Walnut Cottage


Program: Residential Refurbishment
Location: Great Shelford, Cambridge
Area: 1,500 ft2
Status: Completed, 2021
Client: Confidential
Builder: Gabor Romsics
Photo Credit: David Valinsky


Partner in Charge: Darius Woo



Walnut Cottage is a thoughtful residential refurbishment located in Cambridge, UK. Originally constructed in the 1950s, the cottage presented a series of challenges typical of its era: a compartmentalized floor plan with narrow corridors, limited natural light, and a lack of visual connectivity between living spaces. These issues resulted in an environment that felt disconnected and difficult to navigate, falling short of the needs of contemporary living.
Kasawoo was approached to reimagine the property, with a clear brief to deliver a home that was flexible, welcoming, and bright, while remaining sensitive to the cottage’s original character. Guided by the practice’s agenda of designing lightly and gently, Kasawoo prioritized interventions that would have a profound spatial and experiential impact with minimal structural disruption. This careful, considered approach is central to Kasawoo’s ethos: to make places that are attuned to their context and heritage, while leaving a gentle footprint on both the built fabric and the environment.
The project began with a rigorous analysis of the existing layout. Kasawoo’s team explored how subtle shifts—rather than wholesale demolition—could unlock new relationships between spaces. By strategically opening one interior wall and closing another, the design team was able to radically transform the internal flow of the cottage. The dark, labyrinthine corridors were replaced by a welcoming vestibule, and the living room was repositioned as the heart of the home, fostering a sense of openness and connection. This approach allowed for a dramatic change in the way the spaces related to one another, without the need for extensive or invasive construction.

In line with Kasawoo’s commitment to designing lightly, every intervention was carefully measured for its necessity and impact. The existing garage was identified as a valuable asset, offering potential for future growth and adaptability without encroaching on the garden or altering the building’s external silhouette. Through thoughtful space planning, targeted interventions, and the sensitive use of color, the relationships between the living room, kitchen, and entrance were completely redefined. A restrained material palette was selected to enhance natural light and create a sense of calm continuity throughout the home.
Kasawoo’s gentle approach also extended to the selection of finishes and detailing. Where possible, original features of the cottage were retained and restored, reducing waste and preserving the building’s intrinsic character. New elements were introduced with a light touch, ensuring that the contemporary enhancements felt at home within the existing structure.

The result is a home that feels both new and familiar: brighter, more harmonious, and deeply attuned to the needs of its inhabitants. Walnut Cottage demonstrates how thoughtful, gentle design can breathe new life into existing buildings, creating spaces that are both respectful of the past and responsive to the present.
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