The House in Brockweir (Change Image)

A House in Brockweir: A contemporary slate-clad extension that deepens the relationship between a period home and the Wye Valley landscape.

Positioned above the curve of the River Wye in the lower valley, The House in Brockweir is a generous period home defined by its sweeping views and sense of quiet permanence. This project introduces a contemporary rural extension that enriches the home’s connection to its gardens and the river below — bringing clarity, openness, and a renewed feeling of belonging to the landscape. Rooted gently within its National Landscape setting, the design draws upon the character of the valley while offering a modern way of living shaped by light, craft, and calm.

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The new single-storey rear extension provides a series of thoughtfully arranged spaces — an expansive kitchen and dining area, a practical utility room, and a sauna that opens towards the garden. These functions are unified by their orientation to the outdoors, creating moments where the boundary between home and landscape softens and dissolves. Large openings frame views across the terraced gardens and towards the flowing river, while the internal layout encourages movement, gathering, and a sense of ease. The extension becomes a natural extension of daily life, inviting the outdoors into the home throughout the seasons.

Project Detail

The extension is characterised by a refined material palette that resonates with the existing house and its rural surroundings. Slate is used across both the roof and the external walls, creating a cohesive, sculptural form that sits comfortably against the period architecture while asserting its own contemporary clarity. The use of slate — locally familiar and inherently durable — grounds the new structure in the landscape and anchors it visually to the valley’s material tradition. Carefully framed glazing opens the rear elevation, maximising natural light and directing focus toward the gardens and river views beyond. Through careful siting, thoughtful proportion, and a restrained rural materiality, The House in Brockweir extension creates a soft, contemporary counterpoint to the historic home — enhancing its presence while strengthening its relationship with the landscape it overlooks.

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