Esher House
A new build 5 bedroom family house with swimming pool in Esher, Surrey.
The clients lived in an existing house on this dramatic, steeply sloping site but were frustrated by its challenging layout, small windows and poor relationship with the garden and beautiful surroundings. so decided to rebuild.
The new house was designed to liberate the flat area of the garden, which had previously been consumed by the original building, and connect the entire length of the site, front to back. The plan is linear, placed along a flank boundary, and develops a dialogue with the landscape, which slips beneath the building, allowing for spectacular long views whilst taking into account privacy between neighbours.
Social and family spaces are carefully arranged in a loose open plan on the ground floor, allowing for a variety of scales and levels of intimacy. Full height glazing, and the continuous limestone stone floor, effortlessly connect the internal spaces with the garden, bringing outside in.
The house is organised around a double height dinning space with a staircase to the upper floor. The master bedroom suite is to one side with four children’s bedrooms, each with ensuite bathrooms, on the other. A wide corridor acts as a gallery space for the owners special collection of paintings.
The first floor appears to ‘float’ about the ground floor and the bedrooms at both ends have uninterrupted long views into the lush tree canopies
Client Testimony:
“Frank and I fell in love with the house the first time we set foot in here, signed contracts in under a fortnight and have loved every moment of our time here.
We have been blown away by the very clever design and the acoustic is as good as any concert hall. This has been a huge joy for both of us. The shadows, the privacy, the expanse of nature and the clever way each room enjoys complete privacy without encroaching on the neighbouring properties.
We would be delighted should you wish to visit here and we would then be able to express our endless enthusiasm for the architecture and your combined cleverness in achieving this triumph.
Thank you for the many happy days.”
Awards:
Winner - RIBA Award
Winner - BD Architect of the Year Award - One-off Dwelling
Winner - Best Residential Design - Daily Telegraph Home
Building and Renovation Award
Photography: © Paul Tyagi