Project: The Attwood House
Descendant of the celebrated ’Case Study houses’ of the 1960s in California, the original house is a steel framed, single storey structure built circa 1965 in Wargrave, Berkshire. The house is raised up on steel columns due to flood risk as the site is located on the junction of two rivers. The original plan of the house was based on the configuration of two squares, one for sleeping the other for living. The extension and refurbishment of the house maximises the site’s 360-degree views of the river and forms a natural pinwheel diagram emanating from a central core. A simple glazed wing was provided for living space and a timber-clad wing was created as a container for bedrooms, while the original central section contains study, playroom and a kitchen set at the heart of the house. The new living wing is intended as a formal space for both quiet moments and social gatherings contrasting with the existing lower level living area which is full of children’s toys, comfy sofas and tv is a space that engages completely with the site and river. Essentially two planes stretching westwards, a roof and floor that extends to form balconies and overhangs so that indoor- outdoor living can become a reality. Slender window frames, implausibly slender circular steel columns and glass balustrades offer minimal visual intrusions to the views. The whole wing is pinned through with a large chimney – hearth and home, prospect and refuge brought side by side. The bedroom wing is seen as a ‘box’ with a long south-facing cut out containing a small recessed balcony to the bedrooms and reads as a folded timber plane wrapping towards the central part of the house.
‘Clearly it is considered somewhat odd in the architectural profession for the clients to actually enjoy the process with the architect, but we did enjoy the way you took us through the whole thing – I can’t honestly say that Jane enjoyed every second of the actual building – and you did make it clear where you were coming from and what the influences were, at the same time as pushing forward with a singularly individual house.’
Winner of the ‘Grand Designs best remodelled house in Britain Award’ in 2006.
The core of the original house is re-planned as a kitchen, with a vibrant pink wall of cupboard fronts, sitting behind the chimney monolith. The use of colour in the house was central to the spatial composition with wall planes defining spaces, and was subject to much discussion with the clients who in the case of the kitchen agreed to our insistence that a sunset glow would be perfect in the heart of the new ensemble.
PROJECT DETAILS Client: Status: Contract value:
David Attwood + Jane Tranter Completed 2005 £350,000.00
David Attwood
Structural Engineer: Contractor:
Barton Engineers Ridgetree Projects