House in the Woods

Alma-nac’s House in the Woods is carefully integrated into its natural surroundings

Photos
Jack Hobhouse

Replacing an existing bungalow, Alma-nac’s House in the Woods is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty within the South Downs National Park. On approach, the five-bedroom, 240-square-metre house appears as a single-storey structure with a dual-pitch roof, nestled behind a planted bank. Integration with the landscape is achieved through generous windows, direct access to the garden from the living and dining spaces, as well as a large roof-terrace at first-floor level.

The main communal/social spaces are located on the southern side of the plan, with the living room spanning the full width of the house and incorporating floor-to-ceiling glazing on the west elevation. A large fireplace creates a natural divide between the living room and the kitchen/dining area, with elevated ceilings following the dual-pitch roof line. The bedrooms are located on the more private northern side of the plan. Intended to reduce the apparent scale of the building, the roof is adjusted into an asymmetrical structure at this point and accommodates the first-floor master bedroom, as well as a studio/guest bedroom.

The material palette was chosen for its natural qualities, rich texture, muted tones and ability to blend in with the natural surroundings. Warm-toned, hand-cut brick is used extensively on the south, east and north elevations. The west-facing garden elevation is clad with thermally-treated timber, while the roofs are covered with natural slate.

Constructed from SIPs, the two-storey structure is highly insulated and airtight, with concrete floors providing thermal mass. The superstructure was delivered to site on two lorries and erected in ten days. An air-source heat pump is used in conjunction with underfloor heating and localised radiators on the first floor. Mechanical ventilation, incorporating heat-recovery, prevents the internal air from becoming stale and moisture-laden when all the windows are closed in the winter.