Private Client

Our second new-build home within the grounds of the Grade II listed estate of Aynhoe Park in Oxfordshire.

The footprint of House 3 reflects that of House 2, however, an expansive basement level has been added to increase the floor to 1300sq.m.  The house features three linear wings orientated to splay out opening up the house to the dramatic vistas over the Cherwell valley that divides Northamptonshire from Oxfordshire. Sitting to the west of the south-west of the parkland the house nestled on the highest point with the land dropping of beyond. Proposed as a series of stacked rectilinear volumes the ground floor is finished in grey Cotswold stone offering a heavy, grounded connection with the undulating terrain. The first-floor, housing the sleeping quarters is clad in huge, fibre-concrete panels with deep punched window reveals either a range of glimpses or vast panoramas of the stunning landscape that surround it.

Upon entering the house a large, sweeping concrete stair offers the first hint as to the immense scale of the property. Each of the three wings splay from this double-height central hallway dividing the spaces to suit the spaces required by the young family set to occupy it.  Five large bedrooms, all with ensuite, a reception, family living, playroom, utility and boot room, guest quarters with a basement featuring a dance studio, games room and a garage accessed via a deep winding ramp.  Also visible on entering the house a natural swimming pond offers a subtle green covering allowing the new contemporary landscaping to sit comfortably in its surroundings.  Set out by Capability Brown 250 years before the estate has also experienced interventions by John Soane and Humphrey Repton which lend their names to each the houses.

Given the scale of the build, an economy of fabrication, simple mix of quality but limited materials and the use of repeat design details have been developed to enable the cost to remain close to the planned budget.