This new build country house near Hawkhurst, Kent, provides the best of both traditional rural tactility and modern contemporary living. The design had to fulfil a number of stringent planning requirements before being approved, with the council requiring it to closely resemble the local timber and brick houses. After a long iterative process, the design became a suitable contemporary reinterpretation of the vernacular.

Large glazed screens allow light to flood the interior spaces while framing the astounding views of the surrounding woodlands. The purple-tinted brick and weathering larch cladding will, in time, blend into the surrounding tones. These rugged cladding materials are offset by the clean lines of the windows and aluminium trims. Custom designed timber vents succeed in keeping the facade free of unnecessary visual clutter.

The house wraps around this space in an “L” shape, creating what feels like a rural courtyard. Despite the significant size of the house and generous ceiling heights, the bedrooms occupy the loft space of the roof to create an intimate and traditional domestic feel.