1920s Country House, Haslemere, Surrey

1920s Country House

Remodelling & Extension, Fridays Hill, Haslemere, Surrey

The brief, to remodel and refurbish a sizeable detached house and to create a modern family home with five bedrooms, dedicated home office and fitness suite.

The property, located high on the hills overlooking the picturesque West Sussex countryside, features prominent tiled mansard roofs which form the first floor accommodation and loft, and has been extended various times with numerous outbuildings. An unattractive approach to the property, a top heavy, tired exterior and the small scale, cellular internal layout detracted from the stunning location.

Our design removes all unattractive additions and adds two bookend extensions, partially in-keeping with the existing style of the property, yet also adding new design elements to express and serve the family’s modern modes of living. An entrance courtyard is formed by a new entrance and hallway extension and new outbuildings. The interior is reconfigured on the ground and first floor to create fluidity, with a new, open-plan kitchen and dining room linked with a snug and library. By rationalising the accommodation on the first floor, a substantial master bedroom suite is created, enjoying the southerly views.

Housed in the south-westerly ‘bookend’ extension, the new fitness suite will feature an indoor infinity pool, connected to a penthouse-style gym via a feature glass staircase.

Drystone walls on the ground floor will refer back to the existing garden walls and terracing of the site. The new extensions open up towards the views with south facing, two-storey glazed elevations and a first floor viewing terrace.

The South Downs National Park Authority’s (SDNPA) newly adopted Dark Night Skies policy required careful consideration. The desire to take advantage of the stunning location and magnificent far-reaching views was juxtaposed by the need to limit any nighttime light pollution. Our extensive research and close collaboration with the SDNPA provided the solution for this project by adopting state-of-the-art smart glass technology to eliminate any light pollution at night.