A sustainable prototype for historic homes.
The vision
Old Red House is the culmination of a united client-architect partnership to decarbonise one of the most common housing types in the UK – the terraced house. Terraces make up 25% of the UK’s housing stock, yet many remain energy-inefficient. Together with James Morton and Fenella Barlow-Pay, we set out to demonstrate how much can be achieved to reduce the environmental impact of these homes.
From the start, the brief was clear: better organise the existing space, extend the living areas, and create a low-energy, gas-free home that celebrates natural materials, craftsmanship, and a strong connection to the garden.
The process
We began by stripping the house back to its brickwork, carefully preserving what made it unique while rebuilding for performance and comfort. An underused 1970s side extension was refurbished and opened up into a light-filled living space, linked to the new kitchen by the original stone wall – now a double-sided fireplace, creating a warm, central hub for the family.
James and Fenella undertook much of the hands-on work themselves, installing insulation, sourcing sustainable materials, and crafting a bespoke birch plywood kitchen designed for baking, brewing, and family life. We guided the retrofit with Passivhaus principles, integrating high-performance glazing, a green roof, and an air source heat pump.
The conclusion
Old Red House now stands as a hopeful model for the future of UK terraces. We successfully navigated planning restrictions to integrate solar panels and achieved a home that balances heritage with high performance.
For us, this project demonstrates that deep retrofits are both achievable and replicable. Old Red House is more than a renovation; it shows that with careful design, collaboration, and sustainable thinking, terraces can be transformed into low-carbon, beautiful homes across the country.
The results
