Arrowfield, Henley-on-Thames

RIBA Stage: 0-3 (Concept Design & Planning)

Project Value: £350,000 (Phase 1)

Sector: Private Residential

Some of the most rewarding projects begin with a whole site rather than a single building. This one, in Rotherfield Greys near Henley on Thames, is part of a multi phase masterplan to enhance the entire property, bringing a modest cottage, a terrace and the surrounding land together into a coherent, long term plan for the family.

The masterplan includes three linked pieces of work. A purpose designed annexe, considered carefully around SEND needs, provides a comfortable and independent home for a young adult. A new build infill house completes the terrace, and a two storey rear and side extension gives the original cottage the space it lacked. Set within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, each phase needed extensive consideration to make sure the new buildings were sensitive to the landscape, well designed and carefully phased. Timber weatherboarding was used throughout, taking the geometry of the existing buildings and reinterpreting it in a contemporary way, which gives the scheme a distinctive form and character while keeping it rooted in its setting.

The result is a family site that can grow and adapt over time without losing its identity. For homeowners planning a large scale refurbishment, extension or new build in the Chilterns or another protected landscape, and looking for a Henley on Thames architect experienced in AONB planning, phased masterplans and bespoke family homes, this project shows how a considered long term approach can deliver high quality architecture one phase at a time.