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

Diarmuid ­Gavin ­Designs ­| ­Chelsea ­Garden ­- ­Oceânico ­Garden

Diarmuid Gavin Designs

Oceânico Garden

Changing Residential Design for Landscape Design - Stepping away from houses, I thought I'd cover the big news this week in London, the Chelsea Garden show.
The show, as well as showcasing the latest in gardening, showcases some fantastic Landscape gardening. A stand out in my mind, was the Diarmuid Gavin Designs | Oceânico Garden

Not really one for knowing about flowers, or gardening, I was at first interested in the reference to the 1940's chairs, which to me, actually look more like Harry Bertoia style chairs from 1952.



What got me next was the fantastic crate like design of the garden shed.


Three of the four walls fold down on hot days, or fold up in increments for wind or winter use, with the top 300 mm folding out to form some shade protection, or ventilation, when the other walls are closed.

I think it's a great solution for outdoor entertaining!
It's kind of a miniature Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects | Coromandel House



Layout


The Royal Horticultural Society describe it thus:

The Café Garden is a place for people to stop, sit, relax and to immerse themselves in the atmosphere; it is a haven from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
The garden opens to a clearing to reveal an open wooden pavilion with slatted wood sections for shading visitors. Inspired by a set of 1940s-style French mesh work chairs, outsized, stainless steel daisies are the centre of drama in the garden.
The daisies burst out of the ground and tower above the garden, set at varying heights among rich planting and a deep green jungle of foliage.
Tables and chairs with leafy parasols are interspaced within the planted areas.
Beyond the café, there is a forest of lollipop Catalpa trees and daisies, a dreamy backdrop to complete the scene. Pathways link the seating areas.

And, The Telegraph have some fantastic panoramas:
Of the Oceânico Garden, And others.
More on the Chelsea Garden Show from the Royal Horticultural Society