County Durham Visitor Centre Conversion

In the countryside of County Durham, a vacant visitor centre has been transformed into a modern, sustainable family home. Our clients wanted a space that combined rural tranquillity with contemporary comfort, making the most of the building’s elevated position and panoramic valley views.

We preserved the building’s original external character while adding a carefully designed first floor to house open-plan kitchen, dining, and living spaces. The conversion created four generous bedrooms, a secluded first-floor garden, and strategic glazing to capture south-facing light and sweeping views across the valley.

By blending adaptive reuse with thoughtful modern additions, the project minimises environmental impact while delivering a warm, practical home. From feasibility and planning approval to on-site supervision, we managed every stage to ensure the new design felt harmonious with its surroundings.

The result is a rural retreat that breathes new life into a disused building — proving how creative architecture can preserve heritage, enhance sustainability, and create spaces perfectly suited to modern family living.