Hopper House, 2020
A project commissioned by an artist / maker, for a new family home and studio at the edge of a rural hamlet. The clients have an aspiration to develop their art practise within a community environment; and a studio space occupies a key position within the site, providing the opportunity for hosting events and residencies. Our design proposal is flexible and ‘loose-fit’ with the potential for multi-generational living in the future.
The setting is characterised by low-lying and gently undulating land below the slopes of the High Weald with a river valley to the north of the site. The landscape is interspersed with woodland copses and marl pits, crossed by a network of lanes and ancient droveways, drainage ditches and hedgerows. Arable crops, orchards, horticulture, market gardens and nurseries have replaced the hop gardens that were once prevalent.
Although the many surviving 19th century oast kilns are defining forms within the local landscape; the evolution of kilns and associated buildings during the early 20th century created some less familiar, but no less interesting, building forms and groupings. Many of these more recent additions to farmsteads and outfarms exhibit composite and hybrid forms, using materials that include; brick, tile, corrugated metal, fibre-cement, tarred weatherboarding.
The flat, low-lying, triangular site is screened by existing mature hedgerow and trees, with a more open aspect to the north. The buried ends of hop poles were found during initial site surveying, and the proposal combines both living and working spaces within a series of forms that use a consistent planning module derived from the found grid.
The massing has been developed through our studies of the local landscape character, building typologies and materials. It adopts an additive and hybridised approach, and the differing parts of the house and studio have been separated into four distinct volumes. An existing narrow lane leads to a new entrance court, with the studio building providing a public face, and the layout of living spaces becoming progressively more private.
The forms are consciously non-domestic in appearance, resembling a parallel grouping of rural buildings that might recall stowages, barns, kilns, workshops and glasshouses; particularly when seen above the mature hedgerow and trees in silhouette. The different forms are raised on low piles, in the manner of the staddle stones of traditional fruit and grain stores; in response to the low-lying terrain, and to protect existing tree roots.
Openings are similarly non-domestic in appearance, and proportioned according to; orientation, potential for passive solar-gain, ventilation, acoustic exposure and views. Familiar details such as louvred panels and large sliding barn doors are used to further characterise the forms.
The design proposals explore a practical means to achieve a very low carbon dwelling, taking a fabric-first approach; using timber as the primary structural material, combined with very high levels of thermal insulation, high performance glazing and controlled ventilation.
Further planting of native tree species, a new pond and additional native planting will improve biodiversity; and the parcel of land immediately to the west of the site provides the opportunity for a new orchard.
