Mathewson Waters Architects

A recently constructed house in the Arts and Crafts style.  It is sited within a walled garden to a substantial Listed house.

New house on the Gower peninsula, replacing a modest bungalow. The glazed gable end overlooks National Trust land and the sea beyond.  In the extreme coastal conditions it even requires wind-posts  to secure the roof to the foundations.

Although technically an extension to a small cottage, this in essence is a new dwelling in an Oxfordshire village where development is strictly controlled. Traditional in appearance, it encompasses many ecological features including ground source heating.

Interior view of above, comprising a double height gallery with a "bridge" linking different rooms on the first floor. Both ground and first floor rooms have underfloor heating throughout.

This is a replacement dwelling on the site of the gatehouse in the grounds of a former convent. Surrounded by trees, it nevertheless has breathtaking views to White Horse Hill in Oxfordshire.

A new house on the edge of the Cotswolds in a walled garden adjacent to a Grade 2 Listed manor house. Read more about this scheme in the November issue of Homebuilding and Renovating magazine.

Interior view showing kitchen in Cotswold House with vaulted green oak structure.

An example of a replacement dwelling in a rural location prior to terraces and landscaping. A former gardener's bungalow which can just be seen on the left hand side of the picture is to be demolished when the new house is complete and occupied.

This new house is constructed in the garden of an existing dwelling in the village envelope. Although apparently conventional, it has a 'split level' ground floor to take advantage of the sloping site.

The interior view of the above shows the difference in entrance level to ground floor level on the garden side with a cantilevered/suspended staircase.

Another view showing the tall bay windows from the principal rooms with glazed ballustrades to the balconies above serving main and guest bedrooms.

This new house stands in open countryside, but is a replacement dwelling sited largely on the footprint of a dilapidated cottage. The owner had very specific requirements including looking to achieve triple aspect from all of the main rooms.

The gravel driveway leads directly down to the front entrance for guest parking, but otherwise forks away from the house to a large garage block with a home office.

New House in Hampshire

Traditional three-bedroomed new-build cottage in a Wiltshire village.  This was a very difficult planning permission to achieve on an awkward site.

New-build farmhouse in the Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire.  This property was completed approximately ten years ago and has mellowed into the landscape.

Small annexe to listed wiltshire cottage

Refurbishment and change of use of Grade 2 listed townhouse to create two dwellings in Devizes

New entrance canopy on front elevation of Grade 2 listed house in Oxfordshire

small link between oxfordshire farmhouse and outbuilding

This is one of a pair of cottages that date back to the 1600's, of timber-frame construction with brick infill panels and crude timber outbuildings. The following four pictures show the restoration and extension of the properties.

Interior,  pre-refurbishment

restoration of thatched extension

new oak frame supports original roof and thatch

Completed project -full restoration retains the integrity of the original timber-framed house with an extension that incorporates a partial oak frame complimenting the original structure

This cottage required complete refurbishment and enlargement of the accomodation was achieved by converting the adjacent barn and linking it as illustrated below.

A contemporary link using traditional materials was chosen so as not to 'upstage' the rustic barn and cottage

Although not in itself listed, it is by virtue of being sited immediately adjacent to an 17th century farmhouse. This former granary required relatively little structural work and the scale and volume are evident despite its conversion to a family home

This agricultural building was in a state of dilapidation, but nevertheless worthy of retention and was conserved by using a system of props and only re-constructing brickwork where absolutely necessary. It forms the kitchen, breakfast and family area of a larger converted barn

A guest annex with garaging for two cars and a studio. An oak framed building was considered to be the most appropriate with a brick plinth and boarding in order that it appears subordinate to the previously coverted mill house. Carpenter Oak and Woodland supplied and constructed the frame.

A redundant modern tractor shed and agricultural store, in the grounds of a grade-II listed farmhouse near Newbury. The opportunity arose to give this neglected and unattractive building a new lease of life.

A sympathetic design with ultra-contemporary interior which incorporates open plan living accommodation and two gallery-bedrooms.
 

Interior view of new garden room extension to Wiltshire house incorporating log-burner, rooflights and sliding folding doors.

Before view of a pair of farm cottages in North Wiltshire which have been altered and refurbished to create one dwelling. The completed project can be seen in the photo below.

