Cain Architects

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Cain Architects

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11/06/2026

This project was one of the trickiest we’ve worked on recently. The site had so many constraints; a very small triangular garage plot with a busy train line behind it, an ancient woodland and burial ground adjacent and a very prolonged and painful planning process! Throw in a few angry neighbours who thought the plot belonged to them and you realise what a joy it is to be working with a calm and grounded client!

Anyway, we got there in the end - this Arts and Crafts pair of semis is now onsite being built :-).

The image shows the front elevation which is clad in cedar shingles on an anthracite brick base and features naturally-finished timber framed windows.

01/06/2026

Bookcase of dreams at our recently completed Baptist Chapel conversion in Long Marston, Hertfordshire. Ceilings were vaulted to ensure the best use of all available space for our book & music loving clients.

The chapel is late Victorian and was a maze of weird corridors, odd shaped rooms and flat ceilings which kept all the original timber trusses hidden away for decades.

We rearranged the spaces to work more successfully as a home and opened up the chapel to create great sight lines through from the beautiful original entrance to the open plan kitchen / diner to the rear, allowing much needed light deep into the long plan.

07/05/2026

Throwback to this scheme for a glamorous and extremely shiny Art Deco bar at The Gatsby in Berkhamsted. It’s probably the first and last time we’ll ever get to specify this much mirrored glass and perhaps rightly so!

Housed in a beautiful former Art Deco cinema designed by architect David Evelyn Nye in 1936 and featuring a double grand staircase and a crystal chandelier; it is now a bar and restaurant.

28/04/2026

A light-filled series of linked auxiliary spaces off the main kitchen to support the household at our recently completed new-build in west Hertfordshire.

First is the Butler’s Pantry with Larder to the rear - a functional and transitional space for food prep and storage of everything from bulky gadgets to olive oil.

Then comes the Laundry Room with heated drying cupboards, folding island and chute from the bedrooms above - no dropped socks on the stairs in this house ;-).

Lastly is the Boot Room with dedicated dog wash belfast sink (hot water tap as standard of course), external access and enough storage for a lifetime of football boots, wellies and dog treats.

Credit to for the build and fit out.

14/04/2026

A site visit with the Cain Architects team (Matthew, Adrienne & Jo) that we’ve been looking forward to for a looong time; the installation of the pre-fab straw & timber panels at our low-energy new-build house near Princes Risborough.

Our forward-thinking client asked for a house built from natural materials with small carbon footprints. It features a foam glass aggregate floor with straw & timber panel walls, local clay brickwork plinths and a wood fibre roof. Site harvested clay plaster will also be used internally. With regards to controlled energy, the house will also be carbon negative as air source heat pumps, solar panels, triple glazing and an MVHR system will also all be installed.

We learnt a lot on this project and we’re very much looking forward to watching how the house develops over the next few months; an actual house made of straw 🐖 🐖 🐖

Image of straw panel being assembled courtesy of ModCell Straw Technology

08/04/2026

⭐️ Final few weeks on site for these little beauties… classic three-storey Chilterns family homes with incredible gardens. Coming to the market very soon ⭐️

06/02/2026

This contemporary glazed courtyard extension is one of a number of additions to a large Listed Georgian farm that we have been working on recently.

Following a pre-app with the local council, we are proposing removal of unsympathetic lean-to extensions to expose the original brick walls behind. The courtyard landscaping is minimal to reflect the historic agricultural ‘farmyard’ aesthetic and includes reuse of a lovely stone well…

The project has been very involved as a result of the extensive number of buildings on the site. We have just completed a full planning and listed building application which included;
- refurb, remodel and extension of a three storey stone farmhouse
- conversion of a number of disused stone and brick outbuildings including a Piggeries and animal Feeding Barn. An art room, gym, yoga studio, woodwork studio and annex are all proposed
- new build barn with games room, entertaining space and sauna to rear of property with access to a natural swimming pool

More images to follow!

21/01/2026

A moody day, muddy onsite at our Dell Houses project … double height entrance hall and split stair in house B looking great and nearing completion now.

All trades working outside today - you're amazing 🤩

14/01/2026

Finishing touches being made to this beautiful 16th century barn conversion in Hertfordshire.

This project has taken some years to get to this point so it’s nice to remind ourselves of how far it has come.

The second image was our design for this elevation - exposing the original timber structure internally and glazing in front of it to allow views in from the garden.

The third image is from our first site visit almost 3 years ago - the barn had previously been used as a lawnmower service centre.

We will post some final images as soon as we can as the transformation internally is worth seeing!

11/12/2025

A few photos of our very special ‘Gables’ project - a locally-listed, conservation-area Victorian Gothic mansion that has just undergone substantial extension, remodel and refurbishment works.

The original house was built at the turn of the 20th century but, despite having good ‘bones’, it had fallen into some disrepair before our client purchased it. Hopefully this new lease of life will keep her going for some time yet🤞🏻

Our client was keen for a traditional aesthetic internally and we ensured that the key original features of the house were retained and celebrated throughout in our design.

The vaulted bed nook in the attic is our favourite space; where we’d all like to be cosying up this winter ❄️

Address

Chesham
HP53NB

Telephone

+441494355095

Website

http://Cainarchitects.co.uk/

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