Our brief was to design a new substantial house with outbuildings to sit unobtrusively at the low point of an old quarry within the registered Parkland of the Gayhurst Estate and adjacent to Repton parkland. Our proposals had to meet the stringent criteria set by English Heritage. The new 7,000 sq ft classical house incorporates the existing barns which have been remodeled and extended. The accommodation provides seven bedrooms and five bathrooms, together with a one bedroom annex and separate garages and workshops. The whole composition represents a significant enhancement to this important historic setting. Sustainability has been a key consideration in the design of the house and landscape. Key elements include: water recycling, bore hole extraction for drinking water, geothermal energy, passive ventilation systems and heat recovery, use of the building?s thermal mass, high levels of insulation and the control and use of solar gain by the design of openings and use of materials. Sustainable and locally sourced materials have been used wherever possible.