Composing A Contemporary Classic

Joanne and Paul Clements restored and extended an Arts and Crafts house in Bristol, transforming it into a ‘forever’ home ideally suited to their lives.

“It was a huge project,” says Paul. “We had never done anything like it before.”

A Neglected Gem

The house is a detached villa built in the 1930’s by a well-known local firm, and it features the period’s trademark quality of materials and craftmanship.

Paul and Joanne wanted to do justice to this heritage, through quality of design and materials, but in a style that is “unapologetically contemporary.”

The couple were living in a city townhouse with a small garden.

Now retired, they both wanted more space and peace; a place to enjoy nature.

They already knew this house, having passed it many times. Set on a generous one-acre plot,

“We knew it was a high-quality building,” says Paul.

“But although structurally fine, it had been neglected, and it was in a terrible state, with a very poor 1980’s extension.”

Respecting Heritage, Embracing Contrast

Joanne and Paul turned to Moon Design, a Bristol-based architecture practice recommended by friends, which enjoys reputation for high-quality work.

In addition to renovating the building, Paul and Joanne wanted “A contemporary extension. We didn’t want to mimic the original house, as that wouldn’t be authentic.

“We wanted contrast, as we thought that would work given the size of the house, and we wanted quality materials. And big windows.”

The renovation involved a complete strip-out of the house, including the roof. Paul and Joanne then re-wired, re-plumbed and added new, triple-glazed windows.

Fortunately, they were able to keep the original Broseley roof tiles and have them re-laid.

The couple then also extended into a small front loggia, creating a generous drawing room, which is perfect for their grand piano.

Engineering a Connection to the Garden

In addition to renovating the existing building, the couple removed the old rear addition and reconnected the house to its amazing garden via a new extension.

This includes a large single-storey kitchen, dining and living room and a smaller, timber-framed extension on the first floor, now a master bedroom suite with a large picture window to enjoy the view.

The most significant challenge of the project was the sloping site.

Adam Richardson at Moon Design proposed a solution which lowered the floor level in the extension, reconnecting the house to the garden.

This also created larger-scale rooms that are very different from the older parts of the house, with high ceilings and large windows.

“We wanted a large, open-plan area for entertaining,” says Joanne. “And a place to sit and enjoy the garden.”

Navigating the Build

Following the Ukraine invasion and Covid, the couple were faced with the prospect of escalating costs and delays.

Rather than put the project out to tender, they chose to work with Moon Build.

“The quality was what the couple were looking for, and their experience from design to build was “seamless.”

The build method was largely traditional, with the new extensions constructed from masonry cavity walls, rigid PIR board insulation and clad in brick.

Paul and Joanne opted to fill the existing cavity walls with blown bead insulation.

The inside was also lined with PIR board, to ensure all the house – not just the new extension – is warm and draught-free.

“We opted not to use timber frame on the ground floor rear extension …as we wanted to reduce the risk of settlement that often occurs in timber framed builds with masonry cladding,” explains architect Adam Richardson.

Paul and Joanne felt the house was best suited to a new gas boiler, which runs the heating, including the underfloor heating in the extension.

“But we do have three smaller heat pumps that offer both heating and cooling,” adds Paul.

Material Matters

The smaller first-floor extension is constructed in timber frame and clad in charred larch.

By not attempting to replicate the original house, the couple were able to explore contrasting styles of equal quality.

The brick and stone of the new extension complement the original home’s brickwork detailing.

The charred larch (also known as the Japanese technique of su sugi ban) and zinc-clad gable is a contemporary interpretation of the Arts and Crafts half-timbered front gable.

“Moon Design looked at the house and the area and were very innovative with materials, such as Portland stone,” explains Paul.

“We chose the bricks, but the su sugi ban on the 1st floor – we would never have thought of that!”

The new extension also meant changes to the layout, especially in the original, oak-panelled entrance hall.

Here, Paul and Joanne removed the staircase, and replaced them on the opposite side of the hall, with a wider half-turn landing.

A new, shallow step down to connects into the extension.

The couple also extended the hallway, with matching wall panelling commissioned and installed.

The beautiful, original American oak flooring also had to be matched, and the couple found the perfect timber at Chauncey’s.

“This is now my favourite part of the house,” says Adam Richardson.

“The sequence from outside the front door with the exquisite brickwork corbelling…into the timber-clad entrance hall… then having your eye drawn down through the frame of the staircase out to the garden below.”

Modern Living

In the rear extension, Moon Design also designed the new kitchen, where the oak cabinets are painted in ‘Nori’ by Paint and Paper Library.

Neolith countertops are a hardworking and durable option.

A large fireplace with limewashed bricks zones the space, which opens out into a sunken sitting room with a skylight above.

“The room would be cavernous without the fireplace, ” says Joanne. “And the skylight makes the room light, even though it’s north-facing.”

For this couple, the biggest challenge they faced when they restored and extended this arts and crafts gem, was the length of the project.

The renovation and build took three years, including four months to get planning permission.

Now settled in, Joanne and Paul’s new home feels a world away from the noise and bustle of their former city townhouse.

“We love our connection to the garden, seeing the deer and other animals,” says Paul.

“We now feel so connected to the garden, and it is a great house for entertaining.”

The result is a home that bridges past and present, where craftsmanship and contemporary design work in unison.

For Paul and Joanne, this journey has delivered not just a beautiful come, but a lasting connection to light and landscape.

Photos: Leighton James