Colchester Thatched Cottage, Contemporary Essex property design, Modern English building images

Colchester Thatched Cottage in Essex

29 September 2025

Design: 2PM Architects

Location: Colchester, Essex, Southeast England, UK

Photos © 2PM Architects

Colchester Thatched Cottage, Essex, UK

London-based 2PM Architects has completed a contemporary extension and garden studio at a 1930s thatched cottage in rural Essex. The project provides additional living space, home working and fitness areas, and strengthens the connection between the house and its mature garden, which includes protected oak trees.

Project Overview
The project involved a side and rear extension to the existing cottage, alongside a standalone garden studio. The extension features a gabled volume clad in western red cedar fins and folded green zinc, while a glazed link separates the new and original structures. The roof pitch of the extension echoes the thatched roof of the cottage, and crisp detailing signals the contemporary addition.

Internally, the ground floor of the extension has been reorganised around an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area. Polished concrete floors and exposed oak beams define the space. Slim-framed tripleglazed sliding doors open to patios on both sides, while flush rooflights pull daylight deep into the plan.

Additional spaces include a new entrance hall, utility room, and guest shower room opening onto a secluded garden containing an outdoor bath screened by cedar fins.

The Clients said: “We were highly impressed with the initial designs from our architects, Mathew and Peter. They presented several inspired concepts, each beautifully thought through, and it was clear they completely understood our vision. When planning hurdles arose, they stood by us without hesitation –guiding us through every step, refining the design, and keeping the process calm and positive until we achieved approval. Throughout the project, they remained closely involved, always ready with ideas, answers, and thoughtful adjustments. We kept spotting clever design touches that showed just how much care and creativity had gone into their work. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellence have shaped a home we’re truly proud of – and we’re so grateful to have had them by our side from start to finish.”

Design Concept
The architects aimed to balance the historic character of the cottage with modern performance and lifestyle needs. The extension’s layout and materials were carefully chosen to integrate the new structure with the existing building while maintaining clear spatial and visual connections to the garden. Large areas of glazing provide natural light and enhance cross-ventilation, while the overall massing remains respectful of the cottage’s scale.

Environmental Approach
Planning and environmental constraints informed the design, particularly to protect tree roots and canopies. Passive strategies include deep cedar gables and brise-soleil fins for summer shading, tripleglazed doors and windows to reduce heat loss, and a plan encouraging natural cross-ventilation. High levels of insulation and underfloor heating allow the concrete slab to act as thermal mass. Materials were selected for durability and low maintenance, with corten-steel planters and a still water feature visually linking the house and studio.

Garden Studio
The standalone garden studio comprises two distinct volumes: a home office and a gym. The office opens onto a timber deck overlooking the lawn, while the gym features a sculptural roofline with a frameless rooflight. Interiors are lined in warm plywood, folding into integrated desks, shelves, cupboards, and bench seating. Externally, cedar shingles and vertical fins over black-stained battens echo the extension’s materiality and give depth to the façades.

The Clients said: “From the very start Mathew and Peter understood exactly what we wanted from our garden studio – a space that could work as both a gym and an office while feeling calm, comfortable, and inspiring. They created a design that sits beautifully in its surroundings, blending naturally with the garden and, if anything, becoming even more attractive as time passes. Throughout the process, they were there at every step, guiding us through decisions, solving challenges, and refining details to perfection, including the addition of bespoke joinery that fits the space beautifully and enhances both function and style. The studio feels refreshingly cool in summer and wonderfully cosy in winter, making it a pleasure to use year-round. It’s a space that not only meets our needs but lifts our mood every time we step inside. We would have no hesitation in recommending 2PM Architects.”

Conclusion
By uniting a vernacular cottage with a contemporary extension and a thoughtfully designed garden studio, the project demonstrates a sensitive and sustainable approach to rural living, responding to changing lifestyle and environmental needs.

Colchester Thatched Cottage in Essex, South East England – Building Information

Project Name: Cedar-Clad Extension and Garden Studio, Colchester
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK
Client: Private homeowners
Architects / Designers: 2PM Architects – https://2pm-architects.co.uk/ (Peter Wraight and Mathew Byron)
Project Sector: Residential / Home Extension
Project Completion Date: August 2025

About 2PM Architects
2PM Architects is a RIBA Chartered Practice and Passivhaus-certified residential architectural studio based in London, founded in 2010 by Peter Wraight and Mathew Byron. The practice works with homeowners across London and the South East to design new homes, extensions, renovations, and conversions, with a focus on thoughtful, considered architecture that balances creativity with practicality.2PM Architects provides full project delivery services, from initial feasibility and planning applications to technical design, contractor selection, and construction administration. The studio has extensive experience in conservation areas and listed building projects, and applies sustainable design principles, including Passivhaus standards, to improve comfort and reduce operational energy.

Photographer: © 2PM Architects

Colchester Thatched Cottage, Essex, southeast England information / images received 290925

Location: Colchester, Essex, south east England, UK.

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