feneley studio

Set within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Pineholm occupies an irregular shaped plot in the Green Belt settlement of Little Kingshill. Previous proposals, by others, had failed to secure planning consent, highlighting the need for a restrained approach that was responsive to place. 

 

Working closely with our client, our design reframes the existing 1950s chalet bungalow. The original L-shaped plan, once inward-looking and disconnected from its garden, has been reimagined to allow light and landscape into the home. Internal spaces are reconfigured to support contemporary family living. Kitchen and dining areas extend outward, while a modest rear extension will create a dining room that steps gently into the garden. 

 

A relocated staircase positioned within a double-height volume will be animated by daylight and natural stack ventilation via a new chimney. From the upper landing, a framed west-facing view will capture the surrounding trees, reinforcing the house’s relationship with its setting.

 

At roof level, an extended rear dormer will be carefully set back from ridge and eaves, allowing it to read as a quiet insertion. A hit-and-miss timber screen will filter light into the newly formed bathroom behind.

 

Beyond the house, a single garden building will replace a collection of ad hoc outbuildings. Together with an open-sided timber structure, it will form a sheltered threshold between the rear and side garden.