Branwyn House is a contemporary, Japanese-inspired family home in Berkshire, thoughtfully designed to sit lightly within its landscape. Perched on a sloping site overlooking a protected green corridor, the proposal reimagines multigenerational living on a generous scale – balancing architectural simplicity with sustainable innovation.
Our client briefed us to create a nine-bedroom home capable of housing multiple generations of his family. A key challenge was to accommodate this extensive brief, which included significant subterranean leisure facilities, without the building dominating its setting or impacting the views of neighbouring properties. Our solution was to break the building’s mass into two distinct wings, connected by non-intrusive flat-roofed sections. This approach reduced the visual impact and created space for landscaped courtyards that integrate the house with its surroundings. Exposed structural timbers and full-height sliding partitions produce elegant, flexible interiors suited to a busy multigenerational household. Living areas are arranged in an open sequence with framed views of the gardens, while smaller zones allow for private retreat.
The site’s steep gradient posed another design consideration. Rather than resist the terrain, the design uses the topography to its advantage, embedding the house into the slope through a series of level changes. This strategy not only settles the building into the land but also supports views, daylight and privacy, while large cantilevered elements on the rear elevation capitalise on dramatic views over the gardens.
The design is heavily influenced by contemporary Japanese architecture, celebrating simplicity, quality and craftsmanship. The proposed materials create a tactile, layered façade: at ground level, a warm, muted Petersen-style brick provides a solid base, while the upper floor features charred timber cladding inspired by shou-sugi-ban techniques. Accoya timber louvres add depth and contrast, and a standing-seam zinc roof complements the clean, vertical lines of the cladding.
A fabric-first approach to sustainability underpins the entire design. Passive cooling strategies, including projecting overhangs, directional louvres and cross-ventilation, reduce reliance on mechanical systems. The proposal performs 83% better than the existing building in relation to carbon emissions, with an ambition to achieve net-zero carbon through further design refinements.
The landscape design for Branwyn House takes a contemporary approach to Japanese-inspired principles, creating a series of calm, structured spaces that connect directly with the home and its setting. The garden responds to the natural slope of the site, using terracing and carefully placed planting to integrate the architecture into the land while maintaining clear views across the protected green corridor.
A central water feature and outdoor firepit form focal points within the design, bringing movement, warmth, and a sense of rhythm to the space. Planting is layered and textural, drawing on Japanese influences to create seasonal interest and visual depth while supporting local biodiversity. The result is a considered landscape that combines precision, restraint, and ecological awareness—complementing the architecture through balance and simplicity.
Contemporary Classics
Architecture
Landscape Design
Berkshire
In-Design