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Rosa Maria FarmBerkhamsted, Hertfordshire




The site lies on a prominent and sensitive escarpment in rural Hertfordshire. Greenbelt and AONB policies were highly restrictive and the project for a replacement of one single dwelling with two houses required careful development of building form in order to mitigate increased visual harm.  The original house resembled a poorly considered agricultural conversion that sits uncomfortably within its landscape setting. The scale and massing of the building, together with its prominent hillside location and white rendered finish, serve to make it highly visible in views from the south and south-east. It is overwhelmingly considered somewhat of an eyesore in these views. 

The design of the smaller Orchard House is based on a simple sheltered courtyard. Courtyard housing topologies are used extensively around the world but less so within the UK. Such a strategy can enable more efficient and less visually impactful development in edge of settlement and open countryside locations. It will also provide a high level of privacy for the occupants. From the Little Heath Lane boundary, the new dwelling will take the appearance of a traditional rural boundary wall. The unusual plan form seeks to rotate the main glazed garden façade to orientate towards the south ensuring a best position for views, passive solar gain, and daylighting. The roof along this façade will have deep overhangs to mitigate from potential solar overheating in mid-summer.

 The proposed main building plan form looks to create a formal arrivals courtyard running parallel to the site boundaries and then opening up towards the south west. The southern façade is rotated 45 degrees to maximize views, garden access, passive solar gain, and daylighting. Deep overhangs seek to mitigate potential solar overheating and night time light pollution. The south facade is located at the transition between the flatter parts of the site and the steep level changes into the existing ornate sunken garden. A basement level will open out into this lower garden area to provide habitable rooms and easy access to leisure facilities. The visible element of the proposed dwelling above the existing ground level will be visually less than the existing building. The proposed green flat roof provides a lower silhouette impact than the current white pitched roof volume.






Main House
Main House
Orchard House




Project Name: Rosa Maria Farm 
Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire 
Gross Floor Area (House): 965 m2 
Value: Confidential 
Environmental Rating: Ultra-low carbon 
Project Period: March 2021 to 2025

Project Credits 

Architect: Kirkland Fraser Moor Architects 
Client: Private
Landscape Architect: Huskinsson Brown Associates 
Ecology: MKEcology 
Planning Consultant: Trevor Standen
Highways Consultant: Abingdon
Visualisations: David Bowes/Darc Studio/InTandem
Kirkland Fraser Moor Architects           Tel: 01442 864 673 Email: mail@k-f-m.com
 8-12 Clarence Rd Depot, Clarence Rd. HP4 3AS