Thread has collaborated with Rob and Fi on several projects over the years, from exploring concepts for a new home in the heart of Ashbourne to the retrofit and extension of their substantial 1930s house on Belper Road.

As their children grew up and left for university, their existing home became larger than they needed. The property, however, offered a unique opportunity: a generous garden with a narrow, sloping plot to one side. Building on our longstanding relationship, Rob and Fi asked us to explore whether this overlooked part of the site could accommodate a new home that would allow them to downsize while remaining in the place they loved.

Working closely together, we developed “The Little House” next door a purpose-designed, low-energy home that responds sensitively to the challenging topography while meeting the couple's changing lifestyle needs. Carefully integrated into the sloping garden, the house demonstrates how thoughtful design can unlock the potential of constrained sites to create sustainable, contemporary homes with a strong sense of place.