houses

Residential Architecture Across Somerset and the South West

MJW Architects has established a reputation for designing exceptional houses throughout Somerset, Bath, Bristol, Wiltshire and the surrounding region. The practice’s approach combines technical rigour with design sensitivity, resulting in homes that respond intelligently to their context whilst meeting the specific needs of their occupants.

Each project begins with careful site analysis and detailed client consultation. This foundation informs architectural decisions that balance aesthetic ambition with practical requirements, planning constraints and budget realities. The result is a portfolio of houses that demonstrate consistent design quality across diverse contexts—from sensitive rural sites to challenging urban plots.

New House Design

Creating a new house offers the opportunity to craft a building precisely suited to its site and purpose. MJW Architects approaches new residential design with rigorous attention to orientation, views, topography and local context. Each new house emerges from a thorough understanding of how the building will sit within its landscape and how spaces will be inhabited.

The practice’s new house projects demonstrate skillful handling of planning requirements, particularly in sensitive rural locations and conservation areas. Design proposals balance contemporary architectural expression with contextual appropriateness, ensuring schemes gain planning approval whilst delivering the spatial quality and environmental performance clients expect.

Material selection, construction detailing and energy efficiency receive careful consideration from initial concept through to completion. The practice specifies construction approaches that deliver long-term performance, low maintenance requirements and comfortable internal environments throughout the year.

Architectural Remodelling and Reconfiguration

Many of the practice’s house projects involve reimagining existing buildings rather than starting from scratch. These remodelling projects require a different skillset—understanding what to retain, what to remove, and how new interventions can transform the quality of existing spaces.

MJW Architects excels at unlocking the potential within existing houses through strategic reconfiguration. This might involve reorganising internal layouts to improve flow and functionality, introducing new openings to enhance natural light, or adding modest extensions that fundamentally improve how a house works for modern family life.

The practice’s remodelling projects demonstrate particular sensitivity to the character of original buildings. Interventions respect architectural heritage whilst bringing spaces up to contemporary standards of comfort, accessibility and energy efficiency. This balanced approach ensures existing houses gain new life without losing what made them valuable in the first place.

Listed Buildings and Heritage Design Projects

Working with listed buildings and properties in conservation areas demands specialist knowledge and careful judgement. MJW Architects brings extensive experience of designing within heritage contexts, understanding both the regulatory requirements and the design sensitivity these projects require.

The practice’s heritage projects demonstrate how thoughtful architectural intervention can enhance historic buildings whilst preserving their significance. Proposals balance conservation principles with the need to adapt buildings for contemporary use, ensuring listed properties remain viable, comfortable homes rather than museum pieces.

Close collaboration with conservation officers, heritage consultants and specialist contractors ensures heritage projects navigate planning and listed building consent successfully whilst delivering architectural quality that respects the past and serves the present.

Planning Success in Challenging Contexts

Many of the practice’s house projects occupy challenging sites—green belt locations, conservation areas, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or plots with complex access, topography or neighbouring considerations. MJW Architects has developed considerable expertise in securing planning consent for architecturally ambitious projects in sensitive contexts.

This success stems from thorough pre-application engagement with planning authorities, carefully crafted design proposals that address policy requirements, and comprehensive supporting documentation that demonstrates how schemes respond to site-specific constraints. The practice’s track record includes numerous planning approvals for contemporary designs in locations where permission is far from guaranteed.

Sustainable House Design Approach

All house projects incorporate sustainable design principles appropriate to their scale, budget and context. This includes passive environmental strategies such as optimised orientation, high levels of insulation and airtightness, efficient heating systems, and careful material specification.

The practice recognises that sustainable design extends beyond energy performance to encompass construction durability, low maintenance requirements, and creating spaces that adapt to changing needs over time. This holistic approach ensures houses perform well environmentally whilst remaining practical, comfortable places to live.

Client Collaboration and Project Delivery

The practice maintains close client relationships throughout all project stages, from initial concept development through detailed design, planning, construction and completion. This collaborative approach ensures designs evolve in response to client feedback whilst maintaining architectural integrity and technical rigour.

MJW Architects provides comprehensive architectural services aligned with the RIBA Plan of Work, managing projects from feasibility through to completion and beyond. This includes preparation of planning and building regulation submissions, production of construction information, contractor tendering support, and contract administration during construction.

Geographic Focus

Whilst based in Somerset, the practice works across a broad geographic area encompassing Bath, Bristol, Frome, Bruton, Wells, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Street, and throughout Somerset, Wiltshire and neighbouring counties. This regional focus allows the practice to develop deep understanding of local planning authorities, conservation areas, and the specific contexts that characterise architecture in the South West.

Each house project, regardless of location, receives the same rigorous approach—careful site analysis, contextually appropriate design development, and detailed technical delivery that ensures architectural intent translates successfully into built reality.