Architects: OB Architecture
Project: Holm Place
Location: South Warnborough, Hampshire, United Kingdom
Photography: Martin Gardner
Holm Place is a new dwelling in the rural village of South Warnborough, Hampshire, UK. The 0.12 hectare site is located in the upper garden of Manor Court, a 17th century Grade II listed building which itself is situated in the South Warnborough Conservation Area.
The brief was to create an exemplary modern home to accommodate four bedrooms with open plan living spaces for entertaining family and friends. The design aims to have a direct relationship to the garden, maximising light and blurring the threshold between inside and outside space.
The L-shaped plan is pushed to the edges of the site to preserve the green setting around the listed building. The two-storey accommodation is positioned adjacent to the building line of Manor Court to create a direct relationship.
The elevational treatment and building materials take their cues from Manor Court, utilising a simple pallet of brick, timber, off white render, glass and zinc. The Holm Place is arranged on a 3m structural grid, which is expressed both internally and externally to give clarity and order to the composition.
For the external walls facing north, a solid enclosure was defined using brick replacing the existing boundary wall and a zinc cladding system above. The zinc references the agricultural buildings to be found in the local area and the lead on Manor Court.
Timber cladding was employed for the internal courtyard elevations with the vertical proportions matching the panels on Manor Court. The iroko was chosen for its durability and colour that will weather down to match the colour tone of the existing building.
The ground floor accommodation has two distinct zones, the north wing containing an open plan glazed kitchen, dining, living space and the west wing containing the bedroom accommodation. Forming a connection between these two areas is the entrance hall, gallery and double height staircase. The circulation is defined by a minimal column structure that forms a cloister facing the walled garden.
The master bedroom suite at first floor is orientated south and designed with an intimate terrace that takes in the wide views of the countryside.
