Thornton Road is an atypical three-bed mid-terrace house that lies in Fallowfield, a suburb three miles south of Manchester: a major city in the northwest of England famous for its rich industrial heritage. The client – a happily single man – specifically wanted a home for the future that looked to nature, specifically the sun, to answer his deep desire for life that is more satisfying sensually, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.
To achieve this, the basic design concept was to shift away from small window and door openings and towards more generously proportioned openings that not only deliver natural light and solar gain - natural heating provided through glazing by the sun - but also a level of transparency that allows the garden, birds, wildlife and open skies to become an integral part of the home itself.