Hope Cottage
Bashley, New Forest
This contemporary cottage in Bashley, within the heart of the New Forest National Park, replaces an outdated dwelling that had reached the end of its useful life. The new home reinterprets the traditional New Forest cottage through a contemporary lens - creating a light, spacious, and highly efficient modern property.
Commissioned as a replacement dwelling for sale on the open market, the design carefully balances character and market appeal. The house is divided into two key zones: a private wing for bedrooms and a public living space for daily life and entertaining. This clear organisation allows for efficient use of space and a natural flow between functions.
In true DUA fashion, the goal was to create a “Tardis” effect - compact and modest from the outside, yet generous and expansive within. The main living area features a vaulted ceiling, a striking saddle rooflight, and an entire glazed wall, flooding the interior with daylight and framing views of the surrounding New Forest landscape.
This modern New Forest cottage demonstrates how sensitive contemporary design can respect local context while offering the comfort, sustainability, and spaciousness expected of a 21st-century home.