One Off House Grangebellew
This site had outline permission for a dormer bungalow, the client wanted a large two storey house , but the site was elevated and steeply sloping , which did not lend itself to a conspicuous two storey. The compromise solution was to take a traditional ‘deep plan’ single storey building which would hug the contours of the site , and pull it apart at the ridge line , creating a ‘V’ shaped plan , with a private south facing sheltered sun trap courtyard with views of the surrounding landscape ,between the two ‘wings of the V’. Each wing is shallow in plan with dual aspect which allows both sunlight & natural light to flood into the internal spaces at all times of day. The road frontage is east facing, so the front wing contains all the bedroom accommodation to enjoy morning sun , and the west facing rear wing houses all the living space for to benefit from evening sun.
The front entrance is at the apex of the ‘V’ , located at the northern high point of the site , thus allowing the internal spaces in each wing to step down the site with an increase in floor to ceiling height in accordance with function , and the sloping nature of the site ,as you move through the wings from north to south , ie low ceilinged snug TV room is adjacent front entrance hall , with open plan kitchen , dining ,family room occupying a high vaulted ceiling space at south end with courtyard , patio & rear garden access .Because of the site contours , it allowed us to incorporate a garage under the living wing & master en suite & dressing room under the bedroom wing with private stairs to master bedroom above.
A simple palette of materials was used consisting of limestone facing , slate roof , zinc cladding to box windows , cedar cladding to courtyard.
The house was featured in Build Your Own Magazine and in Sunday Times ‘Home ‘Supplement.