Parchment House

A building that demanded perfection

He was so determined to get the detail “just so” on this project that we even had to refit one of the flush-glazed windows, as the detailing fell short of his critical eye.

When I met him on site to discuss this, I could see his vision, and I could see that this building was an absolute one-off and demanded perfection.

It is a collection of a Victorian house, a dairy and a parchment factory, which he skilfully linked together with a cohesive design, set in a beautiful Northamptonshire village.

Glazing that sits quietly

The glazing had to sit quietly and let the building express its features as the real star. It was set within the brick or stone walls and framed at the head with Corten steel. Some of the glazing was fixed and some sliding.

A building within a building

We fought to save the ruins, proposing a ‘building within a building’: a Russian doll-like structure juxtaposing the walls’ rugged textural quality with a contemporary modern aesthetic. A glass and Corten steel box extension within the ruin’s walls threads together the property’s three elements. Deliberately lightweight, the extension celebrates the ruins, its raw metal finish reflecting the industrial heritage of the site as a factory.

Recognition and continued collaboration

Parchment House went on to win multiple awards, including a RIBA National Award and the British Homes Awards Home Extension of the Year. The project was also widely published in architecture media including Dezeen and Architects’ Journal.

The design is close to perfection, the aesthetic is pure and calming, and we are thrilled to have played our part in the execution of his vision, as well as continuing to do so on further projects over the years.