Set within the rolling Oxfordshire landscape, this project comprises a gallery garage with guest accommodation and studio above, carefully integrated into a walled garden with terrace and outdoor kitchen. From concept to delivery, HollandGreen’s Architecture and Landscape teams worked as a single design studio to create a cohesive building and landscape that sits confidently within its country estate setting.
The ground floor houses a three-bay glazed car gallery, conceived as both a functional garage and a display space. Above, a self-contained guest apartment and office studio are accessed via a sculpted external staircase, providing privacy and independence from the main house. The building’s material palette, timber cladding and restrained detailing responds to the local architectural vernacular while delivering a crisp, contemporary expression.
Full-height glazing to both sides of the car gallery establishes a strong visual and physical connection between the entrance courtyard and the garden beyond, allowing the space to read as a thoroughfare rather than a barrier. Internally, a limestone floor, polished plaster walls and an exposed concrete ceiling introduce a refined, industrial character. The apartment interiors were designed by Henry Smith, complementing the architecture with a calm, considered palette.
We designed a simple, yet elegant, pavilion-style home with light-filled interiors that enjoy panoramic views across the river Thames. The interior palette follows a contemporary and minimal aesthetic throughout, drawing the eye to the beautiful countryside surroundings.
The main living areas are arranged along the north-western façade, with utility areas situated to the rear. Clean white lines dominate the interior palette, with elegant marble accents throughout the open plan kitchen/dining spaces and bathrooms.
Expansive glass walls and windows give uninterrupted sightline across the length and breadth of the house, creating a bright and tranquil retreat to enjoy for years to come.
Photographed in both summer and autumn, an elegant walled garden and outdoor kitchen integrates with a contemporary Car Gallery and Apartment building, nestled on an Oxfordshire estate. Using paddle stone to define the space, the design features layers of soft planting in the surrounding beds to provide colour, form and texture throughout the seasons. Pleached trees either side of the garden give a sense of structure and height, which frame a Victorian-style greenhouse to the rear.
In the video below, the homeowners share more on the journey of their project.
A bespoke Corten steel water feature creates a hallmark within the garden, using strong architectural lines to draw the eye from inside to the view outside, and providing a sense of fun as one steps over the rill to access a lush green lawn. The soothing sound of water along with light glistening off the moving surface brings a calming dimension to the garden, enhancing the sensory experience to nature.
Standing pride of place in the centre of the garden, a David Harber Armillary Sphere sun dial creates the perfect focal point viewed from the building and within the garden itself, while a range of Torc Pots surround the flowering beds.
As part of the project, our Architectural team designed a luxury car gallery and apartment building, linked by a set of floating Corten steps. The structure is inspired by the local vernacular of farm buildings to sit comfortably in the estate, with strong lines and glazing to nevertheless deliver a striking individuality.
Barns & Country Estates
Lifestyle
Architecture
Landscape Design
Oxfordshire
Delivered
Lamburn Geekie, Henry Smith