Weybridge House

This contemporary house sits in a quite street in Weybridge where the accepted house type is something quite different. The simple exterior of handmade bricks holds its own amongst its neighbours with their variety of styles and materials. Solid exterior walls wrap the first floor and much of the ground floor spaces, stepping up over glazing at the front of the house and folding into the interior to form a long wall running front to back. The client requirement for a building of 350 sqm, within relatively tight budget constraints, means that economy and resourcefulness were key to creating something special. The house in composed of a very simple palette of materials each with its own place and voice.

The main kitchen, dining and living space where the family spend most time is adjacent to the rear garden which to the north. However, the street and entrance are to the south and this is key to the internal arrangement of spaces. At ground floor a large 6m wide vista is created between the front and rear allowing views and sunlight from the south to infuse the whole plan. The ground floor spaces are mediated by a double height volume with a stair, at the heart of the plan, around which the first floor bedrooms are arranged. Above is a skylight, which provides ventilation bringing diffused south light into the centre of the house. The upper floor landing overlooks the family spaces below, encouraging horizontal and vertical interaction.

The floor and roof structure is designed using, 63mm x 285mm prefabricated, Kerto glu-lam timber joists at 600mm centres, which have been left exposed, to form coffered ceilings in the primary spaces. This allows a greater floor to ceiling height and gives visual punctuation and moderation of the space, especially important in the deep plan. The floors structure is a diaphragm with two layers of ply screwed and glued above the joists. Some spaces including the ‘snug’, and bedroom on the ground floor and a first floor bedroom have smooth ceilings, whilst some of the bedrooms have a mix of smooth and coffered to give variety to the quality of space.

The south facing glazing is setback from the brick facade, which provides shading from the high summer sun whilst allowing solar gain in winter. The house is simply massed to provide a high performing energy efficient envelope which is highly insulated.

Client Testimonial:

“After nine very happy months of living in Weybridge House, we know that above all else, it’s a brilliant home.

Chantal, Julian and the team took great care to ensure it would be somewhere that we’d always love to be. That ambition has paid off.

The balance of communal and private spaces means people can get together and have their own time very easily. You can stand anywhere in the house and the light is incredible, all year round, even in winter. The team thought long and hard about how the sun would hit the building, and it’s never overwhelming, it’s always just right.

The ergonomics are a perfect. Big houses can often be contrived and difficult to navigate, but this house is just so easy to walk around. Everything is in the right place and at the right distance. That really calms you down.

Finally, it’s simply very beautiful. Every morning we wake up and the space, the woodwork, the sky, the angles all hit you. Every morning the house pays down its debt, and then you step outside. We see people walking up the road towards it, watching the house as it emerges out of the trees, and every day people want to talk about it. Like us they love the idea of a modern house, with all the easy lines and the glass, that’s also made of such beautiful, wonderful brick. We dreamt about this place for a long time, and now it’s a reality. It was worth it.”

Awards:

Winner – RIBA South/ South East Regional Award 2021

Photography: © Wilkinson King