How this International Style-inspired house in Surrey makes a bigger splash
Built in 2006 by William King Architects, this home pays homage to the International Style: an architectural movement that preceded modernism in the 1930s. It was pioneered by Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier and counts rectilinear forms, voluminous living spaces and industrial materials as its calling cards – all of which are prominent here. In fact, the house isn’t dissimilar to the Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye in Paris, thanks to its sleek steel columns and notable use of glazing. Swathes of glass – spanning the entire width of the front façade – define the ground floor and result in remarkably bright living spaces, particularly throughout the warmer months when days are cloudless and long.
The weather was very much in our favour on the day of our visit, when the sun creates playful shadows across the interiors; we love the spirit-lifting dappled light from the nearby evergreen trees and the clean shapes cast by those steel columns. They bring plenty of personality to the cooling minimalist scheme, with its whitewashed walls and limestone floors. The floor-to-ceiling windows also provide beautiful views, which are glorious all year round – though especially so when the trees come into leaf. But come rain or shine, spending time inside is a joy, thanks to the open-plan design that encourages flexible living. We also love the contemporary glass staircase – a focal point of the ground floor that balances form and function and leads to the five bedrooms upstairs.
We’re concluding today’s tour with the garden, which cocoons the house exquisitely. The neat lawns call for a whole host of alfresco activities, from picnics to playing games and sunbathing with a book, while the towering trees promise privacy. And then there’s the pool – particularly covetable when mercury rises, whether you prefer to swim lengths or splash around. The infinity edge, over which the water cascades beautifully towards the living room, is a lovely touch – one we’d like to be enjoying for many years to come.
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