The Hide, Great Wolford Road GL56

The Hide provides the opportunity to create a unique and private, architecturally merited property, extending to 11,000 sq ft on 10 acres of land, within the Cotswolds.

The project architect, Seymour-Smith Architects, is a Cotswolds based design-led architectural practice that delivers considered, contemporary and sustainable buildings. The landscape consultant, SEED Landscape Design Ltd, are renowned for the creation of dynamic landscapes, with a particular emphasis on planting and the natural environment.

The site is rectangular in shape, and is bounded to the north by Great Wolford Road, with Wolford Wood, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), extending to the east. Open views looks out westward over the expanse of the landscape and historic oak trees.

The adjacent woodland to the east of the house, is drawn into the site with the planting of new trees. The open heathland inspired landscape to the west will be a mosaic of grassland, meadow, scrub and cover crops with a particular focus on providing habitat for farmland birds. The driveway winds its way through this new woodland with curated views out across the open landscape prior to arrival at the house. A family terrace and domestic garden are proposed to the south-east of the house, and seasonal wetland pond to the south.

The grouping of the built elements creates a courtyard space, taking their cue from farm buildings in the area.

The main section of the house has five en suite bedrooms, and the annexe provides separate living accommodation with two bedrooms for guests or staff.

A path connects to the pool house and further amenities. The buildings, with large panoramic windows, have been designed to capture the best of the views across the site, to provide inside-outside spaces, and to immerse you in the rich landscape.

The use of Cotswolds stone root the buildings to their location. Thatch has been used for the upper levels, which is a renewable and naturally insulating material that results in a richly textured surface. The timber cladding references the woodland setting and echoes the parallel lines of the site.

Sustainability is paramount, and through the application of PV, PV-T, and a water source heat pump, the house will be energy positive; it will generate more energy than it will use.