Woodland House
SOLID are thrilled to share these images by Lucy Butler-Walters of Woodland House, a recent project completed alongside WWA Studios, Barr Group, Last Interior Design and Sarah Naybour. Woodland House is a beautiful contemporary residence that embodies high-quality, sustainable living within a stunning woodland setting. Lead project architect Matt Hinkins of WWA Studios, aimed to create a residence that maximises the connection to the surrounding woods while ensuring low-carbon longevity.
Design Inspiration
Our clients were captivated by the serene environment created by the 1930s swimming pond which was enveloped by towering Scots pines, birch, and horse chestnuts. However, the original house felt somewhat disconnected from this idyllic landscape and it was impractical to update. Consequently, the decision was made to construct a new home that would engage with the natural surroundings.
A historical photograph of the original house’s balcony highlighted the lost formal garden which had disappeared behind uncontrolled cypress trees. This photograph inspired the design of the new structure and its strategic positioning to connect with the gradually restored garden.
Architectural Design
Woodland House is constructed using a prefabricated timber-panelled structure. This design allowed for excellent onsite progress throughout the build and helped reduce waste. The property has been installed with an air-source heat pump (ASHP) photovoltaic (PV) panels, zero thermal bridging and an AeroBarrier system that achieves an airtightness rating of below 2 m³/(h·m²) at 50 Pa. It is predicted that, thanks to these features, the home will be net carbon positive, generating more energy than it consumes.
Structural Design
Onsite challenges included building the replacement house within the constraints of Green Belt planning policies whilst also navigating the root protection area of the tall trees. SOLID were appointed as Engineers on the project from the early concept stages.
Our early involvement produced indicative CLT concept sketches, scoped the site investigation works, undertook drainage appraisals, reviewed foundation options and reviewed site levels & root protection zones. This early involvement helped to steer the design to maximise the site, budget and clients’ requirements.
Our contributions continued as the design evolved and developed. SOLID then undertook the final design work for the substructure, foul drainage, sustainable drainage, external works and retaining walls. We also undertook the reinforcement drawings and any miscellaneous design elements that fell between the different subcontractors.
Interiors
Interior designer Rachele Bowley of Last Interior Design drew inspiration from both the architectural blueprint and the surrounding landscape. Embracing a modern, mid-century aesthetic, Last Interior Design created a harmonious space that balances contemporary features with antique furnishings, ensuring a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Garden Design
Garden designer Sarah Naybour faced the challenge of transitioning the contemporary home to the natural landscape below. The garden design incorporates shrubs, such as azaleas, and ornamental trees, creating a lush environment while respecting the extensive shallow root systems of the Scots pines. A raised timber bed was installed to negate the need for a balustrade along the terrace so to provide uninterrupted views. It has also been designed to avoid interference with the roots.
Woodland House was a fantastic project to have been a part of and it demonstrates how to get the best out of a site by working collectively with consultants, subcontractors and designers.
If you are planning your own residential development, contact the SOLID team to see how we can overcome your structural and civil engineering challenges.
