WLA was appointed to refine the design of two previously approved houses.
Brief
Following appointment in 2019, the client’s brief stipulated a more traditional country house design referencing either the Georgian or Victorian period, with improved proportions, reflecting much of the architecture of the Lymington area. A better resolved design language was sought, that is more harmonious to the setting of the site
This design balances elegance and simplicity with generous proportions of natural light.
Project Challenges
The style is characterised by generous room sizes and ceiling heights for contemporary family living, with flowing internal spaces. Large sash windows maximise light penetration, whilst also providing a pleasing sense of proportion and order to the elevations. Articulation and focus to the main entrances is achieved by the use of ashlar stone porticos set within recesses between projecting bays. Prominent projecting and bracketed eaves under natural slate roofs contribute to a simple, understated elegance.
A calm colour palette is proposed for the smooth rendered exterior which will assist in creating a gentle, sophisticated house design but complemented by generous soft landscaping. The backdrop of mature trees that screen the site contribute to the country house setting. A simple, but carefully detailed ‘coach-house’ style is proposed for the garage buildings. These are located to create a sense of enclosure and arrival. Constructed from the distinctive buff brickwork widely found in the local area, they will read as simpler ancillary outbuildings, rather than part of a larger complex of built forms.
A slight increase to the combined Gross Internal Area of both houses was also achieved, to 695sqm, remaining within the 700sqm total of the existing buildings to be demolished.
