Architecture Wednesday: The Roundhouse

Set amid open countryside near Old Knebworth in Hertfordshire, this remarkable five-bedroom house was built on the site of a disused above-ground water tank. The circular Roundhouse radiates around a majestic central tree-like core from which its three levels and irregular roofline are suspended. Designed with handcrafted natural materials and sustainability at the forefront, it features over 4,820 square feet, with generously proportioned spaces for living and working.

The façade is defined by a jigsaw of stone, red-brick and Edwardian concrete, interspersed with bee bricks to encourage pollinators to nest. The house is topped by a weathervane and a striking cone-shaped reclaimed tiled roof, while expansive glass panels wrap all around, contributing to a sense of lightness.

The main entrance, on the first floor, is reached via an external staircase where you enter a porch with light washing down from the skylights above. There is plenty of storage space provided by hand-crafted joinery and a wooden staircase leading to an upper mezzanine floor.

The top floor is entirely occupied by the sweeping open plan reception area, where floor-to-ceiling windows remove the boundaries with the surrounding landscape while soaring ceilings and expansive skylights flood the space with natural light. Solid larch floorboards run underfoot, with large glass panels in circular formation offer a glimpse of the landing below. 

The main floor includes the kitchen, dining, and living areas. The focal point of the kitchen is a red electric-wood-fired Thornhill range cooker set into solid wood cabinetry, alongside a generous oak-topped island with seats for casual dining. Above the sink, a porthole window frames leafy views of the garden. Tucked to one side, a secondary kitchen provides additional storage and houses the integrated refrigerator and dishwasher.

There are two distinct lounging areas on this level, each catering to a different mood; one opens onto a balcony with views toward the gardens while the other is nestled in a more secluded part of the open plan and warmed by a wood burning stove. Also on this floor are the playroom and a powder room, while a light-filled mezzanine, perfect for a office, is up a small staircase.

A striking, spiral open-tread steel and ash staircase descends to the levels below. There are five bedrooms on the first floor, all accessible from the landing with the principal bedroom, with an en suite bath, opening directly onto the side garden. There is additional bathroom servicing the other bedrooms while the guest room has its own private bath.

Another staircase leads down to the versatile lower level, where a reclaimed brick archway gives way to a fully functioning oak bar with counter and a generous dining area. From here, doors open into the home gym/studio/theatre, with a wall of built-in cabinetry and cork flooring underfoot, and a separate bathroom. A wine cellar and laundry area round out the lower level.

An enchanting natural landscape wraps around the house, offering ever-changing views across the seasons. Wonderfully private, the landscaped gardens are bordered by hedgerows and established oak and fir trees, interspersed with terraced areas, shingled paths, and grassy lawns. To the rear, a paved terrace is arranged with a generous outdoor dining area looking out toward the country, sheltered from the sunlight by mature oak trees. 

The house can operate almost entirely off-grid, with a clear water septic tank, a wood-fired/electric range cooker, roof-top solar panels and an uneven shape that allows it to collect rainwater from the conical roof. Thermally broken Crittall windows enhance energy efficiency, while lightwells deliver abundant natural light to all floors. The central tree-trunk core, a towering 14-metre reclaimed steel pipe, serves as the main chimney, allowing warm air to circulate from the biomass boiler. The house has underfloor heating on all levels, 10kw of battery storage and is wired for high-speed internet connection.

The home is within easy reach of Cambridge, St Albans and under 30 minutes by train from London King's Cross and can be yours for $3.5M USD.

As always, click to emBIGGERate …

The Modern House

Architecture Wednesday: Highland Park Dutch Colonial

Amid a lush garden of native California plants, this turnkey 1906 Dutch Colonial Revival in prime Highland Park neighborhood is the perfect blend of charming original details and modern updates.

High ceilings and a majestic curved staircase at the entrance flow into light-filled living and dining areas with refurbished original Douglas Fir floors and stained 118-year-old artisan woodwork. Every inch of the designer kitchen was thoughtfully maximized and features soapstone and butcher block counters, custom cabinetry, new wood flooring, a farmhouse sink, and Zia tiles.

The dining area leads into a bonus room, ideal for an office or den, with French doors that open to the rear deck. Fully remodeled bathrooms—one on each floor—feature Mission tilework, while the three upstairs bedrooms enjoy treetop views of the San Gabriel mountains, the Verdugos, and beyond.

Centered around a California Coast Live Oak, the park-like backyard features edible and native plants and is host to an array of butterflies, pollinators, ladybugs, and birds. The front yard was designed by Dune Gardens to evoke the Sycamore groves of the nearby Arroyo Seco.

This green, sustainable home has rainwater catchment and a zoned smart Rachio irrigation system. It is completely gas-free and comes equipped with high-end, all-electric appliances including a heat pump water heater, induction cooktop, washer/dryer, oven, and heat pump central HVAC with 4 temperature sensors and Smart 2-zone Ecobee WiFi controlled thermostat. Systems upgrades include all new electrical panel and wiring, copper water lines, new ducting, and a completely replaced foundation.

The home also comes with a historic Mills Act contract and significant property tax savings. With two private parking spots, this home is perfectly situated between Figueroa and York, a half mile to the A Train and just minutes from area favorites such as Amiga Amore, Kumquat, Cookbook, and the Hermosillo. An incredibly rare opportunity in one of the best pockets of Highland Park. 

Dwell

Architecture Wednesday: North Beach Residence

I love a good beach getaway, and I love a good beach getaway in a home that’s environmentally friendly, which is why we’re stopping at the North Beach Residence, on Orcas Island, the largest of the San Juan Islands off the Washington coast. 

While the 2,400-square-foot house is sited on a northwesterly oriented beach, facing the Strait of Georgia, to take advantage of the views, the property is also home to second-growth Douglas firs, a beech grove and a grassy meadow with good solar exposure. 

This single-story somewhat narrow home is set among mature fir trees, has walls of glass along both sides, one open to the beach and the other to an upland meadow. Steel columns minimize the visible structure from the interior, with metal-clad walls on the exterior. Flood-plain and archeological conditions necessitated a design approach that elevated the living areas while letting the building rest lightly on the land.

In addition, the roof is vegetated, filtering rainwater that is then collected and stored in tanks near the garage for irrigation. Potable hot water and hydronic heating are aided by solar collectors on the roof while photovoltaic panels above the vegetable garden provide supplemental electricity. And, while the home is intended to be used from May through October, these water and energy collecting systems completely zero out electricity use for the entire year.

But it’s also pretty and open and sleek and modern and white, with the primary bedroom at one end of the home and two other bedrooms at the opposite end. In between is the great room with a cozy living area anchored by a fireplace and bookshelves, a dining space, and an open kitchen, with an enormous pantry just behind it.

It's a nice space to get away from it all and relax in the beauty of the woods, the meadow and the beach while knowing that you are being especially green.

As always, click to enBIGGERate ...

One Kind Design