The Coach House, Parkhill Estate

The Coach House is a conversion, renovation and extension project undertaken with sustainability in mind. The Coach House is part of the historic fabric of Parkhill Estate, our client gave us a unique opportunity to repurpose an existing structure in a way that minimizes environmental impact while preserving a traditional building for future generations.

Originally used for storing carriages and horses to service the main house on the estate, the property had fallen into disrepair. It has been transformed into holiday letting accommodation offering functional, light-filled spaces which have retained the character of the original building. By focusing on sustainable design principles, our aspiration was to breathe new life into a historic building while contributing to the broader goals of sustainability.

One of the most significant environmental benefits of the project is the adaptive reuse of an existing building. Repurposing old structures reduces the need for new construction materials, making the most of existing resources, and reducing the environmental footprint of the building. Care was taken to reuse existing openings, some of which were uncovered during construction, to preserve the original character of the building and minimise the need for new lintels. A new rear extension was added to accommodate a new kitchen/ dining space with views across the countryside beyond.

Sustainability has been further achieved by using eco-friendly, natural materials., Natural sheep’s wool insulation was specified for the existing structure, improving energy efficiency while keeping the construction breathable. Existing stone was repointed in lime mortar and exposed internally in some areas to enhance the interior. New structure was designed in timber to minimise environmental impact, new glulam beams support the ridge. The extension roof is finished with red/brown zinc, chosen as a high quality material which complements the existing stone, is long lasting and recyclable. Designed with energy efficiency and low-maintenance materials in mind, this has resulted in lower running costs, reduced energy bills and minimal upkeep.