof, which incorporates large skylights and perimeter windows, flooding the interior with natural light throughout the day. This thoughtful massing design ensures that the space feels expansive and airy, while also aligning perfectly with the surrounding architecture and garden. Exposed sweet chestnut roof joists, sourced locally, add warmth and character to the space, reflecting the project’s ethos of using natural materials with a sense of place.
Sustainability was a core consideration in this design. The materials selected for the build, including wood fibre insulation and bespoke finishes, were chosen not only for their performance but also for their environmental credentials. These eco-conscious choices ensured that the extension met the highest standards of thermal efficiency and comfort, contributing to a reduced carbon footprint.
The design was extensively developed and refined in close collaboration with the clients, ensuring that the extension both complemented the existing home and seamlessly connected with the garden. The planning application was approved by Wealden District Council, and the building control sign-off was successfully achieved, ensuring the project met all necessary regulations.
Garden Studio Build
https://www.tomjosepharchitect.com/built-work/cork-cabin
Designed by Tom Joseph for the director of Hortus Collective, this compact garden studio is both a functional office and a cosy retreat. The interior features a raw cork finish, exposed Douglas fir framing, handmade oak windows, and bespoke panelling, all contributing to its refined character. The studio also includes a pull-out bed, log burner, and integrated storage, making it a versatile and inviting space. As a carpenter on this project, I facilitated the translation of technical details, liaised directly with the architect, and collaborated with the team during construction. This build also marked an occasion where the team comprised of members from Cambium Collective, a multidisciplinary design and make group.
Photo Credits
Shaun Ryder & Tom Joseph