Long

Set in a clearing at the heart of a Grade II listed arboretum, this contemporary home is surrounded by woodlands with dense shrubbery and tall oak trees. The stunning architecture comprises three volumes stacked one upon the other, each with a different façade. Vertical timber panels contrast with grey mineral render. As the daylight filtering through the canopy of leaves is limited, the floor plan has been inverted with the guest rooms on the ground floor and the living spaces and master suite above. Shafts of sunlight enter the rooms through floor-to-ceiling windows and glass roof panes in the stairwell. The house was built using Baufritz’s wall and window system with our patented wood shavings insulation to minimise its carbon footprint.

Fact sheet

Roof shape

Flat roof

Façade

Timber

Bedrooms

Dimensions in m

22.89 x 12.84

Gross External Area in ft² (incl. basement if present)

6099

A haven of tranquillity in verdant surroundings

CEO Baufritz (UK) Ltd.

Oliver Rehm

"This bespoke home takes prefab construction to a new level. We successfully adapted the distinctive design by architects McLean Quinlan to our Baufritz modular system, using natural materials that contrast and interact with the leafy surroundings. Many of the elements were custom-built by our craftspeople, such as the vertical timber slats on the upper floor."

“When you are surrounded by nature, you don’t go against it, you go with it. So natural materials were absolutely crucial for us.”

Alison and Martin Long

A feel-good retreat

Alison and Martin Long are both fitness enthusiasts, so they wanted the house plans to include a yoga studio and a home gym. These are housed in a separate, single-level building on the north side of the house, together with a double garage. It is clad with vertical black timber and has a flat gravel roof.

Wellness for body and mind

As a yoga instructor, Alison Long appreciates the calm of the yoga studio and the view of the lush woodland scenery through floor-to-ceiling windows. French doors open onto wooden decking with raised vegetable beds that are cared for by Alison and Martin. A perfect atmosphere for relaxation and contemplation.

Among the treetops

Surrounded by protected woodland with mature trees and shrubs, House Long is built using natural materials that blend with the verdant setting. Vertical timber panels echo the tree trunks and contrast with the grey mineral render façade. Inside the house, a muted colour palette and handcrafted oak joinery create a tranquil and inviting atmosphere.

Immersed in nature

Elegant, grey floor tiles in the living area and on the terrace blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors and create a sense of continuity. Expansive glazing allows the sunlight to stream in through the lattice of leaves, bathing the interiors in a mosaic of light and shadow. The mood in the house shifts as the colours change through the seasons.