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The Glass House of Winchester
The Glass House of Winchester
Winchester, United Kingdom
Project Featured on Apr 08, 2014
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Other Projects by AR Design Studio
The Glass House of Winchester
Winchester, United Kingdom
Project Featured on Apr 08, 2014
It is not every day that a body is found buried on your building site, but on a summer’s morning in 2012 this
is exactly what happened while builders were laying foundations for RIBA award-winning architects AR Design Studio’s latest project. By 6pm they had
found another 2.
After the initial astonishment, the Police and later a team of Archaeologists were brought in who thankfully
identified the remains as being of Roman origin. After a period of intense excavation, it was confirmed as a site of Archaeological importance when further evidence of Roman burials and defensive fortifications were uncovered,
including the discovery of a rare Roman burial urn. Once the site was cleared of artifacts and the bodies taken to the local museum for research, work on the
building could continue.
These ancient findings further added to the already rich historical context of the property situated in the
town of Winchester, the old Roman capital of England. The project was to convert the original servants’ quarters of the large Manor House that overlooked the surrounding grasslands. It was built by the Earl of Airlie in 1856 while he served as Camp Commandant at the nearby Peninsular Barracks military base and split into two more modestly sized dwellings in the 1950s.
Since then, the servants’ quarters had fallen into a state of disrepair after the unfortunate passing of
a sole elderly owner. It remained vacant for a number of years, until the long-time occupants of the Manor House sought to retire and move into the more
manageable servants’ quarters and turn it into their dream home. The owner’s love of glass fuelled their brief to construct a beautifully simple sculptural
glass staircase and a contemporary glass extension, situated at the rear of the property in the space created by the ‘C’ shape of the building, which would open itself up to the garden. The couple approached AR Design Studio Chartered
Architects because of their experience in dealing with glass architecture and
their interest in how this material can be used to create seamless
relationships between inside and outside space, between the man-made and
nature.
Hidden
from view behind the buildings traditional façade, the finished extension is an
elegant piece of modern contemporary glass architecture. It completely
reinvents the feel and atmosphere of the previously dark and cramped servants’
quarters; all within the rich and poignant historical context of the site.
The concept was to provide a
clean and light architectural intervention alongside the traditional shell of
the building which would positively affect the feel and functionality of the
property. The spaces are designed to accentuate a play between light and dark;
contrasting from the bright and open communal spaces to the more subtle and
secluded, almost cave-like retreat spaces in the old house.
The existing layout was
clarified; vertical voids were cut through the house to unite the cellar,
ground and first floors and redirect the flow of the house to naturally draw
the user towards the new glass space at the heart of the home. This extremely
light and spacious frameless glass extension houses the open-plan kitchen,
living and dining areas. As the delicate structure reaches over to form the
walls and roof of the extension, it creates a flexible inside/outside space
allowing sunlight to flood through the home and filter down gradually, creating
beautiful shards of light and shadow. As a contrast to the extension, the
formal lounge, study and dining room have a more sheltered and embracing
nature. Upstairs, the Glass House has 4 large double bedrooms, each with an
en-suite bathroom.
The master suite has its own
walk-in wardrobe and views overlooking the garden and the top of the glass
extension below. All the essentials have been accounted for, in the form of
utility and laundry rooms, study and WC that flank the glass box. The strategic
placement of the large roof light floods the entrance hall with sunlight that
tracks through the double-height space with the time of day and the seasons.
Timber ceramic tiling was used
as an innovative alternative to traditional timber flooring because it does not
discolour in the weather and is a perfect surface to compliment the underfloor
heating throughout. This allowed for a seamless floor finish running from the
inside to the outside onto the cantilevered patio.
The rest of the house is
finished to a minimal and clean appearance to allow the functional glass
structures to stand out as exquisite pieces of sculptural art in their own
right.
