Amberley
A unique contemporary home in Braishfield, Hampshire.
The design for Amberley was a direct response to the sloping site's elevated position, its sylvan setting and most importantly, the client's desire for a contemporary and contextual modern home.
The design consists of two pitched roof barn structures of varying scale that are connected by a single-storey glazed link. This makes reference to the rural vernacular buildings seen in the wider context. The exterior is fully clad in Kebony Character timber which echoes the thatch homes in the village and blends with the silver tones of the surrounding birch trees. This snugly fits the house into its site.
Generous openings on the ground floor connect the house to both front and rear gardens whilst carefully positioned first floor openings frame views off the homes setting and ensure a discrete and softened appearance when the house is viewed from beyond the site.
This is a highly unique house that is elegantly detailed and a joy to live in.
The uniqueness of Snug is their ability to listen. The ability to sensitively gauge ‘who you are’ and what you need and want as a family. There are no big egos at Snug, it felt like a harmonious collaboration from start to finish.
Jennie, our lovely client.
The homes interior is light and airy with variations in volume and changes in level creating dynamism and interest. Above all though the interior is characterised by our clients love of colour. It is a joy to inhabit.
In our client's own words:
'As soon as we met the team from Snug, we knew we wanted to work with them. We were building a house at the back of our garden, a complicated multi-levelled plot that we had spent a year battling with. Paul Bulkeley, Snug's founder and design director, stood on the patch where our house now sits and quickly sketched his vision of how the house should look and fit within the space. That drawing was presented to us as a moving in gift, astonishingly, the final design is completely faithful to that first drawing.
The uniqueness of Snug is their ability to listen. The ability to sensitively gauge ‘who you are’ and what you need and want as a family. There are no big egos at Snug, if you are not keen on something, it is never mentioned again, they do not try to ‘push’ their designs or beliefs, it felt like a harmonious collaboration from start to finish.
The house that Snug designed has been highly praised and featured in the press. The Kebony roof and varied levels make for a unique and clever construction.
Living in the house is an absolute pleasure and one that is not lost on us. Snug thought carefully about the light and space and the flow and energy of the house. We feel this keenly and appreciate it daily.
As architects, they have cleverly framed each view, not only of the village one side and farmland the other, but also of views of the house itself. Reflections and angles are cleverly positioned from each viewing point.
The open plan space has created a wonderful fluidity to the property. People remark on the energy, the warmth and the freshness of the space.
It has truly exceeded all of our expectations.
The relationship between architect and client can sometimes be difficult, however we feel it is to Snug’s strength that clients like us become friends. We are sure we are not alone in feeling incredibly lucky to have found Snug to design such a successful build for us as a family home.'
The house is clad in Kebony Character timber. This is used for both the walls and roof giving a clean sculptural definition to the homes primary barn like forms.
Living in the house is an absolute pleasure and one that is not lost on us. Snug thought carefully about the light and space and the flow and energy of the house. We feel this keenly and appreciate it daily.
Jennie, our lovely client.