Designing a sustainable, community-focused housing development that bridges suburban life and the South Downs National Park.
Coombe Farm transforms a former dairy farm into a thoughtful, community-driven residential development on the edge of the South Downs National Park. Collaborating with the client and local council, we developed a brief that prioritised minimising visual impact on the surrounding landscape, increasing density, and enhancing the site’s ecological value.
Inspired by the site’s transition from 20th-century suburban housing to the National Park, we arranged the homes around a series of ‘Yards’ — informal, barn-like clusters that evoke the character of a traditional farmstead. This layout dedicates a large portion of the site to ‘The Common,’ a landscaped communal space that not only fosters interaction but also supports new ecological habitats and creates a natural transition to the countryside beyond.
The buildings are designed to establish an immediate sense of place, seamlessly integrating with the public realm. A detailed landscaping scheme uses permeable agricultural materials, native plants, and tree copses to restore the ‘wooded Coombe’ character of the area, reimagining the landscape as it existed before the site’s dairy farm development.
Coombe Farm demonstrates how careful design can create a sustainable, welcoming neighbourhood that respects its natural surroundings while enhancing the lives of those who call it home.
Have a project in mind for us?
Get in touch.
Get in touch.