• Heritage Renovation & Extension — Alvechurch, Worcestershire

    This renovation and extension of a non-designated heritage asset in Alvechurch recently won the Excellent Contribution to Conservation Award and a Commendation for Built Private House at the RIBA Worcestershire Awards, and was Highly Commended in the Regeneration & Conservation category at the CEWM Awards.

    The project transforms a mid-19th-century Schoolmaster's House originally designed by Gothic Revival architect William Butterfield. Built in the 1850s as part of Archdeacon John Sandford's educational initiative, the building showcases Butterfield's hallmark polychrome brickwork and crafted detail — a rare and significant piece of Victorian architecture in Worcestershire.

    Research supported by the Alvechurch Historical Society, The Bromsgrove Society, and the Hive Archives — together with the discovery of original drawings — revealed the building's original fabric and directly informed our design approach. This archival rigour is central to how Coda Workshop approaches all heritage projects.

    The design balances historic sensitivity with the needs of contemporary living. Unsympathetic late-20th-century alterations were removed to restore clarity and proportion, while new interventions introduce light and a stronger connection to the garden. The extension draws on Butterfield's brick patterns — its form distinct yet referential, enhanced by a frameless corner window that frames the garden without competing with the historic fabric.

    At the centre of the design, the former courtyard becomes the heart of the home. Original brickwork and an arched door are revealed, their patina preserved, with natural stone flooring referencing the historic surface. A historic entrance has been reinstated, and a brick arch within the chimney exposed — now closed with weathered copper.

    High-performance insulation and triple glazing improve comfort and energy efficiency without compromising the building's character. The result is a respectful dialogue between past and present — a home rooted in history and ready for the future.

A backyard garden with a brick house featuring multiple windows and a slate roof, surrounded by trees, shrubs, and flowering plants, with outdoor seating and a vegetable patch.
View through a large window showing an outdoor garden with potted plants, paving stones, and a brick wall, with pink flowers in the foreground.
Historical architectural blueprint of a proposed master’s house with floor plans, elevations, and section drawings, including labeled rooms such as bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, yard, and entrance, with a red wax seal on the upper left corner.
Architectural blueprint of a proposed master house for church schools, showing detailed floor plans and elevations, with color-coding for walls and structural elements, and measurements.
A detailed architectural drawing of a schoolhouse including floor plans, sections, elevations, and window designs, with annotations and notes.
Floor plan of a house showing multiple rooms, including a kitchen with an island, dining area, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, a garage with bicycles, and various doors and windows.
3D wireframe model of a two-story house with a pitched roof, chimneys, and front steps, viewed from an aerial perspective.
Line drawing of a corner of a residential building with a brick wall detailing and large corner window
A woman sitting on a window seat near a glass door, reading a book titled 'The Sun and the Atoms', with outdoor greenery visible through the window.
A dining room with a wooden table and cushioned chairs in the foreground. In the background, there is a doorway leading to a foyer or hallway, with a large red vase on the floor and a framed artwork on the wall. Two ceiling lights are hanging from the ceiling.
Interior view of a room with a partially open decorative folding door, beige walls with vertical stripe pattern, a white thermostat, and a brown wall on the left.
A cozy hallway with a green wall, a window with a scenic view, and decor including a framed art piece, potted plants, a small wooden table, and a tall red vase.
Bright interior space with large glass windows showing a garden with trees and plants. There is a cozy built-in window seat with patterned upholstery and cushions. A wicker chair is partially visible in the foreground.
A woman with long brown hair sitting at a kitchen counter, eating cereal from a white bowl, with a modern kitchen interior in the background including a large window, pendant lights, framed pictures, and sliding glass doors leading to an outdoor space.
Exterior view of a modern brick house with large bay window, white walls, and a small garden with plants, patio furniture, and a brick pathway.
Front view of a brick house with a wooden garage door, a small window, and a yellow front door. There are stairs with brick steps leading to the entrance, various plants, and flower pots.
Interior of a modern kitchen and dining area with a wooden table, beige upholstered chairs, a kitchen island, and wall-mounted cabinets with wood and red panels. There are pendant lights hanging from the ceiling and a woman near the window.
Dining room with a brick wall, wall art, green plants, and a wooden table surrounded by cream-colored chairs. White pendant lights hang from the ceiling, and there is a striped rug under the table.

Considering alterations to your property?

Coda Workshop works with homeowners across the UK to deliver bold, sensitive and carefully crafted architecture tailored to each project and place.

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