Whilst still retaining a
subtle street appearance, the finished property now renamed Clarkes, is
completely transformed from its previous gloomy and decrepit nature. The modern
renovation and extension creates a light, airy and open living environment
bursting with traditional values, contemporary style and innovative design.
is exactly what happened while builders were laying foundations for RIBA award-winning architects AR Design Studio’s latest project. By 6pm they had
found another 2.
After the initial astonishment, the Police and later a team of Archaeologists were brought in who thankfully
identified the remains as being of Roman origin. After a period of intense excavation, it was confirmed as a site of Archaeological importance when further evidence of Roman burials and defensive fortifications were uncovered,
including the discovery of a rare Roman burial urn. Once the site was cleared of artifacts and the bodies taken to the local museum for research, work on the
building could continue.
These ancient findings further added to the already rich historical context of the property situated in the
town of Winchester, the old Roman capital of England. The project was to convert the original servants’ quarters of the large Manor House that overlooked the surrounding grasslands. It was built by the Earl of Airlie in 1856 while he served as Camp Commandant at the nearby Peninsular Barracks military base and split into two more modestly sized dwellings in the 1950s.
Since then, the servants’ quarters had fallen into a state of disrepair after the unfortunate passing of
a sole elderly owner. It remained vacant for a number of years, until the long-time occupants of the Manor House sought to retire and move into the more
manageable servants’ quarters and turn it into their dream home. The owner’s love of glass fuelled their brief to construct a beautifully simple sculptural
glass staircase and a contemporary glass extension, situated at the rear of the property in the space created by the ‘C’ shape of the building, which would open itself up to the garden. The couple approached AR Design Studio Chartered
Architects because of their experience in dealing with glass architecture and
their interest in how this material can be used to create seamless
relationships between inside and outside space, between the man-made and
nature.
Hidden
from view behind the buildings traditional façade, the finished extension is an
elegant piece of modern contemporary glass architecture. It completely
reinvents the feel and atmosphere of the previously dark and cramped servants’
quarters; all within the rich and poignant historical context of the site.
The concept was to provide a
clean and light architectural intervention alongside the traditional shell of
the building which would positively affect the feel and functionality of the
property. The spaces are designed to accentuate a play between light and dark;
contrasting from the bright and open communal spaces to the more subtle and
secluded, almost cave-like retreat spaces in the old house.
The existing layout was
clarified; vertical voids were cut through the house to unite the cellar,
ground and first floors and redirect the flow of the house to naturally draw
the user towards the new glass space at the heart of the home. This extremely
light and spacious frameless glass extension houses the open-plan kitchen,
living and dining areas. As the delicate structure reaches over to form the
walls and roof of the extension, it creates a flexible inside/outside space
allowing sunlight to flood through the home and filter down gradually, creating
beautiful shards of light and shadow. As a contrast to the extension, the
formal lounge, study and dining room have a more sheltered and embracing
nature. Upstairs, the Glass House has 4 large double bedrooms, each with an
en-suite bathroom.
The master suite has its own
walk-in wardrobe and views overlooking the garden and the top of the glass
extension below. All the essentials have been accounted for, in the form of
utility and laundry rooms, study and WC that flank the glass box. The strategic
placement of the large roof light floods the entrance hall with sunlight that
tracks through the double-height space with the time of day and the seasons.
Timber ceramic tiling was used
as an innovative alternative to traditional timber flooring because it does not
discolour in the weather and is a perfect surface to compliment the underfloor
heating throughout. This allowed for a seamless floor finish running from the
inside to the outside onto the cantilevered patio.
The rest of the house is
finished to a minimal and clean appearance to allow the functional glass
structures to stand out as exquisite pieces of sculptural art in their own
right.
Whilst still retaining a
subtle street appearance, the finished property now renamed Clarkes, is
completely transformed from its previous gloomy and decrepit nature. The modern
renovation and extension creates a light, airy and open living environment
bursting with traditional values, contemporary style and innovative design.
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