Grove Farm Woods is a proposed dwelling nestled within a secluded 50-acre woodland site. Situated on the remnants of a WWII military camp, the design reinterprets the site’s layered history—from lost agricultural barns to wartime infrastructure—while restoring ecological balance to the overgrown plantation woodland.
The architecture draws inspiration from the arrangement of historic barns once located on the site. Now only visible on historic maps, the barns were once organised into a series of orthogonal blocks and courtyards that echo the vernacular rhythm of local farmsteads. A restrained material palette of weathered brick and timber cladding harmonises with the woodland setting, while corrugated metal accents nod to the site’s former military structures. Large glazed openings frame views of ancient ash trees and the adjacent golf course, creating fluid transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Integrated renewable technologies will be provided in the form of a rooftop solar array and biomass heating using timber sourced from the newly managed woodland. The landscaping strategy revitalises the declining woodland through selective thinning, reintroducing native species and converting former concrete hardstandings into biodiverse glades.
Status: Planning consent granted 2024
My involvement - concept design
(RIBA stage 2)
My involvement - concept design
(RIBA stage 2)
