Guildford, Surrey

Set within expansive grounds overlooking a wide valley, this substantial house lacked both a clear sense of arrival and any meaningful connection to its remarkable setting. Despite miles of countryside beyond the property, the internal layout and positioning of openings meant the landscape was largely hidden from within the home.

We took a holistic approach, designing the architecture and interiors as a single integrated project while working closely with the construction team throughout.

A major element of the scheme was a twelve-metre-wide front extension that transformed what had previously read as the rear of the house into a coherent and welcoming façade. The extension was composed with staggered elevations and multiple rooflines so that it sits naturally alongside the original Edwardian building, with a large brick entrance porch establishing a clear point of arrival and positioning the front door centrally within the house.

Internally, the layout was reconfigured to create a strong visual axis from the entrance through the house and out towards the valley beyond. Walls were opened up and glazed doors introduced opposite the entrance so that the landscape is revealed immediately on arrival, while a discreet passage connects the formal entrance hall with the boot room.

A further rear extension, designed in keeping with the period architecture of the house, introduced generous glazing that frames uninterrupted views across the valley.

Alongside the architectural work, we designed the interiors throughout the house, developing bespoke furniture, lighting and finishes that complement the scale and character of the building.

The wider scheme also included the design of a new pool house, a separate 125-square-metre garage building incorporating parking, a gym and a dance studio, and a complete redesign of the surrounding landscape with a sweeping drive and new entrance gates.