Blending Architecture with Nature’s Bounty

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Breach House is a family home that will enrich the landscape and the lives of human and non-human occupants. Situated in open countryside, the site is surrounded by a network of rivers and brooks. Studio Bark identified an opportunity to harness this locally-abundant natural resource. The house, which is partly powered by micro-hydro energy, harvests runoff water from the surrounding fields, filtering this for use within the house and landscape. The result is a striking family home that will draw down carbon, improve biodiversity and provide an inspiring backdrop for rural family life.

This approval replaces a previous permission for a conversion and significant basement extension to an existing agricultural barn. Inspired by a historical precedent at Bosworth Hall, a ‘water tower’ serves as a focal connecting element, weaving together a number of functions from circulation and ventilation to look out and water filtration.

The scheme was reviewed by an independent panel from Design Midlands during its development, who noted: “The design approach has resulted in an exceptionally high-quality scheme with a unique language that is contemporary while echoing the typology/vernacular of local farmsteads.”

The proposal comprises a holistic site strategy, informed by detailed analysis of setting and landscape, bringing significant enhancement to an ecologically-degraded agricultural site. These measures achieve an exceptional biodiversity net gain of 60%+ while providing onsite carbon drawdown and natural flood water management.

This approval marks Studio Bark’s 10th permission via Paragraph 84; the ‘country house clause’.

Commenting on the design, Tom Bennett, Director at Studio Bark, says: “Breach House is an integration of landscape and architecture, blending contextual influences to resonate subtly with its setting. The theme of water arose from the great prevalence of rivers, brooks, ponds and drainage channels on site and in the surrounding area. The design grapples with questions of resilience and climate adaptation, offering a significantly enhanced use of this site in terms of carbon, ecology and amenity. The resulting proposal is grounded in its place while also responding to some of the key challenges of its time.”

Leveraging landscape integration

Talking of the landscaping, Edward Flaxman, Director at Studio 31, says: “The design for Breach House began with a complex and layered process of research and assessment. Uncovering the heritage, hydrology, topography, local industry and ecology gave the site both its unique landscape character and distinctive potential. A wide net, cast to capture both the immediate and much wider landscape setting was distilled into a design intrinsically informed by the site itself.

“The landscape intention reflects the local character, habitat and management methods and includes the extension of local woodlands, creation of wetland meadows, enhancement of a species-rich wildflower meadow through seed harvesting from a local SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), laying of hedgerow using regionally-specific methods and the introduction of rotational hardy breed cattle to manage meadows in place of machinery.

“The waterways surrounding the site were a key element of the landscape and essential to both the function and enhancement of the architectural and landscape design. They were harnessed as a natural renewable energy source for the house, connected to new and additional wetlands as habitat corridors, designed for habitat and biodiversity enhancement including the planting of wet woodland and utilised in the improvement of water quality entering the brook. The macro landscape assessment also served to utilise the water design of the site to help reduce historic flooding downstream.

“Where climate-resilient buildings and landscapes are essential to the future health of the planet, working with architects who are tenaciously driven in their own design process by the assessment and enhancement of the landscape has allowed for the unfolding of a building that is seamlessly connected, in composition, function and aesthetic, to its local setting.

“As a consultant team working in collaboration, together with detailed research, the project has not only created an astounding 60%+ biodiversity net gain but recognised this site as a design manual in itself. Characterised by its richness, the landscape has acted as a map upon which a truly grounded piece of architecture has emerged, enhanced in its own function by its setting and also serving to unlock the potential of the landscape itself.

The client, Adam Tarver, adds: “The entire process has been a labour of love, and the level of rigour and detail is exceptional. We really do hope that with the support of the local authority and wider consultees, we can work collaboratively to deliver a beautiful example of modern architecture that enriches the landscape and our lives. The opportunity to live and manage the land in a way that will improve the ecology and biodiversity for all to enjoy, coupled with the extensive landscape proposals, is something we’re not only passionate about, but also very proud of.”

Further information....

www.studiobark.co.uk