Penny | Baufritz UK

Baufritz was commissioned to design and build a new home in Cookham Dean, Berkshire to replace an existing 1960s house. In its place, the owners wanted a contemporary and sustainable house that would better suit the needs of them and their family.

Obtaining planning for a contemporary new home on an elevated plot adjoining a Conservation Area was challenging. Baufritz’s solution was to build the house into the hillside site, and split it into three distinct elements beneath separate roofs to break up the volume.

The main external materials to the front of the house are white render and red clay tiles – a contemporary palette that nevertheless blends comfortably with the setting. The rear of the house has a contrasting tall grey timber-clad section and a large timber terrace with a steel and glass balustrade, with a glazed verandah that forms an elegant outside living space.

Inside, the main open plan space contains an entrance hall leading to spacious living, dining and kitchen areas. The feeling of space is enhanced by plentiful amounts of light entering the house from three sides through full height windows, leading to a generous series of balconies and terraces. To one side, a smaller living room can be partitioned off by sliding doors to create a more intimate space. Upstairs, four large bedrooms each have their own private bathroom. The master suite is particularly impressive, with full height ceilings extending into the pitch of the roof to enhance the sense of space. On the lower ground floor there is a wine cellar, music room and a large games room with sliding doors opening onto the garden.

Sustainability was a key criterion for the owners when designing their house. 90% of the demolished house was removed for recycling, while the prefabricated timber frame construction method, which allowed the timber and render exterior to be erected within three days, minimised construction waste. The house is well-insulated using natural materials, and carefully orientated to maximise natural light and solar gain during winter. External blinds reduce overheating during the summer. The house is an incredible 100 tonnes gross carbon store, and has provision for solar hot water or PV cells on the main roof. A rainwater harvesting system is used for WCs and laundry.