Ashbrook

For Studio Hedg, every project is a chance not just to build a structure, but to create a home that truly connects with its surroundings and the people who live in it. The Ashbrook project is a perfect example of this philosophy. This wasn’t a story of grand expansion, but a story of intelligent transformation. We transformed a home with a disconnected layout into a seamless, sustainable living space that celebrates natural textures and outdoor living.

From Wasted Space to a Connected Home

The existing property at Ashbrook presented a common challenge: a large, ill-fitting conservatory that consumed space without adding any real value. While it was a big structure, it was a terrible addition to the home’s flow. It was a considerable drain on heating costs because the doors to the main house had been removed, and it didn’t connect to the garden in any meaningful way. The existing kitchen was also small and felt utterly cut off from the rest of the house. The entire ground floor felt disjointed and compartmentalised.

The design philosophy for Ashbrook was to re-imagine the space entirely. The bold decision to remove the huge, inefficient conservatory was made. In its place, not only was a bigger footprint added; a dynamic and integrated living area was created. The new design actually resulted in a smaller overall footprint for the house, but we made every square metre count.

The Ashbrook project was complete with clever architectural and engineering solutions that went beyond just aesthetics.

The Sunken Undercroft: The site’s sloping groundnecessitated addressing drainage and foundation challenges. The area where the old garage was became a semi-submerged basement and a new undercroft parking area. During excavation, we found pre-existing low-level drainage outlets that couldn’t be blocked. Our solution was a robust, multi-layered drainage system: we installed a new membrane on top of the original tanking to create a secondary line of defence, diverting water safely away and preventing any risk to the new structure.

The Linkway: We created a new linkway building that now serves as a beautiful dining space, connecting the main house to a cosy “snug” garden area. This linkway is a design feature in itself, with full-glass walls that make you feel like you are walking through the planted area and truly immersed in nature. It’s an intimate zone that provides a real sense of connection to the outdoors, despite being fully enclosed.

Sustainable Landscaping: We consciously moved away from the old concrete slab in the back garden. Instead, we used a more sustainable compacted gravel. This material is not only more permeable, allowing water to filter through the ground, but it also creates a hard-wearing, contemporary-looking surface that feels more organic than traditional paving.

A Client-Led Aesthetic: The client’s love for natural textures and materials became the heart of the design. We used these preferences to inform our choices, from the new permeable gravel to the timber linkway. The home now feels warm, textured, and deeply personal, reflecting the client’s own style.