A private client commissioned The Orchard after identifying an opportunity to build their dream house on a vacant site in Silverdale. The site was a secluded old orchard, just south of the Lake District National Park, and offered the opportunity to produce something very special.

The house was designed as a direct response to that setting, with a strong relationship between the interior and exterior. Much of the accommodation was arranged at ground-floor level, allowing easy access into the beautifully landscaped garden.

John Coward Architects served as architect and lead consultant throughout the project, from conception to completion, and acted as contract administrator on site. The final design was developed through close collaboration with the clients, who had strong ideas about what they wanted from the house.

Key Features

• Highly energy-efficient new-build house
• Secluded former orchard setting
• Design developed around a grid system
• Much of the accommodation arranged at ground-floor level
• Direct access from the house into the landscaped garden
• Low profile on approach, with additional rooms within the roof
• Local Burlington slate roof with carefully finished hips and valleys
• John Coward Architects appointed from conception to completion
• Lead consultant and contract administrator throughout
• Completed 2012–13

Sitting low within the landscape

The house was designed around a grid system and to appear as a single-storey dwelling on approach. Rooms within the roof maximised the available space while keeping the house low within its setting.

The close relationship between the house and garden was central to the design. With much of the accommodation at ground-floor level, the clients could move easily between the interior and the landscaped garden.

The key materials included local limestone and timber cladding. The clients were particularly keen on a beautiful slate roof, so we used local Burlington slate. We took great care finishing the different hips and valleys, and the clients were particularly pleased with the result when the house was completed.

The project took place during 2012–13. Through close collaboration with the clients from the first ideas through to on-site work, we realised the original brief in the completed house.