Thursday, March 24, 2011

Hyde Architects - Pennard House

A rather special Welsh family home by Hyde + Hyde Architects - sheltering a central courtyard and pool, the guest wing's clerestory windows opening up to the sun and providing a silhouette that cracked the planning codes.




We were approached through recommendation to design a bespoke one-off signature home; derived from a clear understanding of the site and the context of Gower.
Pennard house responds to the individual needs of our clients, while at the same time sensitive in scale to the surrounding buildings. We have attempted to create a home that exudes privacy and celebrates open plan living; while integrating subtle references inspired by the local vernacular.
A Welsh slate wall forms the boundary between the external world and the internal world of home. This forms an important part of the entry sequence, once through the entry door the house opens up completely to the landscape. With contemporary forms and large expanses of glass to blur the boundary between public and private.
The timber clad master bedroom wing cantilevers over the inner court forming a natural rain canopy for entertaining in the persistent Welsh summer rain.

Its refreshing to see a new build make such bold statements in the United Kingdom. Hyde + Hyde making the most of this plot and providing the client with a functional, yet also inspiring home and entertaining space.
The polished floors and minimalist dining area, leading to a covered patio before the pool, rival Californian McMansions in finish an opulence. Yet the vernacular materials used in the build, Welsh slate, and timber cladding of the master suite, align the house with its location and neighbours.

Pics








Plans