IVY COTTAGE
As home for four years, Carl and Eleanor Trenfield undertook the sensitive, slowly-paced renovation of this small residence, close to the Roman founded city wall.
The restrictive nature of both its immediate context and Grade II listed status governed a response that was predominantly restorative and layered.
Interrogation of the existing internal arrangement resulted in the appraised removal of poorly considered accretions, particularly the qualitatively poor and poorly-judged kitchen, and its replacement with a hand built piece that sought to create a more melded living and dining area.
The rear of the cottage comprised a later, circa 1980s addition which was notably devoid of period details and character. Rather than express this difference via contrast; an often adopted box-ticker in certain realms of conversation theory — and bound by the restrictive nature as a result of its listing, we chose to visually stitch and meld the boundary between the old and ‘older’; effectively continuing the richness and beauty of the timber structure found within the living space, through the use of architectural joinery – resulting in the feeling of a collective whole; a collective and visceral character.
Opposite, a bespoke, automatically-cut storage and dining unit was inserted, conceived and modelled as a foil to the historic fabric and to add much needed functionality.
Both storage device and placed kitchen were seen and treated as furniture; ensuring that should they ever be removed, any existing fabric of note would remain unaffected.
Upper accommodation benefitted from light cosmetic refurbishment and hosts several hand built, bespoke furniture items.
