Sable House

Located within the Green Belt in Nottinghamshire, Sable House is a bespoke contemporary replacement dwelling designed to create a sustainable new family home while maintaining a meaningful connection to the property's history.

Allan Joyce Architects were appointed to design a home that would replace the client's former family house, creating a modern living environment that reflected the way they wanted to live while preserving the sense of place and memories associated with the original property.

A New Home With a Connection to the Past

The relationship between the old and new homes was central to the design process. Rather than erasing the history of the site, elements of the original family home were carefully retained and incorporated into the new design.

Bricks from the former house have been reused within the entrance wall and garden boundary, creating a physical connection between the previous home and the new dwelling. These details provide a lasting reminder of the property's history while allowing the new house to establish its own identity.

Designed for Contemporary Family Living

The internal arrangement has been carefully planned around modern family life, creating a balance between open, sociable spaces and more private areas.

A generous entrance hall leads into the main kitchen, dining and living area, forming the heart of the home. Large sliding doors open onto an enclosed courtyard terrace with an external fireplace, extending the living space outdoors and creating a strong connection with the surrounding landscape.

Additional spaces, including a snug and study, provide quieter areas for working, relaxing and everyday family life. Upstairs, four generous double bedrooms have been arranged to maximise views across the countryside, with the principal bedroom benefiting from an en-suite bathroom and dressing room.

Contemporary Architecture Within a Rural Setting

The design creates a striking contemporary home that sits comfortably within its landscaped setting. Black aluminium windows and charred timber cladding provide a bold architectural character while offering durable, low-maintenance finishes appropriate for a rural environment.

The same material palette extends to the associated outbuildings, which accommodate a gym, swimming pool, and another two bedrooms, creating a cohesive architectural language across the site.

Extensive glazing has been carefully positioned to maximise views and natural daylight while strengthening the relationship between the home and its surroundings.

Sustainable Design Approach

Sustainability was embedded into the design from the outset through a fabric-first approach focused on reducing energy demand and improving long-term performance.

The home incorporates triple glazing, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), heat pumps and rainwater harvesting to improve efficiency and occupant comfort.

Photovoltaic panels are integrated into the flat roof design, allowing them to be positioned for optimum performance while remaining discreetly concealed behind a parapet edge. This approach ensures renewable technology forms an integral part of the architecture.

Our Role

Allan Joyce Architects specialise in creating bespoke homes that respond to their owners, their surroundings and the unique opportunities presented by each site. From sensitive replacement dwellings in the Green Belt to contemporary rural homes, we work closely with private clients to create architecture that combines character, sustainability and the way people want to live.