Graylings

This contemporary house overlooking the Surrey Hills is set on a sloping site. It is inspired by Japanese architecture and combines clean aesthetics with tranquil spaces for contemplation. It is also an ideal home for family get-togethers, with different seating areas that make the most of the wonderful views. The house is designed “upside-down” with the bedrooms on the lower floor and an open-plan kitchen and living space above. The master bedroom is in a separate wing, joined by a flat-roofed hallway section with a Japanese-style lounge. The oriental flair extends to the outdoor areas, with terraces and calming elements such as a water feature. A pocket garden and a flat, green roof foster biodiversity and create a haven for insects and bees.

Fact sheet

Roof shape
Pitched roof
Façade
Timber
Bedrooms
4
Dimensions in m
21.99 x 13.20
Gross External Area in ft² (incl. basement if present)
2712

A country hideaway with clean lines

CEO Baufritz (UK) Ltd.

Oliver Rehm

"The house comprises three interlinked volumes in an “H” shape with intimate courtyards and passages. It echoes the local architecture with a timber frame and vertical and horizontal timber cladding. Designed ‘upside down’, it is built into the hillside with the bedrooms downstairs and only the open-plan living space at street level with views over the Surrey Hills."

"With Baufritz you feel that you have made some new friends. It is a real pleasure working with people of that quality."

The Assembly Story

Japanese Flair

The two wings of the house are linked by an elongated structure that is fully glazed on both sides, allowing the indoor and outdoor spaces to merge. Sliding windows open onto a Japanese-style garden. A lounge area is separated from the hallway by bespoke frameless glass doors. The main feature of this space are two striking murals of Koi fish that continue the Japanese theme.

Respecting Nature

The house and garden are designed as one entity, with tranquil spaces and corners for contemplation and relaxation. A running water feature creates low-level white noise with a calming effect. The landscaped gardens have been designed with nature in mind, with green spaces that provide a home for butterflies and bees.

Keeping good company

A generous, double-height open kitchen, living and dining area takes up the entire first floor of the main wing of the house. Suffused with natural daylight through the large end window, it offers fantastic views over the Surrey Hills. This is an ideal space for meeting up with friends and family, for dinner parties and social events.

A space apart

The master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and dressing room in the East Wing is set apart from the main living area. This large, open space has floor-to-ceiling windows that offer wonderful views of the garden and beyond. It is a tranquil haven that lends itself to contemplation and connecting with nature.

one with the terrain

Seen from above, the house has an “H” shape. It is set on an ideal plot of land, with sloping grounds overlooking the Surrey Hills. The house is built into the slope, with the sleeping areas downstairs and only the living and dining area at street level. This closes off the house from the street, creating privacy and opening up the views.   

outdoor living

As the clients are keen gardeners, a separate area has been installed for gardening with raised beds and a greenhouse under a transparent, dome-like structure. As an important aspect of the overall design is respect for nature, quiet spaces have been created for contemplation and green areas that offer refuge for animals and insects.

Floor plans

Ground Floor

First Floor

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