Matthew Clay Architects

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Matthew Clay Architects

Welcome to Matthew Clay Architects. We are an award-winning RIBA Chartered Practice, based in Corsham, a historic Cotswold market town.

27/10/2026

Old cottage, new possibilities.

This 19th-century cottage in Lechlade has been transformed with a carefully considered extension that brings more light and space into the home while embracing its garden setting.

Zinc, Cotswold stone and oak provide a simple, complementary palette. The result is a contemporary addition that feels at home alongside the existing cottage and its historic surroundings.

Working with an older property is often about finding the right balance between preserving character and making a home work for modern life.

Take a closer look: https://www.matthewclayarchitects.co.uk/project/sunflower-cottage

26/10/2026

When in Rome…

Flowing curved concrete walls, ribbon stairs and dramatic openings.
Zaha Hadid’s MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts.

Travertine stone basking in autumn light.
Carlo Maderno’s Baroque façade, St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

24/10/2026

A few introductory shots of a recently completed project in Wandsworth.

The result is a carefully considered update to the house, improving its environmental performance and combining contemporary living spaces with the original Victorian character of the original building. A highly glazed facade allows the kitchen to open out onto a garden that feels like a natural extension of the home.

A lovely project to see through to completion, and a big thank you to our Clients, Creese and McKnight and everyone involved in bringing it together.

14/10/2026

We believe better buildings start with better thinking.

It’s why we are members of the .

The Association for Environment Conscious Building brings together people who want to improve the way we design, build and use buildings. For us, that means looking beyond how a building looks to consider how it performs, how much energy it uses, the materials it’s made from and how comfortable it is to live in.

We’re always looking to learn, share ideas and find practical ways to make our projects more sustainable.

Find out more about our values at www.matthewclayarchitects.co.uk/studio.

09/10/2026

You know you’re an architect when…

… the holiday photos you’re sent photographs are of an architecture exhibition. Naturally.

From Connemara, where the Clifden Arts Festival has been showing a fantastic exhibition, “Threshold: The Space In Between” by O'Donnell + Tuomey, showcasing entrances, porches, foyers and other spaces of transition. And yes, we were inspired (and will be showing our students!).

A perfectly reasonable holiday activity, in our opinion. Much better than beaches, sunsets or cocktails.

28/09/2026

A new academic year begins!

We’re delighted that our team are once again getting involved in tutoring, crits and reviews across several years at the Department of Architecture at the University of Bath.

It’s always a privilege to work alongside the next generation — seeing ideas develop, being challenged by new ways of thinking (and hopefully sharing a little of what we’ve learnt along the way).

We’re looking forward to seeing plenty more inspiring work take shape over the year, and, of course, catching up with former tutees and seeing where their ideas have taken them.

Here’s to another year of making, thinking and learning.

(And well done to Aella, Alex and Karoline, among others, for the featured work)

25/09/2026

Craft over code.

Who needs AI when you’ve got proper carpentry?! Nice to see those mortise and tenon joints go in as the cut roof takes shape.

Works progressing nicely under cover on our Bath job — keep building l.paynedevelopmentsltd!

18/09/2026

One of our maxims we like in both our professional and academic work is simple: leave a place better than you found it.

As Aaron and Danielle return to University of Bath Engineering & Design at Bath to continue their studies and take the next steps towards qualification, we’re reflecting on their contributions, and it's fair to say they’ve certainly done that!

Between them they leave a legacy of a growing collection of physical models and new digital skills, helping get projects off the ground across Bath, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Southampton and beyond.

Good luck and go well. We’re proud to have played a small part in your journey, and can’t wait to see where it takes you next.

08/09/2026

A little glimpse behind the scenes at this farmhouse near Corsham.

The new oak framing is taking shape, bringing a lovely warmth to the space and, we think, setting up a rather beautiful contrast with the original Cotswold stone.

Still a work in progress, and still plenty to do, but already beginning to show its character.

02/09/2026

Good planning should create opportunities for good design.

Recent changes to planning policy are opening up new opportunities to do things differently: creating beautiful, carefully considered homes that sit comfortably within existing groups of houses and their surroundings.

We think that's a really exciting opportunity. It's not about building everywhere, but about asking what could make this place better? Stronger connections with the landscape, better light, thoughtful materials and architecture that belongs to its setting, even in places where a settlement boundary might previously have prevented a proposal from being considered.

We're currently developing proposals for a new house that explore exactly this kind of opportunity, creating a home that feels both contemporary and at home in its surroundings.

We’re looking forward to sharing more as the project develops.

Address

Spiders Barn
Corsham
SN130DT

Telephone

+441249476208

Website

http://www.matthewclayarchitects.co.uk/

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