HILLside
On a hilltop site bordered by the River Ouse, with rolling views over the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Hillside is sensitive a reworking of a former pair of Victorian red brick cottages. Previously in rental ownership for many years, the house desperately needed a new lease of life. Nina, a former professional musician and photographer turned horticulturalist dreamed of developing the gardens and generous surrounding land herself. However she was open minded when it came to the house, her brief was to make it more special than it already was, creating its natural next chapter as a family home.
AbR undertook a highly personal and detailed design process, proposals evolving from a critical analysis of the existing house as well as the natural conditions and orientation of the property, with massing tested through physical modelling. Vitally the plan was seen as a tool to organise family life and its connection to the outside, the strong central axis linking spaces and views. Seemingly simple moves like switching the staircase around and opening-up the entranceway to the former dining space revolutionised the layout of the ground floor, giving it a sense of generosity.
Following the existing architectural language, an additional bay window double storey extension was added, stepping down the hill to link the new generous height dual aspect family kitchen with the garden directly. Externally, the materiality of the designs evolved from a detailed study of the local vernacular and the existing architecture, the resulting design marries the disparate front and rear elevations and compliments it’s rich history. A double storey pop-out oriel window with contemporary frameless glass emulates an original oriel window to the rear and opened out views over the valley from the kitchen and master ensuite.
