Woodcote House

Design Engine and Paul Cashin Architects complete new private residence in Hampshire countryside

Won at planning appeal, this 2000 sqft home is a replacement for the existing Herdsman’s Cottage which was part of the original Woodcote Farm complex in Upham, Hampshire.

The house is designed to be split-level open plan, yet can be conceived of as a series of distinct zones arranged about the main circulation axis. These zones increase in intimacy and privacy as one moves through the home, culminating in the private master suite on first floor level.

The property includes four large bedrooms, each with ensuite, and countryside views from spacious open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas which feature wide expanses of glazing. Carefully considered details have been incorporated into the design, such as bespoke joinery for the fireplace and bathrooms, specially fabricated slimline copings and cladding sections, and brick cantilevers that complement the modern proposals.

Red brick is used for the most prominent element of the house as an interpretation of the existing vernacular and to root it within its rural context. Timber and aluminium panels complement the brickwork in key areas and the whole composition is designed to sit in a mature natural setting, into which the house blurs at its designed edges. 

This project is a successful collaboration between Design Engine and Paul Cashin Architects, who were responsible for delivering the construction phase.

Material Used :

1. Bathrooms Supplier: West One Bathrooms
2. Fittings: Gerberit Hansgrohe
3. Kitchen By Searle & Taylor Kitchens
4. Flooring Timber: engineered oak by Havwoods 
5. Interior Tiles: Porcel-thin concrete effect tiling by Porcel-thin (Havwoods)
6. Exterior Tiles: By Topps Tiles 
7. Masonry Freshfield Lane ‘Rural Multi Facings’ Bricks
8. Metalwork/Cladding/Copings Alden Sheet Metal of Southampton - Alden Sheetmetal
9. Lighting Lutron
10. Glazing Fineline Aluminium 
11. Ironmongery 3V

Situated just north of the village of Upham, near Winchester, is Woodcote House. Nestled amongst the rolling chalk hills of the South Downs National Park, this contemporary house replaces a series of brick buildings that had fallen into disrepair. After achieving permission at appeal, work started on the house in 2017 and took two years to build.

The property includes four large bedrooms, each with ensuite, and countryside views from spacious open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas which feature wide expanses of glazing. Carefully considered details have been incorporated into the design, such as bespoke joinery for the fireplace and bathrooms, specially fabricated slimline copings and cladding sections, and brick cantilevers that complement the modern proposals. The rural facing brick was chosen to reference the memory of the buildings that this home replaces, whilst the landscape has been shaped and planted to help the house settle into the landscape.

Internally the house has a simple layout, with single level large open plan living and kitchen spaces, and further accommodation areas split amongst two levels. A central spine links these spaces via a minimal timber staircase. Outside spaces are linked to the ground floor rooms with terraces and views to the South Downs, particularly to the north across the large gardens. The house meets Code 4 of the Sustainable Homes criteria with it's natural ventilation strategy and high level of insulation.

Material Used :
Bathrooms
Supplier: West One
Fittings: Gerberit Hansgrohe

Kitchen
By Searle & Taylor Kitchens
Gaggenau units

Flooring
Timber: engineered oak by Havwoods
Interior Tiles: Porcel-thin concrete effect tiling by Porcel-thin
Exterior Tiles: By Topps Tiles

Masonry
Freshfield Lane ‘Rural Multi Facings’ Bricks

Metalwork/Cladding/Copings
Alden Sheet Metal of Southampton

Lighting
Lutron

Glazing
Fineline Aluminium

Ironmongery
3V