Location: New Forest National Park, Hampshire, England
Year: 2017
Architect: Strom Architects
Structural Engineer: Calcinotto
QS: Patrick Swift Associates
Contractor: Rice Projects
Photography: © Richard Chivers
Joinery, Timber Framing & Cladding: Industree Ltd
This wooden-clad annexe, completed September 2017, replaced a dated structure in the grounds of a house that Magnus Strom had worked on at his previous practice. The main house was completed back in 2010, and the owner approached Strom Architects in 2015 to replace the existing annexe on site. The client wanted a fun and flexible space that could act as a party house and additional accommodation when needed.
The property sits within the New Forest National Park, making it an ecologically sensitive site. This meant extensive wildlife surveys had to be undertaken prior to beginning any works, in order to minimise disruption to the natural habitats of different species. Once all the ecological issues were dealt with, we demolished the existing building, and replaced it with this timber-framed structure.
The house and the annexe share a common architectural language: the use of sweet chestnut cladding and black Kolumba brick on the exterior visually ties the two buildings together; however, a pitched roof and smaller punched windows provide the annexe with its own distinct design identity.
Internally, the external walls and ceiling are clad in reclaimed pine, and all partition walls are timber stud construction, clad in grey Valchromat; the floor is finished with the same black brick as the exterior plinth. The floor plan consists of two cozy bedrooms, one bathroom and an open-plan living/games/bar area, with a mezzanine storage area.
Interior fitting such as the bar, bedside units and hanging rails have been designed to read as part of the architecture, as if all one giant joinery item. The units are made out of grey Valchromat, wrapped in blackened steel and highlighted by recessed LED lighting.
Outside, there is a wooden decked, complete with semi-sunken wooden hot tub, a built-in brick seating area, and pizza oven and wood store.
Strom Architects
All images courtesy of Strom Architects
Strom Architects
BA(Hons) DipArch ARB RIBA SAR/ MSA
Magnus came from Sweden to study architecture at Portsmouth University in 1995, graduating at the top of his class with a first in his BA (Hons) Degree, and winning two awards for degree projects. After working for a time in London and Winchester, he continued his studies and gained a Distinction in his Diploma. He also received the post-graduate RIBA South Region Award for outstanding design work, and was nominated for the RIBA Silver Medal.
After graduating, Magnus joined the esteemed Dublin practice deBlacam & Meagher Architects where he worked for a year. He was then invited to join John Pardey Architects in 2002 South England where he spent 8 years – latterly as a Director of the practice. His work included residential, educational and commercial projects – both for private and public sector clients. He was responsible for the conception and design of numerous private houses, as well as running several large-scale, mixed-use projects in London, Dublin and the USA.
Ström Architects was formed in 2010, and is an award-winning boutique architects’ practice, focusing on one-off contemporary residential projects in the UK and abroad.
CONTACT
Ström Architects Limited
Unit 4, The Old Printworks
85b High Street
Lymington
Hampshire, SO41 9AN
UK
Telephone: +44 01590 677 442
Email: studio@stromarchitects.com
VISIT
Strom Architects
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