Orchard House
Our clients required a contemporary house that would suit their busy lives, while providing a great home for their family.
Whilst the ground floor plan largely remained as per previous house, the architectural language was simplified with a long rectangular first floor volume, spanning across the ground floor H-shaped plan. The central part of the “H” comprises a large double-height entrance, emphasised by a two-storey chimney, a sweeping helical staircase, and a living area commanding the central space of the house.
One of the legs of the “H” contains kitchen, dining and home office, while the other is service-orientated with garage, nanny’s room, plant, cinema and a spa area with pool, steam room and hot tub.
The first floor volume sits over the H-shape and contains four en-suite bedrooms to one side of the double height gallery. To the other side is a generous master bedroom with a spacious en-suite and dressing room. The bedroom enjoys a private balcony overlooking the garden.
The first floor volume is expressed as a lighter form utilising white render and contrasts with the solidity of the lower brick volume creating a clear architectural diagram. The “H” creates an entrance courtyard to the road, where openings and windows are carefully considered to provide privacy while creating a welcoming entrance. Full height glazing surrounding the open plan kitchen, dining and living spaces opens up to a private courtyard and allows the house to feel transparent and connected with the landscaped garden.
- Ström Architects team − James Chapman, Magnus Ström, Hugh Richardson
- Location − London, UK
- Structural Engineer − Jensen Hunt
- MEP Engineer − Clarke Services Group
- Cost Consultant − MPG Shreeves
- Photographs − Richard Chivers
- Visualisation − NuMa
- Contractor − Griggs Homes
