Works are approaching completion on this new Arts and Crafts style family home set within the rolling hills of the Surrey countryside.
Inspired by the architectural forms of Edwin Lutyens and Charles Voysey, this beautiful new family home draws upon the craftsmanship and traditional forms associated with many of the great architectural Arts and Crafts Houses of the late Victorian era. The choice of high-quality materials and detailing, along with the modulated facades and its low roofs brings together many of the vernacular traditions associated with the movement, whilst creating interior spaces conducive with modern family living.
Careful consideration has been given to the location and the surrounding context of this new house. Set within the rolling hills of Surrey and approached via an avenue of mature trees, the site is obscured by trees affording framed views to and from the house, creating a harmonised relationship with the landscape. The new garden room provides a seamless transition between the formal interior spaces and the gardens, which is to be set to lawns, shrubs, hedges and trees, reminiscent to those created by Gertrude Jekyll.
Clad in rich nutty brown handmade bricks with horizontal tile creasing set below the weight of the plain clay-tiled roof, all sitting on a plinth of stone, grounded by splayed buttresses, helps to anchor the building to the ground.
The four fluted chimneys are not only functional elements of the design, but also important visual anchors – they not only dress each side of the building and are a foil to the strong horizontal lines of the east and west elevations, but they also, especially on the western elevation, help reinforce the idea of the house is growing from the site.
The fenestration incorporates a hierarchy to help reinforce the fact that some windows are of lesser importance. Thus, windows to the main aspects and to the main habitable rooms are the larger casements with the crossed glazing bars. Windows of secondary importance, particularly the first-floor dormers, are smaller in size and fitted with leaded lights, allowing for a frame views out to the surrounding landscape.
Designed on the classic “H” plan, allowing all principle rooms a northern or southern aspect, the interior spaces subtly pay homage to the naturalistic and muted palette of colours of William Morris’ quietly radical designs.
We believe this new house embodies the craftsmanship and traditions of the Arts and Crafts movement with the requirements of contemporary family living. Constructed from high quality natural materials, which in time will mellow and have an appropriate relationship with the surrounding landscape.
If you like what you see and are considering a building project we would be very happy to discuss this with you without any obligation. You can get in touch directly using the contact details provided below or calling the office on 01243 859510. We look forward to hearing from you.