We have been working closely with our client to design a self-build home in the Sneyd Park Conservation Area, Bristol. The project delivers a spacious 6-bed home for use by the client and their extended family.

 

To balance the client’s brief with the conservation area context, the house appears as two storeys from Church Road, while making use of the sloping site to incorporate a third level at lower ground floor. Traditional materials, common in the conservation area, are used in a contemporary way to reflect both setting and intention.

 

The layout maximises connections to the outdoors, with a sunken, south-facing courtyard and expansive views across the large rear garden. Internal spaces include; open plan living spaces, home office, separate entertaining/guest spaces and more private family bedrooms. Each of the bedrooms has a balcony overlooking the garden.

Thermal comfort and overheating analysis informed the design, which incorporates an air-source heat pump and a 6kWp photovoltaic system—achieving a 60% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to Part L 2013 standards.

Planning approval for the new-build home was granted in March 2022. Following consent, the client commissioned us to develop an alternative scheme that retained and adapted the existing building to meet similar needs. This revised proposal was submitted independently by the client and gained planning approval in April 2024.