The concept design for the house was ‘contemporary farmhouse’ to sit comfortably in the AONB setting on the fringe of the village. The triangular dormer windows, vaulted ceilings, and exposed steel/oak structure create beautiful spaces with interesting angles and volumes overcoming the sometimes-clinical feeling of a new-build home.
Echoes of The Beehive remain in the layout and in the overall look and feel (the name Colmena is Spanish for beehive).
The double-volume entrance hall with full-height glazing and sweeping staircase to the upper floor has exposed steel and oak trusses, with rooflights to accentuate the height and flood the entrance with natural light. We also used full-height internal doors on the ground floor to maximise light throughout the house and create a sense of height and volume.
Every room on the first floor has a magnificent view including all three bathrooms which each have baths to look out from – our client told us how she loves lying in the master bath and watching for shooting stars!
While offering plenty of space for enjoyment and entertaining, this property also has a serious impact in terms of sustainability – passivhaus principles govern the airtight design and building fabric.
