tactile

Tactile is a carefully crafted double-storey extension to a 1920s home in the village of Wilstone, Hertfordshire. Rooted in material expression and atmosphere, the project is shaped by a simple idea: to integrate nature and architecture.

At its heart, a warm timber beams wraps the kitchen and dining space before flowing seamlessly outdoors. Slender timber columns lightly touch the wetland garden below, appearing to float as they meet the landscape. The effect is one of calm weightlessness—allowing light, air and nature to move freely around it.

Above, a sculpted slate gable introduces a contrasting sense of solidity. Clad in reclaimed Welsh slate, each piece hand-shaped and layered, the surface takes on a rugged, cliff-like texture. Weathered and full of character, the material brings a quiet sense of age, allowing the extension to feel timeless—both rooted in the past and confidently contemporary.

Through careful reuse of materials, the project minimises its environmental and carbon impact while celebrating craft and longevity. Tactile is an extension defined not by scale, but by atmosphere: a place where material, craft, and landscape come together to create a extraordinary family home.