Set within a large Oxfordshire estate, this three-bay glazed car gallery was conceived as both a functional garage and a display space.
Full-height glazing to both sides of the car gallery establishes a strong visual and physical connection to the rest of the property. Above, a self-contained guest apartment and office studio are accessed via a sculptural external staircase.
A key architectural challenge was to introduce a modern building into a sensitive country estate without it feeling imposed. Our solution was to create a design that responds to the local vernacular. A palette of timber cladding and restrained detailing delivers a contemporary expression that sits comfortably within its rural setting.
The ground floor houses a three-bay car gallery, where the central challenge was to balance the need for secure, optimal supercar storage with the client’s desire for an elegant display space. Our solution was to design the structure as a transparent pavilion. Full-height glazing on both sides turns the functional garage into a vitrine-like gallery, establishing a strong visual connection between the entrance courtyard and the garden beyond. This allows the building to read as an open volume rather than a solid form.
Internally, finishes were selected to elevate the space beyond a typical garage. A limestone floor, polished plaster walls and an exposed concrete ceiling create a refined, industrial character worthy of a gallery. Above, the apartment and studio are accessed via a sculptural external staircase, providing privacy and independence from the main house.
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.
Set within an Oxfordshire estate, this elegant walled garden is designed as a thoughtful counterpart to a contemporary Car Gallery and apartment, creating a rich dialogue between modern architecture and a timeless landscape.
Paddle stone walls define the space, providing a textured backdrop for layered planting that brings evolving colour and form throughout the year. To either side, pleached trees introduce structure and height, framing the view towards a classic Victorian-style greenhouse at the rear.
A bespoke Corten steel water rill serves as a central architectural feature, its strong lines drawing the eye from inside to the garden beyond. This carefully considered detail introduces the gentle sound and movement of water, creating a multi-sensory experience.
At the garden’s heart, a David Harber Armillary Sphere creates a compelling focal point, complemented by curated Torc Pots. The result is a beautifully structured outdoor space designed not just to be viewed, but to be lived in.
Leisure & Lifestyle
Architecture
Oxfordshire
Delivered
Lamburn Geekie, Henry Smith