Buildings that tell stories

At Gruff, the team believes buildings should tell stories—and they’ve made it their mission to help those stories unfold through thoughtful design. Whether it’s a new build, a renovation, or a sensitive extension, this close-knit group of architects and designers brings each project to life with creativity and care.

For Gruff, every project starts with context. They work closely with each site’s surroundings, creating bespoke designs that are both imaginative and grounded. Their methodical process ensures that every design is tailor-made, never off-the-shelf.

Furzebrook

Take Furzebrook, for example—a full renovation and extension of a mid-Victorian country house set in the idyllic Purbeck Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The clients wanted to breathe new life into the house while staying true to its historic character. Gruff balanced both: restoring the home’s original charm while introducing fresh, contemporary elements that made it more liveable and connected to the landscape.

Furzebrook. Photo: French + Tye

Set among rolling green hills and leafy hedgerows, Furzebrook’s redesign focused on strengthening its relationship with the outdoors. The property backs onto a quarry that’s home to a herd of deer—a view once glimpsed only through low kitchen windows. Gruff enhanced that connection by introducing generous glazing facing the garden and quarry, making nature a visible, daily presence in the home.

The new design blurs the lines between inside and out. The garden becomes an extension of the living space, flooding the interior with sunlight and offering expansive views. Even the boundary was reimagined: a standard fence was swapped for a more permeable solution, inviting local wildlife—deer, bats, owls—into the landscape and preserving the site’s biodiversity with additions like bat boxes.

Furzebrook. Photo: French + Tye

Pitched Black

Gruff’s work is just as inventive in tighter urban settings. A standout example is Pitched Black, an award-winning home built on a tricky, triangular site in Brockley, south-east London—formerly a builder’s yard bordered by homes and a railway line.

The plot’s awkward shape and dense surroundings posed significant challenges. But rather than shy away, Gruff leaned into the creative potential. They designed the building to tilt away from neighbouring homes, with a roof pitched at 10 degrees towards the railway, minimising overshadowing and preserving privacy.

Pitched Black. Photo: French + Tye

The Old Rectory

The approach to glazing was equally considered: two elevations have no windows at all, while slot windows and staggered facades allow daylight to reach deep into the interior without compromising privacy. The result is a surprising, playful home that opens up to a panoramic view of the railway’s green cutting, creating a sense of calm and seclusion in the heart of the city.

Another notable project took place in Nunney, Somerset, where Gruff restored the village’s Old Rectory. Originally built over 150 years ago, the house had been poorly extended in the 1980s to serve as a care home. The client wanted to bring back its historic charm while making it a modern family home.

The Old Rectory. Photo: French + Tye

Gruff approached the renovation with a ‘wabi sabi’ sensibility—embracing imperfections and celebrating the building’s layered past. Victorian floor tiles were enhanced with new graphic elements, original arched hallways were echoed in new openings, and a sculptural garden wall—made from salvaged stone—added a touch of surrealism reminiscent of Giorgio de Chirico.

As with other projects, the design blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. Glazed doors open onto the garden wall, creating a sense of fluidity and movement. While the design pays homage to the building’s Victorian roots, it also incorporates modern infrastructure—underfloor heating, high-performance windows, and an air source heat pump—to bring the home up to 21st-century standards.

The Old Rectory. Photo: French + Tye

From countryside retreats to urban infill sites, Gruff thrives on designing places with character, purpose, and a strong connection to their setting. Their projects show that no matter the scale or complexity, a well-designed building can always tell a compelling story.