Keeper House & Lodge
Elevated above a river meander, the site of Keeper
House is bounded within a Special Area of Conservation
encompassing magnificent mature trees. A Neolithic
ring fort to the north east, bears witness to the
providence of the land. Views of distant mountains
emerge through the trees to the east and south.
The client sought a contemporary design approach to
capture the unique characteristics of the site, to include
a house and a separate lodge with its own
aspect and privacy. The brief proposed a low energy
design, maximising visibility, connectivity and enjoyment
of the natural habitat as project criteria.
The scheme is set out around a three sided walled
garden, gathering vehicles in a sheltered courtyard..
The south wall shifts in plane to form a shared
plantroom, while also creating privacy between
each dwelling.
Distant views are screened, to be later revealed
when entering the main social space of each
house. Common design elements are applied with
subtle variation to each dwelling. Higher ceiling to
social spaces, creates a dominant roof plane that
floats over courtyard walls to announce entry.
The main house faces south and east, with a central kitchen core
that divides the plan into entrance hallway, dining area, study
and living space. The lodge faces west; a distilled version of the
main house plan.
Internally the visual dominance of tree foliage through floor to ceiling glass gives seasonal definition. Bedrooms are arranged adjacent to the line of the courtyard wall, each room having direct garden access, with an external fern garden, outside shower & hot tub off the master en-suite.
To the south the connecting wall is planted with trained
fruit trees, and forms a backdrop to a pathway which includes
viewing platforms, and the river bank below, further
harmonising landscape, architecture and occupant.
