Near Appleford, Oxfordshire.
An award-nominated contemporary, light-filled riverside home that provides a tranquil retreat with perfectly framed views of the Oxfordshire countryside.
The Brief
A picturesque riverside plot is one of the most prized locations for housebuilders – certainly in the case of our client, who acquired a sought-after parcel of land in the grounds of a Grade II* listed manor house in Oxfordshire with the dream of creating a unique family home that made the most of uninterrupted views across the upper reaches of the River Thames.
Although sensitive to the cultural significance of the immediate environment – and the village beyond – the client was keen to commission a confident, contemporary design that would add an important new chapter to the history of the area.
We designed a simple, yet elegant, pavilion-style home that sits comfortably in its surroundings and offers tempting vistas across the river and beyond.
The building presents a number of intriguing angles, and features river-facing elevations that incorporate floor-to-ceiling glass panels to effortlessly capture the light and blur the distinction between indoors and out.
The low-profile roofline helps the house to complement – rather than dominate – its surroundings, while the use of functional stilts gives it the effect of floating over the meadow.
The final design
Completed in August 2020, the new family home follows a flowing linear design with a central entrance court from which living spaces extend in twin axes.
The main living areas are arranged along the north-western façade, with utility areas situated to the rear. The expansive kitchen and breakfast nook open up to the east, offering an outlook towards the feature ‘dovecote’ façade, with a formal herb garden separating the two.
A triple garage connects to the house via a covered open courtyard, or porte-cochere, where the roof rises to frame a glimpse of the garden beyond.
Status: Completed
Photography by Martin Gardner
What challenges did we need to overcome?
As you might imagine, there were many planning and environmental constraints to the successful development of this plot.
Situated within a green belt and in proximity to an established, historically important manor house in leafy South Oxfordshire, the site required a carefully calibrated approach that would marry the desires of the owner with the requirements of the local planning and conservation teams.
Although already occupying a secluded position, consideration was given to minimising the visual impact of the house on the surrounding area and to mitigating flood risk in the event of extreme weather conditions.
Interiors.
As Interior Designers, we are passionate about creating beautiful homes that capture your personal style and enhance the essence and purpose of each space.
Landscapes.
As Landscape architects and garden designers, we are passionate about creating wonderful gardens that perfectly frame your home and connect you to nature. Whether you are embarking on a large garden design project or would like help with planting schemes, our team will work with you to turn your aspirations into beautiful unique spaces, seamlessly linking indoors and out.
Renovations.
We’ve helped transform many wonderful living spaces through renovations and extensions over the years.
Whether you’re looking for a contemporary glass addition, a complete makeover for a period Victorian or Edwardian property, internal remodelling options for houses built more recently, or a complete restoration of a derelict building, we’ll be able to help.
Using our 3D design process, you can explore a range of alterations before embarking on the more detailed phase of your renovation or extension.
Listed Properties.
With our wealth of experience working on listed and heritage properties across London and the South East, HollandGreen has successfully negotiated consents with Local Authority Conservation Officers and with Historic England for a wide range of renovation and extension planning requests.
We work with Specialist Heritage Consultants, and Archaeologists to provide detailed assessments of historic buildings, and have gained approval for ambitious, but sympathetic alterations to properties of historic interest, including those Grade ii* which fall within the top 3% of protected properties in the UK.
New Builds.
For many people the prospect of building their own home is the ultimate dream. At HollandGreen, we’re proud of the fact that we have helped a number of people achieve this dream.
If you are fortunate enough to have a plot of land that has the potential to be built on, or a house that you would like to knock down and start again with a blank piece of paper, we’d love to help.
We can advise on likely planning implications to help establish the feasibility of your project. Our exciting design journey will help you navigate through planning, choosing your builder, and delivering your dream new home.
Barn Conversions.
Barn conversions offer the perfect opportunity to create a unique countryside home, packed with character. At HollandGreen, we’ve had extensive experience in converting existing agricultural buildings into residential dwellings, in accordance to the recent changes to ‘Class Q’ Permitted Development Rights.
From traditional listed stone walled buildings with slate roofing, to more modern metal clad farm sheds for the modern, industrial look, you can create luxurious country living perfect for you. What a great opportunity to create a characterful family home that’s sympathetic to its rural setting, and generally larger in volume and scale than a modern build.
Conservation Areas.
Many properties fall within locations specified as a Conservation Area or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and we have specific experience working with planning departments across London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
Please do get in touch if you have any specific questions around what can be possible within a Conservation Area, even if you are just at the early stage of purchasing the property.
Luxury Basements & Pools.
If you’re battling to add space to your property, creating a basement storey can provide the perfect option to add significant living space, without having to move.
With basements closer to the main living areas than lofts, there is greater flexibility in terms of use, from home cinemas, wine cellars and playrooms, to office spaces, personal gyms and swimming pools.
To find out whether adding a basement to your property will add value to your house, we recommend seeking advice from your local estate agents. Talk to us about Permitted Development Rights, as basement extensions are often possible, if a cellar space already exists.
Luxury Kitchens & Lofts.
The way people use their living space is changing. We find that for most of our clients, the kitchen is now the hub of the modern home, and we’re proud that we’ve become known for our inventive and aspirational kitchen extensions.
We’ve helped hundreds of home owners across London and the South East create open, bright and contemporary kitchen living spaces that combine cooking, dining and living within one social and inviting area.
We’re also known for our carefully considered, aesthetically pleasing loft extensions that both increase living space and add a wonderful new aspect to your home.
- Interiors
- Landscapes
- Renovations
- Listed Properties
- New Builds
- Barn Conversions
- Conservation Areas
- Luxury Basements & Pools
- Luxury Kitchens & Lofts
