rappax road, hale barns

The site, which had originally been occupied in the 1970s was under the restriction of an awkward covenant which stipulated that anything built must be no taller than a single-story building. However, determined not to skimp on ceiling height, the proposal was to take full advantage of the sloping site by lowering the back of the building into the existing gradient of land, to create a grand double height living and entertainment space.

The house is curated with two distinct thematic areas. Firstly, the social and entertainment space is designed to be flexible, with sliding doors between the kitchen, living and design spaces to accommodate intimate events, through to full scale house parties. A private second entrance ensures event staff have separate access to the catering kitchen. Secondly, the more intimate areas of the home such as the bedrooms and master suite, occupy a separate wing – a sanctuary away from the entertainment hub.

The client wanted the interior to be as simple and sleek as possible in its detail, so all air-conditioning grilles, blind boxes, window frames and even door frames were designed so they would not be visible, an therefore cannot detract from the simple form and clean lines of the aesthetic. Personality shines through, with each room having its own identity – each bathroom is clad in a different stone. 

Although crisp, making use of natural materials and full height windows wherever possible, this house is anything but stark. 

Status: Completed

Client: Private

Main Contractor: Planetree Properties Limited 

Quantity Surveyor: The Vinden Partnership 

Structural Engineer: R&D Engineering

M&E Engineer: JRB Environmental Design Limited

Practice: Stephenson Bell (Senior Architect, Andrew Edmunds)