a fresh take on suburban heritage 

architect - Wadhal

Products - Country brown and brown brindle Dreadnought plain clay tiles, Ketley Class A bricks, light multi quarry tiles

Photography - Lorenzo Zandri

Wade House is a compact yet characterful two‑bedroom home that reimagines the 1930s suburban semi for a new generation. Although planning constraints required the new build to follow the form of its neighbours, Wadhal use traditional materials in a distinctly contemporary way, sharpening familiar elements to create a home that feels recognisably suburban yet quietly radical.

Traditional clay building materials from both Dreadnought Tiles and Ketley bricks were central to achieving this.  A base of Ketley Staffordshire Red projecting brickwork introduces depth, shadow and a sculptural quality, balanced by smooth render above. The roof is formed in Dreadnought plain clay tiles in Country Brown and Brown Brindle, creating a traditional pitched profile refined by hidden gutters and concealed downpipes for a crisp, modern edge.

A course of alternating Country Brown and Brown Brindle tiles sits just below the concealed gutter, adding a subtle band of texture that echoes the geometric rhythm of the brickwork beneath.

Inside, the house is defined by a calm, simple material palette.   Ketley Light Multi Quarry Tiles run throughout the ground floor, providing durable, underfloor‑heating‑ready surfaces that bring warmth and continuity.  The tiles extend seamlessly onto the small patios, dissolving the threshold between inside and outside and supporting the home’s passive ventilation strategy. Their natural variation and robust performance complement the Douglas Fir joinery and soft plastered walls, creating a grounded, timeless interior atmosphere.