Wych Elm

Bath, Somerset

This dynamic new build house is for a private client and is located on a south facing hill in South Stoke, Bath. The home has been designed to respond to its context; it is part buried into the elevated site and provides panoramic views across the valley. A central crank in plan allows the main living room to orientate itself to views to the south west and the kitchen, dining and family room to have views to the south east. The living room quarters are located at ground floor level with private bedrooms sunk into the ground, with direct connections to the immediate landscaped gardens and stunning views over the valley. The dramatic folded roof sails over the outer walls and is grounded by stone chimneys. The ‘served’ areas of the ground floor are transparent, allowing the sense of the site to be read through the building. It was designed with a flexible skin, which is achieved through the use of screens which can be slid back and adjusted depending on sun and wind directions, or usage.