Myrtle Cottage
Tucked within the leafy edges of Sturminster Newton’s Conservation Area, this modest yet sensitive restoration project sees the transformation of a former garage/studio back into a single-bedroom dwelling—reinstating its original residential character while enhancing its relationship with the historic fabric of Penny Street. Originally part of Myrtle Cottage, the detached structure had undergone several unsympathetic alterations over time to accommodate its use as a garage.
Project Director: Derek Williams
Project Status: Complete
Drawing from historic photographs and a detailed site survey, the design team developed a strategy to restore the building’s original proportions and character. A new pitched roof replaces the flat-roofed form, echoing the original gabled volume, while reinstating architectural features lost in previous conversions. The revised footprint realigns the north wall to match the building’s original geometry—allowing for a structurally and visually coherent pitched roof. Though this represents a minor increase in footprint, it restores historical integrity and enables a more efficient internal layout. Internally, the compact 2-storey plan accommodates a double bedroom at ground level, with living, kitchen and dining spaces positioned above, benefitting from enhanced light and views. The intervention also includes excavation around the north side of the property—believed to have been previously infilled—to reintroduce access and provide amenity space directly off Penny Street.
Externally, the building presents a discreet and contextual street frontage. A new timber sliding door replaces the existing garage roller shutter, while original window openings are retained and enhanced. Stonework has been carefully matched or reused, with new insertions expressed through lightweight timber detailing—offering a clear yet respectful contrast between old and new. Contemporary elements such as conservation-style rooflights, metal rainwater goods, and timber-framed glazing are unified by a restrained material palette of soft, natural finishes. The overall approach prioritises quiet intervention over visual dominance—supporting the Conservation Area’s policies while enhancing the spatial and architectural rhythm of this historic lane.
Approved under the North Dorset Local Plan and completed in close dialogue with planning officers, Myrtle Cottage stands as a modest yet thoughtful example of conservation-led design, restoring a building’s past to meet the needs of the present.