Weybridge House Website copy — Wilkinson King Architects

When our clients first came to us, they had just acquired a single-storey house on a quiet, leafy street in Weybridge. The location was perfect, close to schools, set back from the road, and with a long garden stretching north, but the building itself wasn’t up to the task. Structurally compromised and environmentally poor, it wouldn’t support the life they envisioned for their growing family.

The dream was a generous five-bedroom home where they could raise their three young children, work from home in dedicated studio spaces, and still have space to gather with family and friends. They wanted open living areas that flowed, but also moments of calm and privacy. And they wanted something with personality, a home that felt crafted, efficient, and quietly bold.

From the outset, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a standard rebuild. With a tight budget, the challenge was to make every decision count, to create something ambitious, personal, and beautifully considered.

“After nine very happy months of living in Weybridge House, we know that above all else, it’s a brilliant home. Chantal, Julian and the team took great care to ensure it would be somewhere that we’d always love to be. That ambition has paid off. The balance of communal and private spaces means people can get together and have their own time very easily. You can stand anywhere in the house and the light is incredible, all year round, even in winter. The team thought long and hard about how the sun would hit the building, and it’s never overwhelming, it’s always just right.

The ergonomics are a perfect. Big houses can often be contrived and difficult to navigate, but this house is just so easy to walk around. Everything is in the right place and at the right distance. That really calms you down. Finally, it’s simply very beautiful. Every morning we wake up and the space, the woodwork, the sky, the angles all hit you. Every morning the house pays down its debt, and then you step outside. We see people walking up the road towards it, watching the house as it emerges out of the trees, and every day people want to talk about it. Like us they love the idea of a modern house, with all the easy lines and the glass, that’s also made of such beautiful, wonderful brick. We dreamt about this place for a long time, and now it’s a reality. It was worth it.”

Winner – RIBA South/ South East Regional Award 2021

While we began by exploring options to retain the original house and build up, it quickly became clear that a new build would give the best value, and the best results. The house now stands on the original footprint, reimagined as a two-storey 350sqm home that makes full use of the site’s orientation.

A 6-metre-wide vista runs from the south-facing entrance to the north-facing garden, pulling light deep into the plan. A double-height central volume draws air and light from above, linking the two floors in a way that feels open, social, and full of life.

Exposed Kerto glu-lam timber joists form coffered ceilings, adding rhythm and texture. Handmade brick wraps from outside in, creating crafted, tactile surfaces. Inexpensive materials are used thoughtfully and well. Every square metre works hard.

Now, almost a year after moving in, the family knows they’re living in a home that works, day in, day out. It’s a home that supports their life rather than constrains it. The children move freely between house and garden; light moves with the day; and the adults can work, gather or retreat as needed. The client describes it simply: “Above all else, it’s a brilliant home.”

Building something of this quality on a modest budget required both vision and tenacity. The clients brought that in abundance, trusting the design, backing the ambition, and always keeping the brief clear. The result is a house that feels calm, generous, and enduring. One that speaks softly but with confidence.