Sort Trae

by HEM Architects, Susi Clark & Marc Medland Architect

Client Susi Clark

Award RIBA Yorkshire Award 2024

Sort Trae sits in a rural setting overlooking the rolling South Yorkshire countryside. The brief for its design required it to be ‘relevant and sustainable’. The owner, who developed the initial concept, wanted a house that could change to meet their needs as they grew older and had minimal impact on the stunning surrounding landscape and the wider environment.

The architects responded by designing what is essentially a pair of charred black timber boxes cut into the hillside – one a two-storey house and the other a single-storey studio space – floating above a low sandstone wall. These minimal structures reference agricultural buildings and help blend the project with the landscape. This simplicity is carried through to the interiors where carefully crafted detailing and use of space create a home for life that is easily adaptable, ultra-low energy, and affordable to run.

Read the full citation from the RIBA Awards Jury on RIBA Journal.

Contractor Terry Huggett Developments Limited

Concept Design and Planning Marc Medland Architect

Structural Engineer JAM Structural Design Ltd

Sustainability Etude

Environmental / M&E Engineer Green Building Store

Ground Works and Retaining Structures Morton Civils

Gross internal area in m² 170