Garden House, Lincolnshire
Inspired by historic English walled gardens, this contemporary country home replaces a smaller traditional two-storey cottage, originally built as accommodation for a farm manager.
“The proposed design is uncompromisingly modern… particularly sympathetic to the surrounding flat and largely open landscape… and will complement the setting of the nearby Listed Building”
— Delegated Planning Officer Report, East Lindsey District Council
Contemporary yet timeless. A new three-bedroom family home within the grounds of a Grade II Listed Building in rural Lincolnshire.
Sustainability was a key priority for the clients and is integral to the design. The house is positioned away from existing mature trees, which allow it to receive excellent levels of natural light and to take advantage of passive solar gain. A carefully designed overhang ensures the sun helps heat the house in winter whilst preventing overheating in summer.
The quality of construction exceeds the Building Regulations and this fabric-first approach is supported by a Ground Source Heat Pump, Photovoltaic Panels and battery storage for excess generated energy.
Conceived as a protective and inhabited garden wall, the walls of the house wrap around an intimate courtyard garden at the heart of the home. They extend out to provide shelter from strong prevailing winds and hold a larger garden designed by Gardener’s Worlds’ Adam Frost.
Externally, the house has a strong horizontal character. This is both a response to the existing low-lying brick walls and hedges which define paddocks and edges of buildings across the site, as well as the wide and open landscape beyond.
The house is built of a bespoke brick blend, handmade in England. The bricks themselves are almost twice the length of a standard brick and emphasise the horizontal character of the design. On the main approach to the house, walls are ‘carved’ to create a sculptured façade with covered external spaces. These are partially lined with timber to provide a contrast to the brick.
Inside, the house is arranged on one level. Most rooms are duel or triple aspect and have a strong visual connection to the two gardens and landscape beyond, creating a feeling of openness. For example from the entrance hall, the sky, courtyard garden and paddock are all visible.
A combination of thoughtfully positioned windows and rooflights frame specific views and provide privacy, whilst ensuring the house is filled with natural light.
A unique courtyard garden is accessible from many spaces through sliding doors, becoming a room itself and blurring the boundary between inside and outside. The courtyards central location allows fresh, scented air to circulate the home along with the calming sound of a bespoke water feature.
For & on behalf of the Robert Doughty Consultancy.