Zara Moon, RIBA Chartered Architect and Planning Consultant at Zara Moon Architects showcases their project Hyll House which was shortlisted and finished runner up in the Manchester Society of Architects Awards.
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 need. 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 design includes a natural stone plinth which grounds the building into the site. The stonework walling draws visitors from the site entrance to the front door, with the stone wall continuing internally into the entrance hall.
“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.” Planning Officer Hyndburn Council
The design incorporates traditional materials such as natural stonework and timber ensuring the design responds to the immediate context. Whilst the contemporary application of the materials ensures the architecture is distinctly and deliberately different to the Listed building, maintaining a clear distinction between the age and heritage of each building. Glazing to both front and rear elevations creates a countryside vista through the home, and by subtracting areas of massing, creates external areas which sit within the protection of the building form.
“It has been very refreshing to deal with something with stellar architectural merit so kudos there!” Planning Officer – Hyndburn Council
Zara Moon, RIBA Chartered Architect and Planning Consultant at Zara Moon Architects showcases their project Hyll House which was shortlisted and finished runner up in the Manchester Society of Architects Awards.
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 need. 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 design includes a natural stone plinth which grounds the building into the site. The stonework walling draws visitors from the site entrance to the front door, with the stone wall continuing internally into the entrance hall.
“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.” Planning Officer Hyndburn Council
The design incorporates traditional materials such as natural stonework and timber ensuring the design responds to the immediate context. Whilst the contemporary application of the materials ensures the architecture is distinctly and deliberately different to the Listed building, maintaining a clear distinction between the age and heritage of each building. Glazing to both front and rear elevations creates a countryside vista through the home, and by subtracting areas of massing, creates external areas which sit within the protection of the building form.
“It has been very refreshing to deal with something with stellar architectural merit so kudos there!” Planning Officer – Hyndburn Council
