Paul Cashin Architects and Design Engine have completed a striking brick and glass house in Hampshire

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Richard Chivers

Located close to the village of Upham, near Winchester in Hampshire, Woodcote House is nestled amongst the rolling chalk hills of the South Downs National Park. Designed by Paul Cashin Architects in collaboration with Design Engine, the masonry and glass dwelling replaces a series of brick buildings that had fallen into disrepair. After achieving planning permission at appeal, work started on the house in 2017 and took two years to complete.

The simple internal layout comprises a large open-plan living, dining and kitchen area with further accommodation, including four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, split over two levels. A central spine links the spaces via a minimal timber staircase. Large floor-to-ceiling windows ensure high levels of daylighting and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

Ground and first-floor plans

Carefully considered details have been incorporated into the design, such as bespoke joinery for the fireplace and bathrooms, specially fabricated slimline copings and cladding sections, as well as striking brick cantilevers. The rural facing brick is intended to reference the memory of the existing buildings.

The external landscape has been shaped and planted to help the house settle into its natural context. Paved terraces connect the inside with the outside, and provide vantage points from which to view the South Downs. Employing both high levels of insulation and natural ventilation, the house meets Sustainable Homes Code 4.

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