Contemporary House Exterior Ideas and Designs
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Spatial Design ArchitectsOur client set out from the start that he did not want a traditional home and supported us in creating a home that would be interesting, tested the planning system and made use of the lie of the land and views into the forest to the rear, the forest connects to the ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’ of ‘Thorndon Country Park’.
Spatial Design Architects undertook a full site analysis and feasibility study, that included a full understanding of the site and the local context, the existing dwelling was elevated 4m above the lower garden level, the plot was within a historic hamlet that dated back to the ‘Domesday Book’ of 1086, within the metropolitan greenbelt, conservation area and was adjacent to a Grade II listed dwelling. These were many points that we had to consider our design proposals upon and its impact.
We developed many possible contemporary design forms and ideas; the main design principles were to create a dwelling that provided fantastic internal views out to the forest and garden. We formed an idea of a house that functioned with the main living spaces on the upper floor and the ancillary spaces on the lower ground floor.
The main entrance would be via the upper level, an internal and external staircase would allow transition to the lower garden level, angled boundaries allowed a form that was fractured from the central core, that created two designated spaces. The use of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) was suggested for the main upper-level structure, this was chosen for fast on-site construction and low environmental impact.
We developed a pre-application design document showing our design ethos for the site with the potential mass and form. This began great pre-application discussions with the local planning authority and ‘Design Council’, from the presentation further height, volume and placement restrictions were confirmed.
A final design was approved and developed further into technical design, 3 no. intersecting anthracite zinc pods, balanced upon the gabion clad wall podium. The front was designed as a subtle contemporary cottage with a bridged entrance and the rear with cantilevered a-symmetric gabled structures with glazed facades.
Spatial Design Architects have project managed the design, detailing and delivery of this unique bespoke home.
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McLean QuinlanHidden within a clearing in a Grade II listed arboretum in Hampshire, this highly efficient new-build family home was designed to fully embrace its wooded location.
Surrounded by woods, the site provided both the potential for a unique perspective and also a challenge, due to the trees limiting the amount of natural daylight. To overcome this, we placed the guest bedrooms and ancillary spaces on the ground floor and elevated the primary living areas to the lighter first and second floors.
The entrance to the house is via a courtyard to the north of the property. Stepping inside, into an airy entrance hall, an open oak staircase rises up through the house.
Immediately beyond the full height glazing across the hallway, a newly planted acer stands where the two wings of the house part, drawing the gaze through to the gardens beyond. Throughout the home, a calming muted colour palette, crafted oak joinery and the gentle play of dappled light through the trees, creates a tranquil and inviting atmosphere.
Upstairs, the landing connects to a formal living room on one side and a spacious kitchen, dining and living area on the other. Expansive glazing opens on to wide outdoor terraces that span the width of the building, flooding the space with daylight and offering a multi-sensory experience of the woodland canopy. Porcelain tiles both inside and outside create a seamless continuity between the two.
At the top of the house, a timber pavilion subtly encloses the principal suite and study spaces. The mood here is quieter, with rooflights bathing the space in light and large picture windows provide breathtaking views over the treetops.
The living area on the first floor and the master suite on the upper floor function as a single entity, to ensure the house feels inviting, even when the guest bedrooms are unoccupied.
Outside, and opposite the main entrance, the house is complemented by a single storey garage and yoga studio, creating a formal entrance courtyard to the property. Timber decking and raised beds sit to the north of the studio and garage.
The buildings are predominantly constructed from timber, with offsite fabrication and precise on-site assembly. Highly insulated, the choice of materials prioritises the reduction of VOCs, with wood shaving insulation and an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) to minimise both operational and embodied carbon emissions.
Contemporary House Exterior Ideas and Designs
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