CASTLE COVE, KENDAL - A SUSTAINABLE COURTYARD HOME
Creating an Eco-Friendly Family Home in Kendal's Conservation Area
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Client: Private Property Developer
Location: Castle Cove, Kendal, Cumbria
Project Type: Architectural Support for Planning Application
Services Provided: Feasibility Study, Planning Application, Design for a 4-Bedroom Home with Eco-Friendly Features
CLIENT CHALLENGE
The client, a property developer, approached us with the vision of constructing two new build houses on a back plot they owned, currently occupied by eight garages. After conducting a feasibility study, it was determined that due to the site’s size, shape, and the surrounding constraints—such as overlooking issues and separation distances—two properties would not be feasible. Instead, we proposed a single four-bedroom home, organized around a central courtyard to address privacy and maximize space usage.
The plot presented several design challenges, including its location within Kendal’s conservation area, proximity to a historic cemetery, being within a flood zone, and being surrounded by mature trees.
OUR APPROACH
Designing for Privacy and Sustainability
Our approach focused on creating a contextually sensitive and sustainable design that responded to the site’s constraints while maintaining the client’s goal of an eco-friendly and economically viable development.
We designed the house around a central courtyard, an inward-looking layout that provided both the residents and neighboring properties with enhanced privacy. The courtyard allowed natural light to flood the interior spaces while mitigating overlooking issues from surrounding properties, particularly those at higher elevations.
Collaboration and Sensitivity to the Context
Working closely with the client, we designed a property that respected the local vernacular of Kendal while introducing modern sustainability features. The house's location on the border of a flood zone required special flood mitigation measures, which we incorporated into the design from the start, including anti-flood doors and elevated electrical installations.
Throughout the process, we collaborated with a planning consultant to navigate the complexities of the site’s location in a conservation area. The design was informed by heritage considerations, particularly the proximity to the historic Castle Street Cemetery, ensuring the development respected the surrounding environment.
DESIGN AND EXECUTION
The four-bedroom house was designed with sustainability at its core, incorporating solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and plans for biodiversity gain with features such as bee hotels, bird boxes, and a hedgehog house. These elements not only enhanced the environmental footprint of the project but also aligned with the client’s commitment to eco-conscious development.
The design featured a courtyard-centered layout to maximize privacy while providing a tranquil outdoor space for residents. The house was split into two blocks—a family living area and a bedroom block—connected by a low-profile corridor that minimized the building's visual impact. The division of the house into two distinct volumes further reduced the visual massing, making it appear as two smaller structures when viewed externally.
To address privacy concerns from neighboring properties, particularly those along Castle Park at higher elevations, we designed the building with frosted windows where necessary and positioned the bedroom block slightly taller to shield the courtyard from overlooking. The design also followed optional building regulations M4(2) for accessible and adaptable dwellings, making the house future-proof for a wide range of potential occupants.
CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
One of the key challenges was the proximity to an historic graveyard, which sat behind a large retaining wall. The design had to respect this sensitive location while ensuring the structure’s foundations did not disturb the cemetery's integrity. Additionally, the site's location within a flood zone required the incorporation of flood resilience measures, such as raised floor levels and flood-resistant materials.
Another challenge was ensuring the design fit seamlessly within the Kendal conservation area, where maintaining the local character was paramount. We carefully studied the materials and architectural styles of the surrounding properties, incorporating elements like limestone plinths and large sash windows to create a home that would be both modern and in harmony with its historical context.