Rosa Maria FarmBerkhamsted, Hertfordshire
The site lies on a prominent and sensitive escarpment in rural Hertfordshire. Greenbelt and AONB policies were highly restrictive and the project for a replacement of one single dwelling with two houses required careful development of building form in order to mitigate increased visual harm. The original house resembled a poorly considered agricultural conversion that sits
uncomfortably within its landscape setting. The scale and massing of the
building, together with its prominent hillside location and white rendered
finish, serve to make it highly visible in views from the south and south-east.
It is overwhelmingly considered somewhat of an eyesore in these views.
The design of the smaller Orchard House is based on a
simple sheltered courtyard. Courtyard housing topologies are used extensively
around the world but less so within the UK. Such a strategy can
enable more efficient and less visually impactful development in edge of
settlement and open countryside locations. It will also provide a high level of
privacy for the occupants. From the Little Heath Lane boundary, the new
dwelling will take the appearance of a traditional rural boundary wall. The unusual plan form seeks to
rotate the main glazed garden façade to orientate towards the south ensuring a
best position for views, passive solar gain, and daylighting. The roof along
this façade will have deep overhangs to mitigate from potential solar
overheating in mid-summer.
The proposed main building plan form
looks to create a formal arrivals courtyard running parallel to the site
boundaries and then opening up towards the south west. The southern façade is
rotated 45 degrees to maximize views, garden access, passive solar gain, and
daylighting. Deep overhangs seek to mitigate potential solar overheating
and night time light pollution. The south facade is located at the
transition between the flatter parts of the site and the steep level changes
into the existing ornate sunken garden. A basement level will open out into
this lower garden area to provide habitable rooms and easy access to leisure
facilities. The visible element of the proposed dwelling above the
existing ground level will be visually less than the existing building. The
proposed green flat roof provides a lower silhouette impact than the current white
pitched roof volume.
Main House
Main House
Orchard House
Project Name: Rosa Maria Farm
Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
Gross Floor Area (House): 965 m2
Value: Confidential
Environmental Rating: Ultra-low carbon
Project Period: March 2021 to 2025
Project Credits
Architect: Kirkland Fraser Moor Architects
Client: Private
Landscape Architect: Huskinsson Brown Associates
Ecology: MKEcology
Planning Consultant: Trevor Standen
Highways Consultant: Abingdon
Visualisations: David Bowes/Darc Studio/InTandem
© Kirkland Fraser Moor Tel:
01442 864 673
Email: mail@k-f-m.com
8-12 Clarence Rd Depot, Clarence Rd. HP4 3AS