Briardene
Briardene is a small development of 2 detached houses on the site of a former bungalow in the village of West Wellow in Hampshire.
Our developer client wanted to maximise the potential of the site with a sensitive but contemporary scheme that would find favour with the planning officers. Our challenge was to convince the local authority and neighbours alike that a net gain of one unit was acceptable on what is quite a restricted site.
We engaged in extensive negotiations with all stakeholders over a period of 8 months which eventually resulted in planning permission being consented for the 2 houses.
The houses are arranged around a protected tree to the front of the site. Their footprints turn away from each other to acknowledge the shape of the plot, creating an interesting relationship with one another and also with the street scene as it approaches the corner with the private drive.
The dwellings are conceived as traditional rural forms with low, sweeping pitched roofs. The base is formed from a mixed red brick that rises to create a chimney to the rear, whilst the upper floor is constructed from an exposed oak frame with cedar clad infill panels.
The low profile of the houses and the textured facing materials help to make their less conventional appearance settle quite comfortably within the rural setting.
Internally, the wide entrance halls lead onto a large open plan kitchen, living and dining areas that open out to the gardens beyond. A separate study looks out over the front of the houses, with integral garages on the other side of the front door.
At first floor, the rooms are set within the profile of the roof, creating more lofty spaces that are open to the apex. The 1st floor contains 3 bedrooms, including a master bed with ensuite.
