RIBA Chartered Practice Zara Moon Architects showcase their project Hyll House which won Best Residential Build at the Northern Design Awards.
Zara Moon Architects specialise in bespoke, turn-key residential architecture. With a 96% planning success rate and architecture, planning, interiors and project management delivered entirely in-house.
“With sustainable design including natural stone, a green roof, passive strategy and hillside form it delivers exceptional architectural quality, technical excellence and a strong connection to its place.” Judge’s panel comments.
Hyll House is located within the Green Belt, in a small rural hamlet above Whalley village, Ribble Valley. The hillside site sits within a naturally landscaped setting, with outstanding views across the open landscape, whilst being protected by an enclave of trees.
The plot is also within the setting of a Grade II Listed Building, with only traditional rural farmhouses within the locality. The design needed to be sensitively sited yet embrace the rural setting through a contemporary response to the site.
Being located within the Green Belt, the size, height and massing was restricted by an extant planning approval for a stable block. The proposal therefore needed to be designed within the limitations of the previous approval, whilst simultaneously providing the required accommodation to meet the client’s needs. The client’s brief was to create a sustainable architectural home which blended indoor and outdoor living spaces, seamlessly integrating with their garden and outward views.
The volume and ground floor footprint limit on the site equated to a 3-bedroom bungalow with a pitched roof. However, the clients wanted to create a contemporary forever home with wow-factor, more accommodation, privacy and architectural merit. The proposal incorporated a flat roof to utilise the available volume efficiently, without exceeding the height limit. To achieve this, the orientation was designed to utilise the existing sloping site.
The house anchors itself into the banking allowing 2 levels of accommodation to project out of the hillside. The orientation flows with the natural gradient of the hill which allows both levels to meet the ground, providing a physical connection to the garden at both levels, whilst the master suite is positioned at an elevated level, maintaining privacy.
The home was designed as an ‘upside-down-house’ with the primary living spaces and master bedroom located on the upper level; and the secondary bedrooms, entrance and service spaces located on the lower level.
“The proposal incorporates an attractive design which has commendable architectural merit and is befitting of a rural setting with its effective use of materials and form. The style and use of the surrounding topography ensures that it is a subtle addition to the landscape. Officers have given great weight to the quality and innovation which can raise the bar for design in the area. It has been very refreshing to deal with something with stellar architectural merit so kudos there.” Planning Officer
If you have a site or building requiring an integrated design and planning solution, get in touch with your site address and what you want to achieve, and we will take it from there.
Zara Moon Architects
enquiries@zaramoonarchitects.co.uk
01200 403840
21 Church Street
Clitheroe
BB7 2DF
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