McLean Quinlan has completed Virginia Water, a low-lying, single-storey home in Surrey, England, set within a wildflower meadow and framed by protected woodland. The client, relocating from London, asked McLean Quinlan to create an efficient, high-performance home that could also accommodate family and friends. A keen hiker and birdwatcher, the client wanted close access to nature and a strong connection between the house and its landscape.
Courtyard plan and framed views
A series of interconnected spaces unfold around the central courtyard, bringing natural light into the plan and opening the house to views of the surrounding woodland, wildflower meadows, and river. The glazed entrance lobby looks directly onto the courtyard and connects with the main living, kitchen, and dining areas beyond.
The bespoke kitchen, developed with Future Joinery Systems, forms the centre of the open-plan living space. Its parametric plywood design responds to the client’s brief for a customised kitchen with a restrained aesthetic.
Beyond the main living area, the house accommodates four bedrooms, an office, and three bathrooms. Openings range from floor-to-ceiling glazing to small vertical windows, positioned to admit light and air, frame particular views, and maintain privacy.
Material palette and timber structure
McLean Quinlan also designed the interiors, where oak flooring and joinery run throughout the house. Exposed brick wraps around the central courtyard and entrance lobby, creating a material connection between internal and external spaces. In the main living area, exposed laminated veneer lumber (LVL) joists and plywood elements introduce the Scandinavian character favoured by the client.
Externally, the facade overlooking the wildflower meadow is finished in Mystique facing brick by Traditional Brick & Stone, with columns and exposed reconstituted stone lintels establishing a linear rhythm along the elevation. The embodied carbon strategy prioritised reducing concrete and blockwork, with a predominantly timber-framed structure adopted and steel use minimised. All timber used in the project is FSC certified.
Responding to the floodplain and woodland
The house is raised above the ground in response to the site’s floodplain zoning. Ramps and steps negotiate the change in level, while the slight separation from the ground gives the building the appearance of hovering above the wildflower meadow.
The protected woodland, floodplain setting, and ecological sensitivity of the site also informed the position and orientation of the house, together with the planting strategy and species selection. McLean Quinlan worked with arboricultural and environmental consultants to preserve existing vegetation and wildlife, while the landscape incorporates native British planting. The client helped establish the wildflower meadows and kitchen garden alongside the existing woodland, enriching the biodiverse setting.
Passivhaus design principles
The environmental strategy was guided by Passivhaus design principles, including low U-values, thermal bridge-free construction, airtightness, triple glazing, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. Airtightness testing recorded an air permeability of 1.30 m³/(h·m²) at 50 Pa.
A ground-source heat pump installed beneath the wildflower meadows provides heating, while automated shading and strategically planted young trees help reduce the risk of overheating.
Emma Reeves, Senior Architect at McLean Quinlan, said:
‘The surrounding landscape, including the protected woodland and floodplain zone, is central to the narrative of this home. We designed Virginia Water to sit gently within its context, keeping a low-lying profile. The central courtyard is key to the design, bringing in natural light and enabling cross ventilation throughout the home.’
