Broad Street House is new build home in Suffolk by Nash Baker Architects. The house utilises a palette of natural and traditional materials to blend with the rural street scene, and the exterior uses oak cladding and handmade bricks (both locally sourced) to blend with the architectural character of the village. To create a more distinctive look, the bricks were laid in a variation of ‘Monks bond’ using white iron-free sand for the lime mortar which was sourced from the local Wivenhoe pit.

In contrast to the brickwork at the ground floor, the upper level appears lightweight, utilising ribbons of untreated oak cladding to wrap up and across a pitched roof. The oak cladding was sized to match the brick course dimensions, so that the two elements of construction have a complimentary design intent. Internally, the house has a muted decorative scheme with exposed concrete ceilings complemented by a floor of whitewashed Douglas fir planks and fitted joinery made with lacquered birch faced plywood.

The careful specification of materials and technical detailing have created a dwelling which is sensitive to its historic setting, yet unashamedly modern.