Infill Dwelling Dorset

CHALLENGE

Savills Architecture were asked by clients to review and provide design and planning advice on a refused planning appeal submitted by another company, who wish to build a new home for themselves near the south coast. Following a review of the application and design, we provided an alternative design that better responded to the site constraints and the local authority requirements.

SOLUTION

The brief was to design a contextual dwelling that has a dialogue with the surrounding trees, nestled into the sloping site while creating a well-lit, private home. The design evolved into a ‘treehouse’ that allowed much of the accommodation to be submerged into the partial basement ground floor, whilst the main living areas perched on top and thus within the canopy of the trees.

RESULTS

Savills Architecture and Planning successfully obtained planning permission and working with a well-known local building firm, the house was built during much of the Covid-19-lockdown period. 

The house is designed to be highly efficient with a low carbon presence that uses natural materials, where possible, to mimic the texture of the trees and colours of the context in which it sits. A Passivhaus theoretical approach was applied, but agreed not to drive the aesthetic design or performance that might stifle our client’s ambition or their desired final scheme.

The house is full of light, with multiple points where the coastal light enters the house. The west facing sunken garden provides a sun trap and shelter from the coastal breezes if needed.