The owner of this traditionally styled house on a steeply sloping site was seeking to increase the size of the principal rooms on the ground floor whilst also trying to achieve separate guest accommodation.

MWA suggested a contemporary solution that would exploit the sloping site to in effect provide a separate guest annex at lower ground floor level below the extended upper level with a new terrace to take full advantage of the setting.

This relatively simple single storey extension with a vaulted ceiling provides plentiful natural light for the owner's artist studio.

Whilst the original cottage in the Conservation Area had remained largely intact, it had otherwise been unsympathetically extended on three sides.

The extensions were demolished, the original cottage refurbished and with materials carefully chosen to match the existing, new accommodation was provided in a two storey extension with a  'cat-slide' roof to the rear.

This unremarkable cottage sits on an exceptional site in the AONB and the owners were seeking additional accommodation, but also a rationalisation of the ground floor layout.

The solution involved re-orientating the sitting room and extending principally at ground floor level to form a large, light kitchen/living/breakfast room with a master bedroom and en-suite bathroom above a new boot-room.

Formerly an agricultural worker's house, although in a poor state of repair, it had the advantage of being sited in a rural location where otherwise Planning Consent would not have been granted.

In addition to complete refurbishment, MWA designed an extension to the rear of the property with an open-plan kitchen and principal bedroom above with a glazed gable window to fully exploit the views.

This started out as a very small Edwardian house on a very large site with a great number of outbuildings immediately adjacent.

The Planning Authority accepted there was a significant planning gain by removal of the outbuildings, thus permitting a greater area of new building in the form of a number of extensions.

A substantial extension carried out in the 1980's left the house looking like a mismatched pair. The owners had seen our 'makeover' work elsewhere and engaged us to consider a variety of different options from traditional to very modern.

The result (some 7 options later) which is illustrated here, harmonises the house by refacing the brickwork of the extension to match the existing with the introduction of a two-storey contemporary oak-frame, largely glazed entrance and study above. Carpenter Oak and Woodland provided and installed the frame.

Extension to traditional main house to create granny annexe

housing development

A PLC with a larger 1970's office building and warehouse required additional office facilities. The solution was to construct a new building linked to the warehouse with a new entrance and central core between the two.

Night view of the building.

Conversion of redundant curtilage-listed former County Asylum buildings in Wiltshire, to 37 private houses.

These town houses replace a pair of semi-detached Victorian properties in a central location where the brief was to achieve maximum rental value on this relatively small site.

These new offices formed part of a cluster of agricultural buildings that were Grade 2 listed on a prime site adjacent to the M25. The conversion has retained the original lightweight structure with all of the new works concealed within the vaulted ceilings.

Self-contained accommodation for twelve residents & carers, and a  main communal building (photo), incorporating social, medical, welfare and physiotherapy facilities,  for the Injured Jockeys Fund.

Sports pavilion with changing and social facilities at a major RAF station in Buckinghamshire.

Main view of the RAF sports pavilion.

Large, new-build group-practice medical centre in a riverside setting in Berkshire. The   waiting area and eight consulting rooms  are all laid out so as to enjoy views over the river.

View of consulting rooms and waiting area from the river

Detail of the imposing main entrance to the medical centre, which draws visitors through to a main waiting room overlooking the river.

View of the multi-use hall in a village community centre in Berkshire. The hall incorporates acoustic treatment and vibrant steelwork as important elements in the structural design.

Doctors surgery, Dentist and pharmacy near Newbury. A combined form was designed to provide a unifying arrangement for the three separately owned and managed services.

Sporting lodge

New stables in an 'American Barn' designed for downland racehorse training establishment

New racehorse training complex on the Marlborough Downs including new house for owner.

'Tired' racehorse training yard and owner's house before replacement in the Pewsey Vale.

Replacement dwelling on site of former bungalow-planning through to detailed drawings by MWA; building project managed by client with interim architect's certification.

New owner's dwelling as part of new equestrian stud on site of former dairy in Wiltshire.

Owner's dwelling at new racehorse training complex recently completed, now undergoing further additions including new American barns, indoor school and gallops.

Traditional courtyard stables creating formal relationship with trainer's house and office.

Recently constructed house for owner of downland training establishment.

Indoor arena at Wellington Country Park

Proposals for indoor arena, visitor centre, training rooms and additional equestrian facilities for World Horse Welfare at a Somerset farm.