New home enveloped over 300-year-old ruined cottage

Architects’ Journal in the UK recently awarded the top prize for the Small Projects 2017 award to this contemporary cottage built around the ruins of a 300-year-old cottage.

Photography: James Morris

Architect Kate Darby and designer, David Connor saw potential in a property that would fairly be considered a knockdown by most. Instead, the pair decided to incorporate the ruins into the new home's design — the result is unlike any three-bedroom home we've seen. 

Photography: James Morris

Named Craft Lodge Studio, the cottage cost just $263,000 to build and is currently being used as a studio for Kate Darby and contains a living room, sleeping area, kitchen and office.

Photography: James Morris

The cottage comes with dead ivy, sagging timber beams and an abandoned bird’s nest. "What is special about the project is the extreme length we went to preserve everything," Darby told the AJ. "Initially there was the prejudice to clear it up, but we realised the value of the project was in that extreme approach."

Photography: James Morris

The property which can be reconfigured as a three-bedroom home, beat 19 other shortlisted entries to win the coveted award.

Photography: James Morris