Fives Cottage, Uppingham

The brief

The solution

Deep in a local Conservation Area, this modest cottage had remained vacant for many years. The grounds were completely overgrown with large trees impacting on the house and surrounding buildings. Despite the cottage being in the middle of a local market town, a huge brick wall along the side of the house meant that it remained unseen and unnoticed by all but the keenest of eyes.

A full scheme of renovation with sympathetic alterations, modest extensions and clever landscaping has transformed the sad, run down cottage into an award winning family home.

The cottage itself now provides a spacious double height kitchen / family room with large areas of glass drawing the occupants gaze into the cottage garden courtyard, with a covered loggia providing sheltered access to a beautifully restored stone barn in the garden.

What remained of the Fives Court now wraps around a new double garage, with an en suite bedroom atop. A second phase of works has been completed to cover over the external stair up to the bedroom.

A clever blend of reclaimed bricks, stone, glass, zinc cladding and timber bring a wide palette of materials and colours together to harmonious effect.