Former School House is Back in Session With a Timber Additio

[sputnik]

i love this one. it's a great example of a modern addition that totally complements an older home. and i love the combination of modern and older elements inside as well. it's tasteful but practical and looks like a real, lived in house. 


A Former School House is Back in Session With a Timber Addition

Designed for Farrow & Ball color curator Joa Studholme, the revived 19th-century building in Somerset, England balances city and country sensibilities.

Text by

Grace Bernard





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Project Details:

Location: Somerset, England



Architect: Bindloss Dawes Architects / @bindlossdawes



Footprint: 1,200 square feet



Builder: Gregory Renovations



Structural Engineer: Momentum Structural Engineers



Photographer: Francesca Ióvene / @francescaiovene



From the Architect: "Bindloss Dawes has unveiled a remarkable transformation of Pitcombe’s Old School House, a Grade-II listed property nestled within a picturesque valley in Somerset, combining original character with contemporary architecture.



"The new timber extension showcases the dedication to craftsmanship of British architects Bindloss Dawes, known for their rigorous detailing and material compositions that balance city and country sensibilities, delivered in close collaboration with client, Farrow & Ball color curator Joa Studholme, and her husband Andrew.



"The 19th-century building was first built in 1864 as a local village school and was converted to a house in the 1940s. It was subsequently extended in the 1970s, but this resulted in a poorly planned bedroom wing that sat heavily and unsympathetically against the original building. Bindloss Dawes was commissioned in 2018 and during initial design work it became clear that the best solution would be to remove the flawed extension and start again.



"Drawing inspiration from the original building, Bindloss Dawes have designed an all-timber addition that is both distinct and sensitive to the Old School house. By matching the massing and shape of the existing roof and following the plan of the original building, the new addition sits comfortably and naturally in its setting. However, the design is also unapologetically contemporary, combining clean lines, meticulous detailing and sustainable construction principles. The result is that the new extension celebrates the heritage of the original building and creates something that is bold and contemporary, resolving long-standing layout problems to create a well-balanced home.



"The new extension is built from a highly insulated and cost-effective timber frame structure, clad entirely in English sweet chestnut. Chestnut was chosen for its sustainability, stability and elegant grain, but also because of how it weathers, meaning that over the next few years the whole extension will slowly mellow into a light silvery grey, complementing the weathered local stone of the main house."















































www.dwell.com/article/a-former-school-house-is-back-in-session-with-a-timber-addition-ab125116

[faithanne]

I love the building and how light it is inside, but their furniture is bland, and for some reason those dark metal window and doorframes are really annoying me. Doggy's cute though.

[greysfang]

Its overly beige, but the construction of it is beautiful.

[Pixie]

The location is beautiful, such Jane Eyre vibes!
Love the building itself but I don't know what's going on with the first floor, the pictures make it look like it's very narrow and tried to cram too many rooms in too little space

[Sarzy]

This is really unusual, I like it. It is beautifully done.

[funky]

I like it as well. Agree with the furniture though, and the outside space is sad. Doggy looks sad as well, he would like a nicer outside area

[palta]

it does look very narrow.
i don't like the bathroom pattern design and the colours they have there.

i do like the dark metal doors and the chair.

[loftybike]

Well, the owner must move out, so I can move in. It's beautiful.

[Taniwha]

Love, love love. Watching Escape to the Country on Prime (folks see three options to buy in the British countryside) is my feel good watch, and this looks just like what they package to show us. It takes skill to add on with taste.

[kittylady]

Aug 30, 2024 11:54:14 GMT Taniwha said:

Love, love love. Watching Escape to the Country on Prime (folks see three options to buy in the British countryside) is my feel good watch, and this looks just like what they package to show us. It takes skill to add on with taste.

Do you Love Watch it or Hate Watch it? I used to Hate Watch it with MIL all the time and we'd rip the shit out of the people on it.

"This is Tarquin and Jocasta.  Tarquin is an artisan paper folder and Jocasta weaves hairnets out of squirrel fur. They're looking to downsize to a 6 bedroom property set in 20 or more acres of land, where Tarquin can indulge his passion for Bajan goat herding and Jocasta can create a Wellness Retreat based around the many uses for vaginal yeast. Their budget is £4.4 million but they might be willing to stretch to £6 million for the right property."

(On being shown a dining room that can seat 20) "It's a little smaller than we'd like..."

(On seeing the kitchen) "There's only room for two Aga and ideally we'd like three.."

(Say they need strong commuter links) "There's a road twelve miles away? No, that's too close for us to really feel like we're in the country..."

(Says they want original period features) "Oh gosh, the ceilings are too low!" "I'm not really feeling the wooden beams." "The stone fireplace is too imposing."

[sputnik]

omg i must watch this.

[kittylady]

Aug 31, 2024 0:26:34 GMT sputnik said:

omg i must watch this.

The older ones seemed to have more genuine people on, but the later ones are teeming with couples wanting to be on television showing how much money they have.

Don't forget to shout "With room for a pony!" in the style of Hyacinth Bucket when you get a particularly snobby pair on.

[Taniwha]

Aug 31, 2024 0:24:19 GMT kittylady said:

Aug 30, 2024 11:54:14 GMT Taniwha said:

Love, love love. Watching Escape to the Country on Prime (folks see three options to buy in the British countryside) is my feel good watch, and this looks just like what they package to show us. It takes skill to add on with taste.

Do you Love Watch it or Hate Watch it? I used to Hate Watch it with MIL all the time and we'd rip the shit out of the people on it.

"This is Tarquin and Jocasta.  Tarquin is an artisan paper folder and Jocasta weaves hairnets out of squirrel fur. They're looking to downsize to a 6 bedroom property set in 20 or more acres of land, where Tarquin can indulge his passion for Bajan goat herding and Jocasta can create a Wellness Retreat based around the many uses for vaginal yeast. Their budget is £4.4 million but they might be willing to stretch to £6 million for the right property."

(On being shown a dining room that can seat 20) "It's a little smaller than we'd like..."

(On seeing the kitchen) "There's only room for two Aga and ideally we'd like three.."

(Say they need strong commuter links) "There's a road twelve miles away? No, that's too close for us to really feel like we're in the country..."

(Says they want original period features) "Oh gosh, the ceilings are too low!" "I'm not really feeling the wooden beams." "The stone fireplace is too imposing."

😆😆😆


I actually love watch it because compared to American real estate shows the clients are pretty reasonable. I do wonder where the hell they get their budgets unless there’s a greater market for squirrel fur hair nets in the UK than I realized.

that and I really love Alastair Appleton. And the scenery. Lowers my blood pressure.