The house was envisaged as a comfortable home to retire into, arranged on a single level, incorporating excellent standards of thermal insulation, with space enough to accommodate visiting family. The site had a number of constraints which the design addresses, including some large mature trees, a change in site levels, privacy and overlooking from neighbouring houses, and being located within a conservation area with several nearby listed buildings. The house provides privacy through its orientation, with all rooms arranged to face south and west, addressing the enclosed garden space. Generous rooflights provide daylight to the internal shower rooms and hallway. The entrance to the house is separated from the driveway and other houses by a new brick wall which creates a defined boundary, and references the existing brick boundary walls which are a characteristic of the conservation area. Perforations in the wall allow light through, as well as providing glimpes of the house and planting behind, creating an attractive contemporary facade. The wall is also used to retain the ground at the change in site levels. Setting the house at the lower site level allows the house to disappear behind the wall, and being a single storey means that the building has minimal visual impact within the conservation area.