Lemarwood villa

Lemarwood Villa

From an early stage it was inevitable that the materials used for the residential design was influenced by vernacular architecture and also the geological research that was carried out on Hertfordshire. We were fascinated at how the different layers of the soil and rocks could influence the materials used in the house. Hertfordshire puddingstone grabbed our attention because of its uneven structure caused by the strange bonding of pebbles and silicon. This geological beauty was only available in Hertfordshire. The layers of Earth was a major part of our influences. We were interested in how solid rocks settled at the bottom with clay adding pressure to the them. But what was important to use was how in Hertfordshire area chalk sediments settled before flora and fauna bloomed over them.The big windows of St Helens church is Wheathampsted created a strange feeling of liminality. The U shape of the the house was created to allow the residence of the house to get together in the courtyard. We wanted the central part of the house to be completely public. We incorporated a swimming pool that brought the residence together. We wanted the pool courtyard to lead the resident towards the pond so that when they are in the courtyard looking at the pond they feel the house is part of the nature. But when they are near the pond they feel completely disassociated to the house. Due to the variety in ground levels in the building site especially the transition from the entrance of the house to the pond it was important for us to not disturb the natural curved landscape but to design the house around it. We loved how in Holmewood in Buckinghamshire Robin Partington's design allowed the user to access the roof as if its part of the landscape. We wanted to incorporate that idea within the landscape. So that the architecture doesn't look like a house but more a natural sculpture. The grass layer continues as part of the roof whilst the exposed parts of the house are made of rammed chalk.