Hyde Cottage

About the project

Due to be submitted for planning shortly is our proposal for a new dwelling within the grounds of an existing house in North Hampshire.

Studio four were commissioned to design a contemporary family home, nestled amongst the trees of an expansive existing garden, to sit in harmony with the landscape and respect the traditional nature of the village.

The layout of the house relates the primary living spaces to the rear ‘woodland’ garden, and creates a simple ‘L’-shaped floor plan, the form of which has retained a traditional pitched roof. Brick and horizontal timber cladding of this element follow the traditional building style of the village.

The open plan design of the living space promotes family interaction throughout the main living area, and combined with generous openings, encourages interaction with the outside space and garden; whilst the kitchen maintains a view of the driveway and front entrance for both security and convenience.

This layout also carefully considers the privacy of both the existing neighbours and that of the residents, ensuring that habitable rooms do not have compromising outlooks, with the fenestration design playing a key role in this. Modern styled vertical slot windows within this form give a contemporary look, and allow plentiful daylight into the rooms, but with only acute views out.

To the front an entrance and service wing has been given a more contemporary vertical clad finish using a darker cladding, so as to suggest a modern addition. And to the very front the study/office/bedroom appears as a converted garage, linked to the ‘new addition’ with a contemporary glazed hall. The materials of this front element match those of the main house form.

Set down into the sloping land, the overall height of the building also strikes through the medial ridge level between that of the dwellings either side, which combined with its interactive plan, the materiality and evolutionary nature of the forms, all further reinforce the harmonious nature of the proposal within its setting.