Corten Cottage

SERVICE: Extension & Renovation

ARCHITECTURE: Facture Architects

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING: Momentum

EXTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHY: Francesco Russo

OVERVIEW: Set in the grounds of a private Berkshire country residence, Corten Cottage is the product of a visionary reimagining by Facture Architects.  

Part renovation, part new build, a disused cottage underwent complete internal remodelling, and the whole structure was future-proofed with an external insulation system. From there, redundant structural elements and the unstable adjoining outbuildings were demolished. A new section was rebuilt using screw pile foundations and a steel ring beam, providing a stable structure that could coexist with the adjacent protected oak trees. The new roof structure, including architectural rooflights, aligns with that of the original cottage.

The two structures are joined by a glazed link, which forms a distinct entranceway. The far side of the building is flanked by an additional glazed section, and to the rear of the dwelling, an old lean-to was removed and replaced with a black timber-clad addition. Inside, home office facilities, a large open-plan first-floor meeting room, self-contained guest accommodation, and a home gym, allow for multi-use functionality.

Interventions:

• Removal of a lean-to store to the north-west side of the building, where tree roots were making the site significantly less stable.
• Removal of dormers and bays from the original cottage.
• Addition of a glazed link between the two masses, creating a clear point of entry and tying the composition together.  
• Rebuild of a single-storey extension to the rear of the cottage, in subservient black cladding.  
• Addition of a new glazed element in the south-east of the cottage, balancing the original masses.
• Remodelling of the roof structures to align roof pitches and balance the roof masses.
• Internal remodelling created guest accommodation, kitchen, bathrooms, office spaces, a first-floor meeting room and a home gym.