This project was for an extension to a country house designed by Ivor Smith in the 1960’s. It is located in Ewelme, Oxfordshire, which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The brief was for a multi purpose room and independent flat at the end of the existing building. This new space is South facing and leads directly to the garden and the most intimate corner of the site. With this in mind and with the naturally rich context the site offers, the room is designed to be strongly conscious of its surrounding environment. We also wanted to respect the initial design’s Brutalist background, whilst building a modern design.

Walls are cut away and broken down to sections that provide controlled views of the outside. Light has been animated to act as a clock during the day, casting controlled shadows or light squares that move around the white walls.

Photography: David Lambert