Springvale House 2

Springvale Country Estate, Sheffield.

Standing proudly as a beautifully balanced tribute to the history of simplistic from-making is the ‘Box and Barn’ House, which pairs the contemporary rectilinear box with the more traditional “home” silhouette. Set back from the road edge to allow space for a fruit tree orchard to grow is the courtyard-centered family home.

As parents of two young and curious children, our clients placed an emphasis on a desire for their little ones to connect with nature in a safe space. Another request was to design a home that minimizes the need for artificial cooling and lighting. To our delight, the solution presented itself as the focal point of the home; a central courtyard. The home spills out into the planted void from all four sides allowing for natural ventilation and lighting throughout the home whilst simultaneously defining a sheltered space for entertainment and engagement with the elements. 

The home is fully kitted out to harvest rainwater and solar power, which combined with passive design principles, locally sourced materials, and it’s own fruit tree orchard means that the home has not only reduced its own CO2 output but also works towards repairing the state of our natural environment.