Portfolio HOme

Camlet Way 1, Hadley Wood, Enfield

Thu, 05 Mar 2015 06:17:29 GMT

A new-build replacement of an obsolete 1930’s house in Camlet Way, the premier street in Hadley Wood. The original charm of Camlet Way was that each house reflected a different romantic idyll of places near and far. The current un-inspiring developer style is diminishing this robust idiosyncrasy. Inspired by Cotswold stone manor houses of “Cider with Rosie” country and the simple white rendered forms of the New England compounds of Hugh Newell Jacobsen, the pre-eminent American residential architect, we sought to re-invigorate the romance.

Our design seeks to combine the desire for a pitched roofed and columned silhouette that symbolises “home”, with the growing trend for more contemporary features, particularly larger areas of glass to give more light and closer contact with the garden and views. The pillared two-storey bays and double height entrance façade create a grand impression down a discrete private driveway approach, passing through four small landscaped “external rooms”, each containing a gigantic antique cast iron urn. The basement leisure suite provides a luxurious pool, jaccuzzi, bar, sauna, steam room and gym, opening out onto a landscaped lightwell.

The house is fully elevated above a further, but hidden, new dwelling (Camlet Way 2), a “no holds barred” contemporary back garden development completed by us and built partially underground to enable both houses to see the spectacular views over open Crown Estate countryside to the north.

Project complete 2018

Camlet Way 2, Hadley Wood, Enfield

Sat, 21 Feb 2015 08:16:48 GMT

This single storey, new-build, low energy, back garden development is located in what was once the lower garden of Camlet Way 1, also by us. The total area for both houses adds up to 2094sqm, two new larger houses for the obsolete original 526sqm house.

This house sits below a flat roof garden, which is flush with the ground floor level garden of the original house being replaced to our design as Camlet Way 1. This solution significantly reduces the impression of an overcrowded site prevalent in most back garden developments.

Externally, luxurious natural materials satisfy the contemporary desire for richness. Walls are faced in random Cotswold dry stone walling, with features in corten oxidised steel and fumed oak. An extensive 3m high sliding glass wall is continuous across all principal rooms, facing the views over open Crown Estate countryside beyond. The effect is that the house interior and garden are as one, fully integrated with the natural landscape. Internally, the minimalist concept is tempered with the contrasting textures of stone and wood flooring, natural board-marked concrete, sleek glass kitchen units, quirky pendant lights and built-in storage units with integrated LED lighting. Warm colours are introduced with contemporary Italian furniture.

Building complete in 2015

Garden Pavillion

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 12:16:57 GMT

A pool and recreation complex with gym, games, changing rooms and store in the rear garden of an existing house. Designed to comply with the "Permitted Development” rules and consequently not requiring Town Planning permission. In the private estate of Hutton Mount, Shenfield, Essex.

Cantilever

Thu, 05 Mar 2015 07:22:53 GMT

An uncompromisingly modern re-development on the edge of open countryside. By a clever design, which captured the Town Planner's enthusiasm, we achieved permission where two previous applications and an appeal by others had failed, and for a much larger dwelling. Externally, luxurious natural materials satisfy the desire for richness, in a contemporary interpretation. Walls are faced in random dry stone cladding, with features in corten oxidised steel, exposed concrete and fumed oak. An extensive sliding glass wall is continuous across all principle ground floor rooms, all facing the views over the open countryside. The two storey entrance hall with glass bridge and glass floors brings natural light down through the interior to the basement pool, spa and leisure area, which opens to a sunken courtyard.

A dramatic 7 metre first floor cantilever enables the narrower first floor bedroom suite to align with the other houses in the street, whilst over-sailing the green belt to achieve the required number of bedrooms. The floor area of the cantilever matches the area of former existing outbuildings in the greenbelt and was thus allowed by the planners. An over-sized stone-clad chimney makes a dramatic statement to the street elevation. The site layout keeps clear of the root area of a very large protected Oak tree on the road frontage. Externally, the garden and sunken courtyard are landscaped to maximise outside dining and relaxation areas with stone terraces and luxurious planting. The interiors use exposed concrete walls and columns, glass floors and screens, timber wall panels, tiled and pale wood floors to create a dramatic ultra-modern ambience. Project completed 2019 for an investor client and is now let.

More details

Kings Lea, Surrey Hills

Tue, 30 May 2017 17:40:48 GMT

An extension / re-model project deep in the Surrey Hills at Abinger, Dorking. Our clients’ brief was to improve and enlarge their newly acquired Victorian and Edwardian house to be more family friendly and sustainable. The existing gloomy kitchen on the east side of the house, with no garden access, has been moved into a single light filled airy barn-like family space, with kitchen, dining and daytime seating, in the sunny western aspect of the house. Five metre long bespoke sliding doors open onto a paved patio for alfresco dining and childrens play. Sourced directly from our contacts in Lithuania, the high quality, well priced timber framed glazing units used throughout enabled the tight budget to be achieved. The existing kitchen units and granite worktops were of sound quality and re-used in the new location. The old living room, with its main views to the garden and landscape blocked by an ugly chimney, was extended forward with large format sliding glazed doors, and a new chimney built with a wood burning stove. A loft conversion provided an extra en-suite bedroom, and the master bedroom gained a full height window and glazed doors, both taking full advantage of the fabulous far reaching views.

Our clients were also keen to improve the energy efficiency of the house, achieved by draught proofing and enhanced insulation, and the installation of an array of 21 flat black photovoltaic panels on the new kitchen roof facing west. Successfully integrated with the design rather than an unattractive afterthought, they will supply all the hot water and ultimately be connected to storage batteries.

