UK-based design practice and RIBA award-winning AR Design Studio has completed another stunning property on the south coast of England. Boarded by mature trees and a lake it is perfect setting for ultimate relaxation and privacy. The five-bedroom house, whilst contemporary, juxtaposes superbly with its tranquil location. The whole look and feel of this luxury English property is very liner and areas are clearly defined by defined by timber paths and large stone walls that begin in the gardens and run straight through the house. The walls link to a further separate office and gym space at the bottom of the garden. These dividing walls create four separate garden experiences, an entrance space, a calm pebbled Japanese herb garden, a private enclosed wooded space dedicated to the kitchen and master bedroom above and a large open expanse of tropical plants and lawn reaching down to the lake, reflecting the open plan living space that looks over it. The upper sleeping floor of the contemporary English property is sat on top of the walls appearing to float above the lower floor. There are five bedrooms, all with large glazed areas, providing beautiful tree top views of the lake and surrounding woodland, creating a sense of being amongst the tree canopy whilst lying in bed. The ground floor living areas, nestled under the sleeping box are enclosed with large sliding glazed panels that provide a seamless link between the internal and external. The terrace further accentuates this, with the use of a single style of floor tile inside, that extends outside through flush thresholds to really give a true sense of ‘inside/outside living’. The house is surrounded by a moat providing a metaphoric sense of security between the outside world and the inner sanctum. Crossing it via a bridge to access the front door, enables the owners to psychologically leave the outside world behind and enter into their own retreat. The unique kitchen has two distinct sections; the main front of house ‘display’ kitchen that is perfect for cooking, entertaining and socializing, and the more functional back of house ‘hidden’ kitchen for the sink, dishwasher and washing machine. These two areas are beautifully separated by invisible kitchen doors which disappear within the kitchen furniture when closed and create the connection between both spaces when open. This bespoke contemporary kitchen, with furniture from the iconic German kitchen company SieMatic and Gaggenau appliances, was designed and installed by Hampshire’s leading kitchen and interior architecture specialist, The Myers Touch. The palette of materials used is modest and understated. White and grey render adorn the floating box. Natural stone, inspired by local 12th-century abbey that sets the vernacular for the area, is used for the walls that dominate the ground floor providing rugged contrast. Dark floor tiles inside and out make the experience of the house, that of calm play between light and space without boundaries. The luxury English house is super insulated to create a highly energy efficient home, with under floor heating providing warmth and large overhangs to reduce solar gain in the summer months while allowing passive solar heating in the winter.
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