Sycamore Cottage, St.Mary

COMPLETED 2019 // DESIGN AWARD 2019 - WINNER - BEST MEDIUM TO SMALL SCALE BUILDING OR EXTENSION

The house in Le Mourier Valley was built in two phases, with the original Circa 1800 dwelling later extended to the north in the 19th century, and its many rare features, including a carved face on the south gable, led to its designation as a potentially listed building, requiring a sensitive approach. The clients asked Godel Architects to improve internal connections and increase living space for their growing family. The extension was shaped to reduce its impact from the road by setting it into the bank beside and behind the house, keeping the new volume subservient to the original structure. A light glass link joins old and new, bringing natural light into the centre of the home and allowing the spaces to flow together. External materials were chosen to sit comfortably with the historic building, using granite, terracotta pantiles and timber cladding, and the garden now includes a natural swimming pond that provides both a family amenity and a habitat for local wildlife.