There is something particularly comforting about September.
The light begins to soften, evening draws in a little earlier, and our homes gradually become the places we retreat to again. Windows that have stood open throughout summer begin to close and thoughts turn from garden and outdoor living, toward warmer, more sheltered spaces.
It is a month that often makes us notice our homes differently whether it’s the afternoon light moving through a room or the autumnal view from a favourite chair.
For us, the change of seasons feels like a fitting time to share a home we have been working on the past wee while, one where shelter and landscape have been central to the design from the very beginning.
The Spine Wall House
Set within mature woodland, this new home is being designed in direct response to its landscape.
The site is characterised by mature trees and an undulating forest floor, a beautiful setting but one that calls for a considered architectural response. Rather than treating the changing levels as something to overcome, the design seeks to work with the land, allowing the building to settle naturally into its surroundings.
At the outset, we explored three distinct design proposals with our client, each offering a different response to the site, brief and landscape. From these studies, the client selected the Spine Wall concept as the preferred direction.
At the heart of proposal is a strong architectural wall that forms the organising element of the house. It established a clear datum through the changing ground levels, anchors the buildings within the woodland and provides a structure around which the principal living spaces are arranged.
From this central spine, the accommodation can respond more freely to orientation, views, privacy and the existing trees. The results is a home conceived not simply as an object placed within the landscape, but as a series of spaces shaped by it.
Materiality, light, outlook and the relationship between inside and outside are all important parts of the developing design. Openings are positioned to capture selected view through the woodland, while the form and arrangement of the house seek to create moments of shelter, enclosure and openness as you move thought it.
Projects such as this are a reminder of why the early design stage are so important. Exploring more than one idea gives both architect and client the opportunity to text possibilities beef settling on the approach that feels most appropriate for the site and the people who will ultimately call it home.
We look forward to sharing more of the Spine Wall House as it continues to develop.
Thinking About A Project Next Year?
Good architecture takes time. Before work begins on site there can be measured surveys, feasibility studies, design development, cost discussions, planning applications, building warrant approvals and technical information to prepare. Starting those conversations early gives a project the breathing room it needs and allows important decisions to be made thoughtfully rather than under unnecessary time pressure.
So, whether you are considering a new home, extension, renovation or something a little different, September is a useful time to begin getting those proverbial ducks in a row.
An initial conversation doesn’t need to begin with a finished brief. Often, it simply begins with a site, an existing building or an idea of what you would like to achieve and some good coffee! From there, we can help you explore what might be possible.
For now, we hope you enjoy September, the softer light, changing landscape and those not to distant cosy evenings spent at home.
Warm regards,
From all @ BWMA