Kent Downs House

Project Info

The house draws on the client’s life experiences and ‘memories of Asia’ while also having a strong connection with the surrounding area.

Two stone and timber pavilions sit lightly in the landscape. Their shallow floating roofs and large overhangs blur the division between the inside and the woodland beyond. Open timber board fencing encloses the entrance and motor-court. The house is careful not to reveal itself immediately and instead encourages a sense of exploration. Oak cladding wraps the two pavilions, culminating with the larger two-storey bedroom block. The floating roofs complement the vertical cladding by exposing Douglas fir roof joists. In the living pavilion, the pitched roofs remain exposed to create a warm and comforting atmosphere. The oak doors, library bookcase and flooring gently accentuate the natural landscape beyond and act as a backdrop to furniture and artwork.