Architecture
18/06/2026
Coppin Dockray is a practice that seemingly does it all: from the traditional services of architectural and spatial design to interiors and furniture. Their work often involves buildings that lie under the protection of the Twentieth Century Society or those that should, but remain at risk
In May of 2026, the owners of Torriano Cottages, otherwise known as The Pank House, came to us with the news that they had emerged victorious from a long planning process under the ever-sensitive and steady hands of Sandra Coppin and Bev Dockray. Unfortunately the owners couldn’t see it through, and so, Hemingway+K were asked to find a suitable custodian to take things forward.
In the process of selling Torriano Cottages, we met with Coppin Dockray to understand their superb designs for the house and were reminded of the many projects of theirs we have admired over the years. In fact, we would go so far as to suggest that upon hearing that Coppin Dockray are involved in any given project of architectural sensitivity, the news comes with both excitement and a sigh of relief.
That mix of emotions was certainly true of Hampstead House, which we visited prior to its sale and restoration. At the time, the house, designed by Trevor Dannatt OBE and built in 1960, was being marketed more as a plot with potential than a notable example of post-war architecture. Fortunately, amidst baying developers, a young family saw the beauty and value in the chequerboard of pavilions and the gardens they spanned, and sought the expertise and experience of Coppin Dockray to resurrect and extend the house sympathetically. The result, complemented with garden design by Jane Brockbank, was a RIBA and AJ Awards-winning project described by panelists as no less than ‘exquisitely crafted’.
A similar fate almost befell the wonderful Antsy Plum House in Wiltshire, designed by David Levitt in 1964. Perhaps its situation on a steep, wooded valley surrounded by medieval buildings contributed to its slipping beneath the radar of deserved protection. Nevertheless, it was Sandra Coppin herself who saw the purity and openness of the original design, which took inspiration from the mono-pitched, rain-dispersing roofs of Provence to occupy its challenging site. The project was a lesson in restraint, respecting the humility and efficiency of the original materials and their usage, and a masterclass in retrospective eco-efficiency, for which it won a plethora of awards in 2016.
Never far from our memory is Ahm House in Harpenden; one of Britain’s most important modern houses. It was designed by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon for his friend, the engineer Povl Ahm, with whom he worked on the Sydney Opera House. This was a project emblematic of the multidisciplinary approach of Coppin Dockray from joinery, to detailing and complete interiors.
