New build family home – Olney, Milton Keynes

Date May 2020

Every project we undertake is different and unique but we approach each scheme with the same level of detail and quality to produce a design that works for the individual client. This project we were approached by a young family to design a new-build family house on a large open plot outside Olney in Milton Keynes. The linear plot is surrounded on two sides by mature hedging and trees with the intention that the other two boundaries be complemented by the same level of vegetation screening.

The initial ideas discussed with the clients was based on a ‘template design’ for a standard house type that we redesigned and re-evaluated to ensure it worked properly and had an architectural value appropriate to the site. As an alternative, we designed a new build home based on local contextual and vernacular studies in the area to create a two-layered ‘timber framed’ house with brickwork and timber cladding. Both of these materials had texture and depth to ensure a dramatic and architectural house that befits the site and area.

The chosen design of the ‘timber framed’ house was based on two wings – private wing with the master suite, granny annexe and study; and the main wing with bedrooms and large entertainment space with a link space of the two-storey entrance hall with WC. This provided a dual gable end design to face the streetscape and provide a positive outlook to work in this setting.

We approached Milton Keynes Borough Council for pre-application advice and are now working with the clients to assess moving forward with the design.

We will keep you posted of any further developments.