We had the pleasure of designing a new bespoke home in Darley Dale. The site already had planning permission for a generic stone dwelling when the clients bought the site in early 2017, however they wished to build a more contemporary dwelling. We worked with the local planning authority, Derbyshire Dales District Council to prepare a truly individual design that took precedent from the street’s alternating profiles of gables fronting the highway and running parallel. The dwelling takes advantage of the long views across the valley to Riber Castle in the east and across Darley Dale to the North, with projecting glazed gables and first floor balconies. Our clients had a strong desire for private open plan living, this was achieved by having the living areas positioned at the rear of the house, enabling the occupants to open the sliding doors and have direct access to their private south easterly facing split level garden. The use of materials was an important consideration to assimilate with the surroundings but to read as a building built in 2018. The use of blue zinc cladding to the first floor brings harmony with the roofs of the neighbouring properties and the choice of buff brick at ground floor, ties in with the brick and stone of the street. The project was completed in 2018. The clients are delighted with their new home and continue to enjoy the long views across Matlock and beyond. Photographs of the project include the projecting balcony to the rear elevation and the view from the first floor sitting room overlooking the Derbyshire countryside.