Sustainable Cotswolds Architects

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Introduction

If you are seeking sustainable Cotswolds architects for the refurbishment and extension of a period property, or for a new build house in the Cotswolds, we’d be delighted to assist.

This residential project at Mawley Cottage in Quenington, Gloucestershire, is a clear example of how our studio combines heritage sensitivity with low‑energy design.

We design inspirational refurbishments of Cotswolds stone cottages, farmhouses and Georgian manor houses, helping clients modernise their homes while preserving the historic character that makes the region unique.

Project Overview: Mawley Cottage

Mawley Cottage is a traditional Cotswolds stone cottage in a sensitive conservation area in Quenington, an ancient village between Bibury, Cirencester and Burford. Historically part of Mawley Farmhouse, the property had been extended and adapted at various points over the last 300 years.

The cottage lies on the edge of the Hatherop Estate and the iconic Williamstrip House, a listed Georgian manor house with far-reaching gardens and grounds. The combination of historic context, conservation‑area setting and a desire for a low‑energy home made this an ideal project for our sustainable Cotswolds architects.

Heritage Building Assessment

Our first step was a detailed heritage and fabric assessment of the house. The 18th‑century front façade features cottage‑style casement windows, with Georgian sash windows to the original farmhouse section. Two 20th‑century stone extensions had added space for a porch and an enlarged utility area.
Key existing features included:

• Original Cotswolds stone facades with characteristic warm tones
• A historic stone‑tiled roof, in need of repair but fundamentally sound
• Traditional timber casement windows and exposed internal stonework

Working as conservation‑aware, sustainable architects in the Cotswolds, we sought to retain and enhance these elements, while subtly upgrading thermal performance, comfort and energy efficiency.

Discover our architects’ other heritage projects. If you would like to discuss your Cotswolds residential refurbishment or extension project, please contact us.

Repair and Refurbishment Works

Our architects retained and refurbished the characterful stone elements of the original building, including stone facades and a historic stone tiled roof. Stone tiles were reinstalled where these had slipped, with new replacement tiles where they had been lost completely.

The cottage previously suffered from rising damp and penetrating damp problems in the utility room, which had been converted from a small stone milking barn, and was part-submerged below ground level. Damp issues internally were addressed with Sika-1, a liquid waterproofing admixture that blocks the capillaries and pores in the historic stone walls.

By resolving these fundamental building‑fabric issues first, we created a solid base for the sustainable upgrades to be introduced in later phases.

Redundant services and TV aerials were removed to improve the appearance at the front of the property, reinstating the original traditional facade.

Interior Design

The interior design features a mix of contemporary and twentieth-century furniture, with traditional and classic elements.

Living Room

The cosy living room now provides a wood-burning stove within a Victorian-style stone fireplace surround. Elm wood flooring in the living room contrasts with the natural stone floor in the kitchen and hallway. Fabrics include ‘The Moor’ rugs by &Tradition and handmade cushions and throws.

A solid marble table and marble accessories from Soho Home complement the equally weighty solid oak block side tables.

Kitchen and Dining

The bespoke solid timber kitchen features traditional shaker-style fronts. A circular oak table forms the centre piece of the space, with matching oak and woven Carl Hansen Wegner dining chairs. An exposed timber beam completes the cosy feel in the kitchen.

The kitchen extension provides useful additional pantry, utility and storage space, leading to the downstairs WC.

An AGA currently heats the property and provides a focal point in the kitchen. New Miele appliances are concealed behind the cabinetry, maintaining the traditional feel of the space. The creamy hue of the natural Cotswold flagstone flooring perfectly matches the joinery and room colour scheme.

Bedrooms

Upstairs, three double bedrooms continue the neutral, natural palette. These rooms feature oak furniture and solid block bedside tables, with traditional painted ledge and brace doors to each bedroom. Traditional shaker‑style wardrobe joinery echoes the detailing of the kitchen below, creating a coherent feel throughout the cottage.

Garden Design

Phase two of the works will include a complete garden design, including a hot tub and a new outdoor terrace for dining. The proposed naturalistic planting with Japanese grasses, anemones and acers will soften the landscaping and stone walls. The yew topiary to the front of the cottage will be located behind a new dry stone wall to enhance the appearance of the cottage from the street.

The new landscaping aims to create a sequence of outdoor spaces that feel connected to the house and wider Cotswolds countryside, while also supporting the home’s sustainable ambitions.

Sustainability

As sustainable Cotswolds architects, our goal is to reduce energy use and carbon emissions while protecting the historic qualities of the building. For Mawley Cottage, the sustainable strategy is being implemented in phases.

Low‑Carbon Heating and Energy

The garden will accommodate a new heat pump, which will provide all the heating needs of the property from renewable sources, offering the potential for a fossil fuel-free, sustainable Cotswolds home.

Currently, a planning application is required to install a heat pump in Cotswolds conservation areas, although this may, in future, become permitted development for residential properties. More councils are recognising the need for sustainability improvements to Cotswolds houses, including switching entirely to electricity. Electricity has the potential to be a renewable resource. Installing a heat pump is usually a financially viable option in countryside homes in the Cotswolds and beyond, as many are heated by oil, which is comparatively expensive.

Fabric Upgrades and Windows

Phase two of the project will also include:

• Replacement of existing windows with high‑performance vacuum double glazing, designed to match the appearance of traditional timber casements
• Carefully considered insulation upgrades to walls, roofs and floors where technically appropriate
• Improving airtightness while retaining natural ventilation strategies suitable for solid‑wall buildings

These measures help to reduce heat loss, improve comfort and support a future all‑electric heating strategy.

If you are seeking a sustainable architect for a heritage property in the Cotswolds, please contact us. We would be happy to assist with country houses, Class Q barn conversions, country estates, outbuildings, new builds, traditional stone cottages and Georgian listed buildings.

Working with Sustainable Cotswolds Architects

Refurbishing a Cotswolds stone cottage requires a balance of heritage expertise, planning knowledge and sustainable design thinking. As architects specialising in sustainable Cotswolds projects, we can assist with:

• Feasibility studies and early design options
• Advice on planning applications and listed building consent
• Coordination of heritage consultants, structural engineers and energy specialists
• Interior architecture, joinery design and kitchen/bathroom layouts
• Landscape and garden design, including integrating external plant such as heat pumps

We work closely with clients to understand how they live, how they want to use each room, and what level of sustainability they wish to achieve. From modest refurbishments to comprehensive whole‑house retrofits, our aim is always to create beautiful, low‑energy homes that sit comfortably within the Cotswolds landscape.

Location

Photography and Project Credits

Project architect: Ben Ridley

Photography: Inigo