In the village of South Cambridgeshire, the presence of the past is often a physical weight. For a family relocating from London, that history took the form of a Grade-II* listed Gothic church standing adjacent to their new home. Tasked with modernizing the property within a strict conservation area, London-based Neil Dusheiko Architects sought not to obscure the neighboring monument, but to incorporate it into the domestic experience. The result, aptly named Church House, is an exercise in architectural humility and precise framing.
The project centers on a rear extension that remains invisible from the street, preserving the site’s historic frontage. Inside, the design language shifts toward a tactile, grounded modernism. A sunken dining area serves as the home’s anchor, where a massive picture window transforms the flint-and-stone church into a living tapestry. By using a palette of pale brick and exposed oak beams, the studio creates a material bridge between the new construction and the weathered textures of the ecclesiastical neighbor.
Director Neil Dusheiko describes the arrangement as a "spatial trinity," a conversation held between the main house, a renovated coach house, and the church itself. It is a subtle approach to residential density that prioritizes context over spectacle. Rather than competing with the Gothic spire, the extension acts as a quiet observer, proving that contemporary living can coexist with history without erasing it.
With reporting from Dezeen.
Source · Dezeen