The cladding used is sustainable Norwegian Kebony modified timber which weathers quickly to a uniform wam silvery grey tone. Unlike some other modified timbers Kebony is warranted for 40 years and requires no maintenance. Status: Complete.

Photographs by Jonathan Freeman

Leatherhead Road, Ashtead

Wed, 11 Mar 2015 08:01:03 GMT

A compact extension to a 1930's bungalow in Ashtead, Surrey, completely transforming it from dowdy to "wow". A significant town planning victory, the strong but balanced asymmetrical composition of three new zinc-clad elements persuaded the planners to go against their local policy and allow a non-like-for-like extension with what is, effectively, a normally forbidden box dormer.

On the first floor two new bedrooms and bathrooms were created with a full length glass fronted balcony overlooking the attractive garden. On the ground floor a spacious kitchen / dining / living room replaced a detached single garage, with full length, full height fold-aside doors opening onto a new south facing deck and the garden.

Project complete in 2013

8 Acres, Surrey

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 18:10:18 GMT

Our favourite type of project, creating a lifestyle in nature. A full glass wall gives the feeling of living in the landscape, reinforced by the use of simple natural materials on this magnificent eight acre site in Surrey with its own mature scots pine forest and giant redwoods. We achieve our philosophy of "tread lightly on the land". A challenging planning permission achieved by trading outbuildings around the site with the planners to achieve the floor area in the sensitive Green Belt. It has a full basement leisure area with swimming pool, fitness and thermal suite and cinema. We carried out extensive thermal analysis to ensure the correct construction was chosen to achieve comfort and energy conservation. A 2.7m cantilevered roof shades the glass from overheating in the summer sun. Currently under construction.

Hutton Mount, Brentwood

Wed, 11 Mar 2015 13:58:12 GMT

A commission for a modern interior for a new build transitional / traditional house in Widworthy Hayes in the Hutton Mount private estate, Shenfield, Brentwood Essex. Appointed before start on site to improve a lack-lustre design, we completely remodelled the interior moving walls, doors and windows.

Among many other changes, a double height window and first floor gallery lounge / library were added to view the south facing garden. The entrance hall and stair were remodelled to provide a vista from the front door through to the garden, with a contemporary cantilever stair and balcony with glass balustrade.

Project complete in 2014

Queens Head House, Amble, Northumberland

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 15:57:54 GMT

Queens Head House lies in the conservation area of Amble town on the Northumberland coast, in a walled enclosure on the crest of the coastal escarpment. It was once the stable yard of the 19^thC inn after which it is named. A classic example of brownfield back-land development, its last use was for 16 lock-up garages.

Our design turned the house “upside down” with a 100% glazed wall at first floor, to take full advantage of the amazing light reflected off the sea and the far reaching panoramic coastal views across the River Coquet estuary and its attractive yacht harbour, to the open sea beyond.

This simple white rectangular house is a contemporary interpretation of the local vernacular, inspired by the traditional white painted fishermen’s cottages with their slate roofs. The upper floor combines living, kitchen and dining in a single space, with other windows and rooflights strategically placed to bring in southern sun (the panoramic window is north facing) and give more intimate local views out whilst maintaining privacy. A small balcony off the living area provides a sunny spot for morning coffee and gives access via steps to the walled courtyard garden below. The ground floor comprises entrance hall, master bedroom with ensuite, two further bedrooms, family bathroom, study and utility room. Patio doors give all bedrooms access to the courtyard garden.

We achieved Planning Permission, after two failed applications by others, for the first new house allowed in the Amble conservation area since it was established 10 years ago in 2007. We produced 3D photo montages superimposed onto distant views to justify development on this sensitive “skyline” site, visible from afar. Unusual planning conditions required close liaison by us with the Conservation Officer to procure an archaeological dig, as the site lies in close proximity to a local ancient monument, and to carry out a coal mining survey for potential subsidence and mine gas.

Twin houses

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 15:59:31 GMT

Designs for twin houses, to replace one previously existing, on a sloping site in Laughton, Essex. Submitted for Planning Permission with Epping Forest DC.

Apartments, Ferdinand St, Camden NW1

Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:16:42 GMT

A project for new-build flats for rent in the heart of Camden. Our design has achieved 8 new flats on the site of the redundant garages of the adjacent mansion block. Working within the tight rights-of-light, daylight and privacy restrictions of the neighbours, our finely tuned plan has maximised bed spaces whilst achieving the Mayor of London’s space standards on an extremely tight city centre site.

Our design seeks to move forward from the “New London Architecture” style, with its simple ordered but often dull elevations by adding bold glazed balconies, and a textured brickwork design at pavement level.

Project complete

Hillwood Grove, Hutton Mount, Shenfield

Wed, 11 Mar 2015 14:12:23 GMT

A new build house in Hillwood Grove in the private estate of Hutton Mount in Shenfield, Essex, designed as a robust intepretation of the locally popular Arts and Crafts style, with a contemporary interior.

Substantial increase in size was achieved relative to the original demolished house. Included are a triple height entrance hall and double aspect fireplace between lounge and kitchen/family room. A first floor library / balcony is positioned over the dining room with a double height window to the garden. 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms. Approx 8,000sqft

Project complete in 2014

Hazelhatch Cottage, Peaslake, Guildford

Wed, 11 Mar 2015 08:26:46 GMT

A remodel and extension in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In the picturesque and perenially popular village of Peaslake, nestled in a secluded Surrey Hills valley, a small Victorian cottage, unloved, dowdy and neglected for many years, has been transformed into a stylish country home with extended and remodelled internal accommodation more in keeping with its rural and desirable village location. The end result is an unrecogniseable improvement from its former state, as can be seen from the "before" photos.

Project complete in 2012