Studio Bark unveils larch-clad Orchard House on green belt

This article examines Orchard House, a larch-clad timber home in Cheshire designed by Studio Bark. It was self-built by its owners on former orchard land.

It explains how the project navigated planning rules under the UK National Planning Policy Framework. The article highlights the two-box timber architecture linked by a bridged volume and surveys the low-carbon strategy, interiors, and biodiversity improvements that define this countryside residence.

Orchard House: A Self-Built Timber Home on Former Orchard Land

The two-storey house sits on a site that was once an orchard. It is composed of two large timber boxes connected by a third, bridged volume that houses the main circulation and stair.

A low-rise garage is tucked behind, keeping the primary massing compact and respectful of the surrounding landscape. The owners, Andrew and Janis, oversaw four years of construction.

The house balances daylight, views, and thermal comfort within a green belt context. The arrangement is intentionally upside-down: bedrooms are on the ground floor, and communal living spaces are on the first floor.

This setup captures eastward sunrises and westward sunsets through a south-facing, double-height window. The orientation, combined with a timber structural frame and select concrete elements, supports a warm yet airy interior that uses light as a design material.

Key Architectural Features

The project features several elements that define Studio Bark’s design approach and address the constraints of a rural site. The house is larch-clad and timber-framed, with two large volumes linked by a bridged connection that concentrates circulation in one spine.

A trombe wall sits behind a south-facing, double-height glazed opening to aid passive heating and cooling. This reduces mechanical loads and aligns with the project’s low-carbon goals.

The foundation system uses recycled glass, showing a commitment to sustainable materials from the ground up.

• Two-box composition that maximizes views and daylight while minimizing footprint
• Bridged volume connecting living and circulation in a seamless vertical axis
• Garage tucked behind to preserve the primary residential mass
• Trombe wall behind a tall south-facing window for passive climate control
• Triple-glazed windows with integrated solar-shading shutters for energy efficiency
• Local timber sourcing and a foundation made from recycled glass

Sustainable and Passive Design Strategies

Orchard House uses passive strategies and low-carbon technology to support its environmental agenda. The trombe wall works with the large glazing to store solar heat in winter and moderate temperatures during the shoulder seasons.

Triple-glazed windows, paired with integrated solar-shading shutters, help reduce heat loss and glare while preserving views.

• Rooftop solar panels with battery storage to support on-site energy autonomy
• Foundations and structure using low-impact materials like recycled glass and locally sourced timber
• North-facing skylights to balance daylight without overheating
• Extensive daylighting through the first-floor living area to reduce artificial lighting
• Passive cooling considerations through building form and thermal mass

Materials, Interiors and Craft

The interiors celebrate timber and craft. Exposed timber roof beams show the structure, while the parquet flooring is made from diseased ash felled on site.

A gridded bookshelf in the first-floor hallway acts as a tactile partition and a storage/display feature. The design combines utilitarian materials with a refined aesthetic to create a modern countryside home.

Site Biodiversity and Rewilding

Orchard House includes a broader ecological strategy. The wider site is being rewilded to reconnect with its orchard origins.

Replanting former orchard species, adding native trees, wildflowers, and shrubs, and installing bat boxes and insect hotels are central to the plan. This biodiversity-focused approach shows how rural housing can deliver both architectural ambition and ecological sensitivity.

Context: Paragraph 84 and Studio Bark’s Track Record

Orchard House follows Studio Bark’s Paragraph 84 playbook. This is a UK planning policy route used to justify rural, high-quality housing in exceptional countryside circumstances, often within green belt areas.

The project aligns design rigor with environmental performance. It reinforces Studio Bark’s reputation for combining innovative timber architecture with a disciplined sustainability agenda.

Other projects in this lineage, such as Black Barn and Water Farm, share a similar ethos. Their architecture is site-responsive, materially thoughtful, and environmentally ambitious.

For practitioners and policymakers, Orchard House is a strong example of self-build timber construction. It highlights daylight-focused planning and biodiversity-centric site management.

The project shows that well-considered architecture can work with green belt objectives. It delivers a contemporary, low-energy home that feels closely connected to its landscape.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Studio Bark unveils larch-clad Orchard House built on green belt