The Broad Oak

The Broad Oak – Red Brick, Reimagined.

Set within the flat, open landscape of Gloucestershire, The Broad Oak is a contemporary home rooted in its red-brick surroundings and shaped by the rhythms of enclosure and release. Drawing on the textures of terracotta, the geometry of rural gables, and the timeless language of Victorian walled gardens, the design carves out a carefully sequenced journey — one that begins with quiet arrival and opens into light-filled, private spaces. The strong gabled form, familiar yet refined, rises above a grounded, contemporary volume that shifts at a right angle, embracing the garden and giving structure to the landscape.

The garden becomes both threshold and sanctuary — a walled space that shields from the road while offering openness to the south. Framed views and layered boundaries guide the experience of moving through the house, while material choices tie the new build to its local heritage. This is a home that sits with quiet confidence in its setting — contemporary in spirit, yet deeply attuned to place, privacy, and the rituals of daily life.

Project Detail

The Broad Oak is a contemporary four-bedroom new-build house on a flat site in Gloucestershire. The proposal responds to local architectural language through the use of red brick, terracotta tones, and a prominent gable form referencing rural typologies. The design rotates the ground floor massing to create an L-shaped plan, forming a protected walled garden that connects directly to the main living spaces. The wall defines the entrance sequence and enhances privacy and acoustic protection from the adjacent road, while carefully framing south-facing garden views. Spatial sequencing and material selection were key to balancing contextual sensitivity with contemporary design expression.