MW Architectural

06/07/2026

A lot has happened since our last video on the Cherry Trees project.

The exterior finishes have come a long way: the timber cladding is almost complete, the render has been applied. Externally the solar panels have been installed and they are now producing an extreme amount of energy given our recent weather.

The interior first and second fix marches on, with the beginning of the kitchen going in and the stair mostly in place. Soon the scaffolding will be coming down, providing proper appreciation of the rural views over adjacent fields. We are having discussions about hard landscaping and the layout of the garden.

It feels as though we're on the last stretch now.

17/06/2026

Summerville Manor is complete.

This has been a very special project for everyone involved. The original house was designed by Surjit, the client’s father, and following his sad passing shortly before works were due to begin, the project was paused and later restarted as a way of completing his dream for the home.

The finished project has been designed to respect the character of the original house while delivering beautifully finished new family spaces. The level of care, craftsmanship and attention to detail throughout makes this a project we are very proud to share.

A huge thank you to the client, contractor, site team and Building Control team for such a collaborative process from start to completion.

A personal project, delivered with real care.

09/04/2026

Absolutely thrilled to see our Kenilworth side extension project kick off recently.

This one has been a labour of love, getting through a long-winded planning process that involved a legal challenge so it's safe to say that the client and I have been waiting for this day for a while!

Very excited to see it progress 😍

More images and information on this project on our website:
https://www.mwarchitectural.com/post/construction-start-for-our-kenilworth-side-extension-project

19/03/2026

Despite the increasingly chilly weather lately, our Cherry Trees site has still been progressing. The shell is finally watertight after the corner window has been installed: this will take pride of place next to the stair and you'll get different views out of it as you go from one floor level to the next.

The timber cladding installation is taking place, with the battens and cross-battens going onto the timber frame. The various soffits and canopies at both ground and first floor shall also be in the same material and we're focusing on getting the junction just right. We're having discussions already with the renderer to start the bits that require that.

Internally, a lot more first fix has happened and the air conditioning and MVHR systems are almost completely in. The garage is practically finished with plasterboard, skim and paint finish already done and we're using that as a space to keep away out of the harsher weather.

The next steps shall be really exciting as the final exterior finishes are completed and the fittings and fixtures start to arrive!

05/01/2026

We are pleased to share that Matt has been featured in the Coventry University's blog 'Made in Coventry', sharing his experiences of studying, working and practicing in the city. His continual efforts in giving back to the city and university have been recognised by the institution and by the Architectural Technology course, of which he is a keen supporter and occasional guest lecturer.

As we look towards 2026, MWArchitectural is as excited as ever about offering creative architectural solutions to the city and region as part of several key projects due for completion.

Matthew looks back on his time at Coventry University as the place where his first serious architectural ambitions began. While studying, he threw himself into student life, setting up the Technical Architecture Society.

03/09/2025

Our Leicestershire passivhaus is really beginning to take shape now. We’ve just passed the one-year mark since the first excavations began, following a planned winter break in 2024 while we waited for the timber frame installer’s slot. Since our last update, the brickwork has been completed, the roof ventilation zone timber is nearly finished in the habitable areas, blown cellulose insulation has started to be pumped into the frame, and installation of the windows and doors is underway.

Glazing installation day is always nerve-wracking, particularly when some units weigh close to 800kg. This package has presented a few challenges - some issues were picked up early, while others made it to site due to miscommunication between suppliers and fabricators. As a result, the corner window beside the stairs will need to be re-manufactured, which unfortunately delays the programme for making the building watertight although some first fix has started.

The brickwork has with feature panels of projecting, subtly angled bricks that echo the proportions of the openings and break up the long stretches of black exterior walls. This pattern was developed collaboratively with the bricklayer on site, after testing various layouts and mortar colours - some of which were shown in our previous post.

28/05/2025

You can see a lot of progress since the last update. The bones of the form are appearing, with overhanging canopies and the intended recesses and projections coming to life. The first floor is properly taking shape with some phenomenal views now visible from where the bedroom spaces will be - the full height narrow glazing will fully take advantage of the surroundings while retaining a level of privacy.

Several of the details between the steelwork and timber are being firmed up and we're also talking about the exact ornamental patterns for the dutch brickwork which has now arrived! This has included a lot of discussion but we've opted for a staggered, slightly overhanging bond for areas of priority. We've also been testing different mortar colours (created with an added dye).

There has been a bit of a conversation around when exactly the windows and doors will arrive as some of them have had their manufacturing delayed. We've had to organise for the openings to be boarded up and the install schedule delayed slightly but this allows the interior carpentry to carry on once the first floor roof is on properly.

Excited to see the rest of the spaces take shape and the first of the exterior finishes start in the next couple of weeks!

18/03/2025

We're pleased to share initial images of a traditional three bed detached home, designed for a young couple in Shrewsbury. This one is special to MWArchitectural and will hopefully be approved through single plot exception policy, providing one-off affordable homes for those that have a local tie to the area.

We're currently at pre-app but decided to submit a reasonably well resolved design in order to get as much feedback from the local authority as possible. Hopefully we hear back within a few months and can then begin the process of a full application.

The floorplan is exceptionally efficient, having to work within the 100sqm that the affordable housing policy allows and makes clever use of double height volumes and ancillary areas to squeeze the most usable space out of the footprint. A large chimney, gable-fronted double bay, brick plinth detail and recessed front porch lend a traditional Victorian or arts-and-crafts style to the design, fitting in with notable examples of similar homes nearby. The materiality is restrained and vernacular: a plain red facing brickwork with clay roof tiles, wet verge details and traditionally split sash-style windows complete the effect.

12/03/2025

After the initial steelwork went in a couple of weeks ago, the first of the timber framing is now being erected which is incredibly exciting. We're finally able to picture the sort of spaces that we're going to achieve and we're finding that the height of the interior spaces are going to be special. The windows and door package has been ordered now and the technical detail coordination is ongoing to ensure that nothing is missed - especially with regard to the cold bridging and air tightness aspects that make this home the high-performance dwelling it's intended to be.

Small corrections to the timber framing and steelwork are needed to match site conditions which are being dealt with on a case-by-case basis but the initial work has largely gone on without a hitch so far. Future weeks will be spent putting more of the timber frame up and also installing the steels where they need to rest on masonry or timber. The long glulam members have arrived on site and we've tried to use these as much as possible over more carbon-expensive steelwork.

23/02/2025

Build update #11

Our south Leicestershire site is alive again after its winter hibernation and it's going to look very different in the coming weeks! The first step is getting the steelwork in place - there's more than we wanted here but a lot of it's essential. The lot that we've got currently installed is now awaiting the timber frame to kick off before being added to which should be in the coming week and there will also be a bit of masonry going in too: all to help support the primary frame where it doesn't connect into other steels.

We've gone through a really long process of sorting out the window and door package: something that's not cheap and incredibly important to get right. We will be on a 12 week lead-in time for that. There's also a long lead-in time on the brickwork we're intending to use so that should be ordered in the coming week too. Hopefully we can start seeing some of the interior spaces really taking form in a couple of months, so this shall be incredibly exciting!

https://www.mwarchitectural.com/post/leicestershire-passivhaus-build-update-11