A contemporary family home that blends architecture and landscape. This replacement dwelling reimagines a rural site with sensitivity, sustainability and care.
Set within a mature woodland plot off Iffin Lane in Canterbury, this proposal replaces a dilapidated dwelling with a new, low-impact contemporary home. The design is informed by the site’s natural features, including established trees, hedgerows and a strong sense of enclosure. The new house is carefully positioned to maintain privacy, minimise visual impact from the street, and enhance the wider landscape. A flat-roofed, two-storey form ensures the home sits comfortably within its setting, with materials such as vertical timber cladding and flint referencing the wooded context and Canterbury’s heritage.
Client
Private
Sector
Mixed Use & Residential
Location
Canterbury
Ward
Canterbury City Council
Value
£Undisclosed
Status
Completed
Following consultation with Canterbury City Council, the design responds to key considerations around scale, landscape integration and neighbour amenity. The layout avoids key constraints, such as the sewer easement running north to south, while enhancing existing access points and reinforcing native planting throughout the site. Sustainability is prioritised through energy-efficient construction, low-embodied energy materials, and the use of locally sourced finishes wherever possible. A large glazed entrance offers framed views to the woodland beyond, strengthening the connection between interior and exterior spaces.
The architectural form takes inspiration from the surrounding woodland, with a horizontal emphasis and natural material palette that help the home settle quietly into its setting. Trees will be retained wherever possible, with only low-quality specimens removed following arboricultural assessment. The design protects the privacy of nearby homes and maintains the rural character of Iffin Lane, creating a considered, contemporary family home that enhances both the site and its wider context.
