The owners of Vineyard House, a charming Georgian farmhouse with its own vineyard on the edge of the Cotswolds, chose to develop and extend their family kitchen and living space while maintaining the character of the original house.

The challenge was to create a contemporary extension that would blend in with the existing structure. The goal was to find a brick solution that not only matched the colour of Cotswold stone but provided a matching material of the front facade. 

Design Storey, the architecture firm working on the project, had the task of improving the kitchen's entrance, maximising garden views and creating more light and space within the house. To do this, the team extended one side of the house, tying it in with the existing structure.

To make sure the new extension integrated with the original house, the perfect brick had to be selected. Before the build began, mock-ups were created on-site with different wienerberger bricks to find the best match with the Cotswold stone colour and existing front façade texture, and Marziale proved to be the ideal choice.

The brick offered a delicate balance of creaminess and a green, distressed weathered look, giving the extension a contemporary yet original appearance. The brick reveal details, including patterned brick on the side, added a level of complexity and craftsmanship to the project, enhancing the overall design. There was also some brick panel detail for an added decorative effect. 

The brick met the challenge of blending a contemporary extension with a historic farmhouse, providing a solution that preserved the character of the house and enhanced the original building. The owners of Vineyard House were over the moon with the finished look and were happy with how well the Marziale brick complemented the rest of the building.

Lydia Robinson said: “We worked with wienerberger using their Marziale brick for a sensitive extension to a farmhouse located at the edge of the Cotswolds. The Marziale brick was selected because it not only matched the colour of the local Cotswold stone but blended with the existing Georgian facade to ensure that the extension was a discreet and subtle addition to this beautiful building.

“We have worked with wienerberger previously and their commitment to customer service and collaborative approach has always impressed us and this project was no exception. The final result achieved the balance of a contemporary extension constructed from a high-quality traditional material that will stand the test of time. The clients are very happy with the final project and the addition has received lots of positive comments regarding the quality of the design.”