Manor house renovation and redesign

Surrey

• 
  Federation of Traditional Metal Roofing Contractors
  Winner of best project under 25K 2022

The original Manor House was a Palladian-style building erected between 1729 and 1736. Featured in Vanity Fair, it was demolished after falling into disrepair during the Second World War. The current property dates from the 1960s and has undergone extensive remodelling in recent years.

Edgley Design Architects were enlisted to help reimagine the 1960s building to create a six-bedroom, six-bathroom family home with open plan living to maximise the views across the surrounding gardens. Valley Builders were commissioned to bring the designs to life.

The property is predominately across one level with overhanging, extruded geometric roof forms, clad in striking standing seam stainless steel and zinc panels. These overhanging protrusions shade the large windows during summer months, reducing solar gain, whilst allowing the low sun during winter months to help heat the property.

The interior has been redesigned throughout with polished concrete floors, bleached oak floorboards and underfloor heating.

The high ceilings and open plan living ensure an airy and spacious feel, while the floor-to-ceiling windows around the central courtyard offer interesting views and reflections across the spaces.

Particular attention has been paid to the bespoke stainless steel and vintage oak kitchen. The central island has been fabricated from 4mm stainless steel, which precisely wraps the custom solid oak drawers and contrasts with the rustic, vintage oak wall cabinets. The minimal design is complemented by the integrated Gaggenau appliances.

The ensuite bathrooms have a Japanese influence with simple repetitive forms and a warmth from complementary materials. The use of Iroko timber is set against the oyster-coloured polished concrete floors and anthracite bathtub. Floor-to-ceiling timber panels offer warmth and privacy while affording glimpses through to the gardens.

The garage and workshop have been completely rebuilt and mirror the roof lines and materials of the main property. The interior feels elegant and minimal with exposed Glulam beams, birch-faced ply walls and polished concrete floors with underfloor heating.

In addition to the roof design and window shading, the house’s energy provision has been upgraded. Being a rural property, it was once wholly reliant on oil as its main form of heating. During the renovations, the property was converted to a Ground Source Heat Pump, with five 100-metre deep bore holes in the garden providing all its energy for heating and hot water. 

The driveway has been landscaped to provide a sweeping approach, turning circle and ample parking.

The gardens surrounding the property have been rewilded with natural meadow grasses and drought-friendly Mediterranean style borders featuring tall Orchard grasses, Stipas, Verbena, Rosemary and Lavenders, to name a few.

The property is now a handsome, six-bedroom family home, which successfully combines its historic origins with contemporary features to maximise light, energy efficiency and the requirements of modern living.