River House, Oxfordshire

The home is located on the grounds of a Grade II* listed manor house, a setting that required a particularly considered architectural response. A key challenge was to introduce a contemporary building that would complement, rather than dominate, its historic surroundings. Our solution was a low-profile, single-storey pavilion whose horizontal lines and restrained material palette allow it to sit comfortably within the open meadow.

Inside, the layout is arranged to maximise the connection to the landscape. The main living areas are positioned along the river-facing elevation, with floor-to-ceiling glass panels framing uninterrupted views and drawing in natural light. Utility spaces are discreetly located to the rear, maintaining the clarity of the home’s design.

The site’s high probability of flooding presented a significant technical challenge. To resolve this, we engineered the entire structure to stand on stilts, raising the finished floor level to provide robust, long-term protection from rising river levels – an approach that led to the home being dubbed a ‘modern Noah’s Ark’ by The Sunday Times. These stilts are deliberately tucked into a shadow gap set back from the building’s edge, creating the remarkable impression that the house is floating weightlessly over the lawn.

The expansive kitchen and breakfast nook open to the east, looking out towards a distinctive ‘dovecote’ façade. A formal herb garden was designed to create a structured and fragrant link between these two spaces, further reinforcing the relationship between the architecture and the landscape.