The Old School House

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Cotswolds, Ashleigh Clarke Architects Ltd have created a beautiful, multi-functional space, which subtly complements the surrounding buildings and countryside.

The historic structure, built from traditional Cotswold stone, is now accompanied by an airy pool house that is the perfect fusion of practicality and style, whilst remaining respectful to the sensitivity of the local area.

Alongside the brief to create a pool house incorporating both a gym and children’s playroom, the team also embraced the task of entirely new landscaping and the addition of a swimming pool. Situated in the National Landscape, formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it was necessary to position the pool house at a lower level, subservient to the main building.

The solution was an astute, one and half storey structure, harmonious to the look and orientation of the existing property and compatible with the historic aesthetic of its surroundings. Adding the children’s playroom on the first floor optimises the available space underneath the lowered roof.

The use of The Original Conservation Rooflights throughout the project provide additional head height, with its top hinged design facilitating access to the perimeter of the room. Suitable for pitched roofs between 17½–65 degrees, The Conservation Rooflight is conformity marked in accordance with EN 14351-1 and achieves a whole unit U-Value of 1.4W/m2K, meaning that by choosing these rooflights, the project was able to navigate the careful balance between authentic design and modern performance.

Ashleigh Clarke Architects specified eight Conservation Rooflights positioned evenly across both sides of the ridge to allow maximum light to flood the room, as well as providing much needed ventilation throughout.

At the outset, the project area consisted simply of a lawn and a small outbuilding. The initial stage was to demolish the existing outbuilding and rebuild it as the new, larger pool house structure in use today.

The Conservation Rooflights from The Rooflight Co were selected for their premium handcrafted finish, slim profile and authentic design. The owner of this grand private residence, an established contractor and founder of Box Capital Developments Ltd, was delighted with the choice, having also experienced the quality rooflight solutions first hand. With their flush finish into the slate roof, the unimposing rooflights from the Pitched Roof Collection complemented the premium design intent of the project.

Working with a landscape gardener, the team created an overall design which encapsulated the new swimming pool, pool house, landscaping and existing buildings. Each element of the plan being given careful consideration to ensure a balance across the landscape.

The existing buildings, along with the pool house, now provide a frame for this new courtyard space and pool, giving way to peaceful views of the gardens and valley below. The area is both separate to, and very much part of, the property and the architect’s attention to detail leaves little distinction between the original and modern buildings.

The linear form of the pool house, with its pitched roof, creates a striking architectural form with clear sightlines and the look of an original outbuilding. The exterior is deceptive, cloaking an interior which is light, airy and spacious enough to meet all the requirements of the original brief.

The Old School House is a seamless blend of the best of the Cotswolds, respecting the authentic, traditional appearance of the surroundings, whilst providing a refreshing addition to the home in an area of such natural beauty.