Project: The Pardey House
Moving to the coastal town of Lymington from London in 1995, this house was built in just twenty weeks for John Pardey and his young family. Adopting a wide frontage to the roadside in deference to the local context and a courtyard form to the rear to enclose and catch the sun, the house sits among a group of protected trees and is therefore founded on slender piles with the construction then continued in solid aerated blockwork, clad in render and cedar boarding.
The approach to the design was to provide a simple two storey, wide frontage form repeating the pattern along the lane, whilst to the rear the house is planned around a south-west facing courtyard. It was decided to use narrowgauge piled foundations to avoid disturbance to tree roots and this allowed the building to nestle into the trees.
On the first floor, bedrooms open onto the front with views across fields through the trees, whilst gathering early morning sun. Only bathrooms and a landing windows open onto the rear, avoiding views onto neighbouring houses but allow sun and light to enter through venetian blinds.
The house is clad in western red cedar creating a reciprocal relationship to the enclosing trees. The additive garage and balcony elements are self-coloured render to provide a cubic volume which steps back and breaks into a planar assembly at the entrance. A large recessed area behind a walled pool contains a collection of glazed, metal and timber panels together with a vertical post and horizontal floor edge, in a minor homage to De Stijl. The courtyard is enclosed by a cedar clad wall, with fully glazed walls to the living and study areas beneath a gold colour-coated aluminium roof defining the circulation ‘aisle’. A wedge-like mono-pitch roof sits over the living room further enclosing the courtyard. At ground level, living spaces open onto the south facing courtyard, which is screened along its open side, although a sliding panel allows views to shrub planting and offers additional protection from the cold winter south-westerleys.
PROJECT DETAILS Client: Status: Contract value:
John + Julie Pardey Completed 1995 ÂŁ220,000.00
Structural Engineer: Contractor:
AKT Engineers Burt + Vick Ltd.