Rammed Earth House

Set within the Wiltshire countryside, Rammed Earth House offers a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional English country house. Built on the site of a former brickworks, the home is constructed using clay-rich earth excavated from the site, combined with recycled demolition aggregate to create unstabilised rammed earth walls without cement. A considered palette of natural and reclaimed materials, including oak, cedar shingles and clay plaster reinforce the connection to place. Reconciling ancient building techniques with contemporary innovation, the project celebrates craftsmanship, material authenticity and the natural processes of weathering and ageing.

Clayworks supplied a diverse palette of natural clay plaster finishes, bringing texture, colour and material continuity to the interiors. Demi-Rustic clay plaster extends throughout the kitchen and living spaces, bedrooms and circulation areas, creating softly textured surfaces that sit comfortably alongside the building’s raw earth structure. In the sitting room, a custom Raked finish in rich terracotta red creates a sense of energy and tactility, while Smooth clay plaster in green lends a quieter, enveloping atmosphere to the snug. Across the bathrooms, Clayworks Tadelakt in a variety of colours provides a natural, seamless finish. Together, these finishes offer a softer expression of earth, bringing a more intimate scale of texture and colour to the interiors.

“The project is a testament to what can be achieved when clients, designers, and makers come together with vision, courage, and trust.”

Sam Goss, BA South West & Wessex Jury Chair