PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL

What is Private Residential Architecture and Masterplanning?

Private residential architecture is the design of individual homes or housing tailored to a client’s lifestyle, needs and preferences, ranging from new builds and renovations to listed property conversions. The Private residential masterplanning involves the strategic layout of larger residential sites or estates, ensuring homes, streets and green spaces are thoughtfully arranged to create attractive, functional, and sustainable communities.

Private Residential Architecture and Masterplanning Services

At Clague, we deliver a complete architectural service across a broad spectrum of private residential projects, tailored to each client, site and vision. Whether designing a one-off new home, restoring a listed property, or shaping an entire estate, we combine creativity, sensitivity and technical expertise at every stage.

New-Build Homes

We provide full architectural services from concept design through to construction, creating homes that reflect your lifestyle, aspirations and the character of the site.

Extensions & Refurbishments

Whether reimagining a single space or transforming the entire home, we design seamless additions that respect and enhance the existing structure.

Listed & Heritage Properties

With specialist conservation knowledge, we sensitively restore and adapt listed homes to balance heritage requirements with contemporary needs and comfort.

Apartments & Multi-Unit Homes

We design high-quality apartments and townhouses, often within larger masterplans or complex urban sites, blending efficiency with architectural identity.

Residential Masterplanning

For larger sites and estates, we shape thoughtful, masterplans which integrate homes, landscaping, and infrastructure to create vibrant, liveable communities.

Our Private Residential Architecture and Masterplanning process

At Clague, we offer a tailored service from initial consultation and concept design to planning, detailed drawings, contractor coordination and on-site support. We manage every stage with care, creativity and expertise, ensuring your home is thoughtfully designed, expertly delivered and supported even after completion.

Planning, Surveying & Technical Detailing in Private Residential

Clague provides full support through the technical and regulatory stages of your private residential project. We handle planning applications with care and expertise, especially in sensitive or listed settings. Our team coordinates surveys, ensures compliance with building regulations and produces detailed technical drawings and specifications, covering everything from materials to structural and environmental requirements. This integrated approach ensures your home is both beautifully designed and expertly delivered.

Why Choose Clague Architects for Your Private Residential Project?

Clague combines design excellence with deep planning knowledge and a personal, client-focused approach. With decades of experience across bespoke homes, listed buildings, and larger residential masterplans, we create spaces that are beautifully tailored to their setting and your lifestyle. From the first conversation to final handover, we guide you through every stage.

We’re proud to be a RIBA Chartered Practice, with a team that includes members of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), ensuring the highest standards of professionalism and delivery.

Book a Private residential consultation

Ready to bring your dream home or development to life? Book a consultation with Clague Architects today.

Our expert team will work closely with you to understand your vision, assess your site and guide you through every step of the design and planning process. Whether you’re designing a bespoke home or planning a larger residential project, we’re here to help turn your ideas into reality. Get in touch today to start your journey!

Conversion and extension of a house in Devon

Our Private Residential Projects

1. DIY SOS

We collaborated with the BBC’s DIY SOS team to design and rebuild a home for a Kent family with complex medical needs. The original bungalow was replaced with a fully accessible, purpose-built home featuring innovative solutions like talking doors, remote-controlled toilets, and mobility assistance winches. Completed in just nine days in October 2016, the project was later Highly Commended at the 2018 RICS Southeast Awards.

2. House in Highgate

We designed a sustainable, contemporary home in Highgate, London, featuring a concrete frame, sedum roof, and large glazed openings for natural light. The design integrates with the landscape, maximising solar gain and using natural materials for a seamless connection with the environment.

3. New House in Ashford, Kent

Clague Architects designed a contemporary home near Ashford, Kent, within a former Christmas tree plantation. With large overhanging roofs, the home maximises valley views, providing solar shading in summer and winter shelter, while blending seamlessly into the natural landscape for sustainable living.

4. Private Residence Hertfordshire

Clague Architects designed a sustainable family home in Hertfordshire, blending with its natural surroundings. The home features a rear terrace overlooking a lake, surrounded by a wildflower meadow and trees, promoting local biodiversity. It incorporates renewable energy systems, ensuring self-sufficiency in energy, water, and waste management.

5. House in Bethersden, Kent

Clague Architects transformed a historic 18th-century house in Bethersden, Kent, by replacing modern extensions with a new orangery-style kitchen and a pool house, while restoring traditional timber joinery to enhance the property’s connection to its gardens.

6. Parsonage near Canterbury

Clague Architects transformed the Grade II Listed Parsonage near Canterbury, enhancing its internal layout while preserving historic features. The project involved feasibility studies, Listed Building Consent, and collaboration with interior designer Charlotte Crossland to create a harmonious, functional living space.

7. Lodge at Littlebourne

Clague Architects restored Lee House, a Grade II Listed Gothic Revival building in Littlebourne, Kent, by removing unsympathetic alterations and adding modern amenities. The project preserved its historic character while improving natural light and spatial flow, earning recognition in Conservation News (October 2016).

8. House in Devon

We converted a 19th-century stone laundry in Devon into a modern family home, adding a glass extension and basement while preserving the historic structure. The design incorporates open-plan living and a terraced garden.

9. Architectural and Masterplanning Accreditations

At Clague, our commitment to excellence in architecture and masterplanning is underpinned by recognised professional accreditations. We are proud to be a RIBA Chartered Practice, demonstrating the highest standards in design quality, client service and project delivery. Our team also includes members of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), ensuring a robust technical approach that complements our creative vision.

FAQs

1. What is private residential architecture?

Private residential architecture focuses on designing homes for individual clients or families. It includes new builds, renovations, and extensions which are tailored to personal lifestyles, aesthetics, and site conditions to create unique, functional living spaces.

2. What kind of private residential projects do Clague work on?

We create bespoke new homes, renovations, extensions, and conversions (often in sensitive or historic settings). We also design high-end developments and masterplans for larger residential schemes.

3. What is private residential masterplanning?

Private residential masterplanning is the strategic layout and design of larger housing sites or estates. It involves planning homes, roads, green spaces, and infrastructure to create cohesive, livable communities that blend with their surroundings.

4. Has Clague been recognised for any of their private residential projects?

Yes, Clague has won awards for private residential work. Their Isle of Sheppey home, featured on DIY SOS, was highly commended at the 2018 RICS Southeast Awards. They also won a RIBA Housing Design Award in 2004 for their Lacuna development at Kings Hill. [Read more about our projects here]

5. How do you incorporate sustainability into your projects?

We take a holistic, lifecycle-led approach prioritising fabric-first design to reduce emissions, reusing and repurposing existing buildings where possible, and enhancing natural habitats within our schemes. We also focus on longevity by using durable materials and designing adaptable spaces, while ensuring our work supports both environmental and social sustainability. Our private residential work considers environmental, social and economic sustainability factors as essential.

6. Where is Clague based?

We are based in studios in Canterbury and Harpenden and have projects across the South East and wider UK. Whether urban or rural, local or national, our designs are always grounded in a deep understanding of place, context and culture.

7. What services does Clague Architects offer?

Clague Architects provides comprehensive services in architecture, masterplanning, and heritage consultancy. Our expertise covers residential developments, commercial projects, educational institutions, ecclesiastical buildings, and historic conservation. We are dedicated to creating designs that are contextually sensitive, sustainable and tailored to our clients’ visions.

8. How do I begin a private residential project with Clague?

Start by booking a consultation with our team. We’ll discuss your ideas, assess your site or property, and outline how we can help bring your project to life. Simply reach out via the details on our contact page.