The Brief Our clients live in a conservation area in Long Clawson, Leicestershire and wanted a way of extending and remodelling their rural cottage to accommodate their whole family. At the same time they wanted their home to compliment the surrounding heritage architecture. Our Solution We extended to the rear of the property and combined the retained cottage with the large garden. This created social space for the family and connected the existing space to the abundant nature in the large rear garden. Heritage Architecture Working in a Conservation Area Swain architecture have a lot of experience working in conservation areas and work with local planning officers to achieve planning permission in challenging locations. Blending Traditional with Contemporary Appropriate scale of buildings and the materials they are built in are aspects of architectural design we are sensitive to at Swain Architecture. At Rose Cottage we chose a pitched roof to the upper level and specified reclaimed brick and wood façades externally so the new building blended in with the existing. We hope you agree that this is contemporary and sensitive architecture. A Family Home Space for Everyone Connecting to a modest village cottage, our challenge was to create a master suite as well as three bedrooms, including one en-suite. By opting for vaulted ceilings on the first floor we retained the intimate nature of the original cottage and creating an extension that was sensitive in scale and form. Connected to Nature At the ground level, full width glazing frames the large garden. This introduces lots of light to the interior as well as providing an amazing view of the large cottage garden.