ProjectSpring Wood House
LocationHigh Weald AONB
ClientPrivate
StatusPlanning DRP
A steeply sloping, beautiful site in the AONB, with sweeping views to the valley beyond
Spring Wood House is a Paragraph 84 (previously Paragraph 80) home designed for a young family. The site is a steeply sloping, beautiful site in the AONB, with sweeping views to the valley beyond. Spring Wood House is designed to address this sloping site and respond sensitively to the surrounding vernacular, including the use of first floor datums separating the use of timber and brick.
The building itself is arranged to maximise views down the valley clearing, and orientate rooms towards the sun. Privacy and noise protection from the nearby road were considered, and were driving factors between the three separate wings of the proposal. An enclosed, private courtyard means that only glimpses of privacy and domesticity are offered from the building approach.
Connections between the kitchen and play spaces were important for the client, so she could keep an eye on her children playing whilst she spent time in the kitchen or snug. A storage wall is proposed throughout the whole living wing, running along the northern elevation wall. This allows for fun and playful use of this space and framed smaller picture windows to the woodland beyond.
Material Palette and Embodied Carbon
Material selection has been carefully considered and chosen using Studio Bark’s in house carbon counting tool. By comparing different material build ups based on their embodied carbon, we were able to select a material palette for the scheme that was low impact but also in-keeping with the local area. A reclaimed brick datum remains consistent as the land and building drops around it, with timber structure, insulation and cladding above. This material datum is a reflection of the surrounding vernacular.
