Stunning retreat

This modern riverside house clad in natural materials blends into its Berkshire surroundings. Designed by Spratley & Partners, the property was constructed as a holiday retreat for a family with children.

Positioned in a floodplain, Heather Cottage has piled foundations and is raised up on concrete stilts 1.85m above the ground, supported by a steel frame. The home features a sloping green roof, which helps to reduce surface water run-off as well as minimising the visual impact of the build. The architects chose to clad the dwelling with Kebony – a sustainable engineered wood that silvers with exposure to the elements.

Large expanses of glass in the open-plan living, kitchen and dining areas bathe the interiors with natural light. A cantilevered deck wraps around the house maximising the inside-outside feel, ideal for summer days.

For more information visit www.spratley-partners.uk or www.kebony.com

The Mill House

By OB Architecture

The owners of this grade II listed building within a conservation area, near an 18th century watermill, wanted to extend and remodel their dwelling’s ground floor. They were after more space for a light-filled kitchen and dining area that would open up to maximise the inside-outside feel and make better use of the large garden surrounding the home.