Project: Design for a private residence, Edinburgh
Architect: Rebecca Milton Architect.
The concept is intended as a family home for a high profile single man. To be castle like when viewed from the public realm but to welcome internally with a series of highly social interconnecting spaces and intimate external terraces. Design concept to reflect the clients need for privacy and his love of entertaining and music. Proposals include the demolition of the existing dwelling.
Design and visuals © Rebecca Milton
Project: Residential refurbishment and renewal, Cotswolds.
Architect: Ashton Architecture and Rebecca Milton Architect.
Alfred Hoare Powell was the original Architect and inhabitant of Studio Cottage. Powell lived here in the summers, with his wife Louise in the 1930’s, designing and creating Wedgwood pottery.
My husband and I took custodianship of this grade ii listed site in late 2016 a series of then largely dilapidated timber framed little buildings. This was the first time this land had ever been sold, the Powells had leased it from the Estate. At this point the thatch roof had partially collapsed - a tarpaulin was keeping out the rain. Sleeping in a wooly hat to keep warm all year round - I became incredibly intimate with this old house and it’s history. Between film work, Studio Cottage was my sole project, my obsession.
The big design moves from the final product came from analysing photographs from the 1930’s, researching Arts and Crafts, and staring at the walls to a point of madness before carefully opening them up to discover original doorways and windows hidden beneath old cladding. My downtime was spent rebuilding the extensive curved drystone walls of the two acre garden by hand, and planting hundreds of new trees and hedges with my trusted local gardeners Harry and Jack.
Prior to my application - all previous submissions had been refused. I developed a comprehensive site wide design which included the new contemporary glass link to connect the listed buildings; a unique ‘kinked’ geometry to marry the two timber framed structures together. Crucially breathing much needed life, and warmth, into the otherwise un-inhabitable thatched studio. Allowing the internal floor space to be extended. Something which is typically impossible on a building of significant historical value. A key historical photograph had been critical as precident that the two buildings had once been physically linked, all be it later, via a gate.
The proposals also included the opening up of a large concealed feature window to the north allowing an impressive reinstatement of the double-height living area within the cottage. Externally sanding back the creosote blackened-timber cladding, and painted brickwork to a lighter more natural finish. Plus a comprehensive and much needed upgrade throughout.
After extensive planning and heritage consultations, many assessments and consultant reports; full development consents for these modest but ambitious works were finally granted, and welcomed. This included input from Planning Consultant, Martin Leay Associates.
In late 2019, we sold the hat, the house, and the dream to its current owners to then build.
The finished project has recently been recognised with an RIBA Regional Design Award.
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Joint Design Credit: As the previous owner of the property, Rebecca Milton Architect conceived a design to renovate and update Studio Cottage, Thatch and Barn, securing planning permission and Listed Building Consent in 2019. In 2020, with the building under new ownership, Ashton Architecture progressed the project forward to completion in 2023 and continues to work with the client at the property.
Final Build Photography © Agnese Sanvito
Project: Design for a private residence, Cotswolds.
Architect: Rebecca Milton Architect and Eddie Behrens Architect.
The design takes reference from the multitude of raw materials at play on the site. The front elevation is intended as a series of over-sailng and interconnecting planes that are intended to appear as a wall. A hidden building. Internally, high spec Scandinavian style joinery allows the open spaces to connect seamlessly evoking warmth and timelessness. No plasterboard; all materials are live. Accommodation includes four bedrooms, an office with screening room, wine storage, large entertaining area leading to an external pool and terrace.
Design and visuals © Rebecca Milton & Eddie Behrens
Project below: Live-work-storage barn, Cotswolds.
Architect: Ashton Architecture and Rebecca Milton Architect.
Part of the Studio Cottage listed curtilage was a largely dilapidated rural barn on the north west corner of the site. Design proposals included full down-taking of the existing structure, and rebuilding to a larger footprint. New metal windows and sliding door details to reference the more long-standing barns in the Cotswolds.
Crucially - we wanted the barn to look like it had always been there. The highly crafted drystone wall construction to echo the original listed dry stone haha. Internally, accommodation offers its owners a series of flexible mixed use spaces with garden storage. Extensive planning and heritage consents were granted with the help of Planning Consultants, Martin Leay Associates.
The finished project recently received an RIBA Regional Design Award.
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Joint Design Credit: As the previous owner of the property, Rebecca Milton Architect conceived a design to renovate and update Studio Cottage, Thatch and Barn, securing planning permission and Listed Building Consent in 2019. In 2020, with the building under new ownership, Ashton Architecture progressed the project forward to completion in 2023 and continues to work with the client at the property.
Photography © Agnese Sanvito
Project: Design for a kitchen island, Edinburgh.
Architect: Rebecca Milton Architect and Eddie Behrens Architect.
An iroko hardwood kitchen island and connecting breakfast bar, Edinburgh. This was beautifully hand crafted by the carpenters of BUHR bespoke interiors, Woodbridge.
Design and visuals © Rebecca Milton
Project: Design for an extension to a detached residence, Edinburgh
Architect: Rebecca Milton Architect and Eddie Beherns Architect.
The concept is to entirely modernise and regenerate a tired mid century bungalow on the outskirts of Edinburgh. A raised ceiling height to the rear, with a high level ribbon window, serves to flood the house with light, transform the quality of internal space and redefine the relationship between house and garden.
Design and visuals © Rebecca Milton and Eddie Behrens.
