Sensitive Self-Build Family Home in a Heritage Setting
This project proposes the replacement of an existing single-storey dwelling with a high-quality, two-storey, five-bedroom family home in Smisby, Ashby de la Zouch. Situated adjacent to a Grade I listed church, the design responds carefully to the village context and heritage setting, delivering a home that is both contemporary and rooted in local character.
Location: Smisby, Ashby de la Zouch
Client: Confidential
Service: Architecture
Sector: Residential / Self-Build
RIBA Stage: 0–3
Size: 5-bedroom home
Site type: Greenfield
Design Inspired by local character
The house incorporates a double-gabled form, drawing inspiration from the traditional farmhouses and cottages that define the village’s architectural language. A soft red brick and stone palette ensures the building sits harmoniously within the streetscape, reflecting the vernacular while accommodating modern family living. Massing and scale have been carefully considered to respect neighbouring properties and maintain the historic character of the area.
Site Sensitivity and Landscaping
The dwelling is positioned in line with established building lines, preserving the rhythm of the street. Retained boundary trees, alongside new planting, provide privacy, screening, and habitat enhancement, contributing to the biodiversity of the site. External spaces are designed to support family life while ensuring minimal visual impact on the village setting.
Balancing Modern Needs and Heritage Context
The proposals balance contemporary living requirements with sensitivity to context. Internally, the layout supports flexible family use, while externally, the building’s scale, form and materiality respond to local heritage cues, creating a design that integrates seamlessly into Smisby’s historic environment.
Our Role
Marrons led the architectural design from RIBA Stages 0–3, developing the concept, massing, and material strategy. Our role focused on harmonising modern self-build aspirations with the village’s heritage character, and ensuring the design responded to site-specific constraints, including adjacency to a Grade I listed church.
Key Considerations
- Responding to the historic village setting and Grade I listed church
- Harmonising scale, massing and materials with local vernacular
- Retaining and enhancing site trees and landscaping for privacy and biodiversity
- Balancing modern family living requirements with context-sensitive design
