Sherborne House, a stunning Grade I Listed Georgian mansion in North Dorset, has been meticulously restored into a versatile arts centre. Our team of lead architects spearheaded this project, overseeing everything from planning permission to detailed design and project management.

With a Medieval wing and notable artwork by Sir James Thornhill, the restoration required expert conservation and heritage skills. This complex assignment combined preservation of the past with a vision for the future, utilising local, traditional, and sustainable materials. Collaboration and contract management of numerous professionals, institutions, and trades is key to the success of this unique project.

The project is Shortlisted for multiple national awards, including the 2025 AJ Retrofit & Reuse Awards shortlist, Georgian Group Awards 2024, Wood Awards 2024, Structural Timber Awards 2024.

Located in the historic rural context of an old farmstead and the natural landscape around Bruton, this project involved the sensitive transformation of a traditional Somerset farmstead into a bespoke artist’s studio for a highly accomplished artist and former Royal Academy President.

SPASE’s intervention respected and preserved the barn’s original vernacular, stone façade, and heritage while delivering a light-filled, high-performance creative art studio and workspace, a perfect example of our skill in combining conservation, modern design, and tailored fit-out. High levels of insulation and solar control was introduced to work with the stone thermal mass to deliver a building of comfort throughout the year.