A major commission to create a modern, contemporary country house set within a 150-acre estate, this project began with the client approaching Studio Spicer to explore what was possible beyond the traditional scheme for which planning permission had already been secured.

The ambition was to design a home that blended modern living with the realities of running a large estate, combining the character of country life with the convenience and flexibility of a contemporary home.

Traditional materials are used throughout and reinterpreted in a contemporary way, drawing on craft, skill and technical ambition to sensitively blend the building into its Cotswold context and the surrounding Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

As the project developed, its scope expanded to include a series of supporting buildings and a long-term estate masterplan. New stabling, a barn, a menage, estate team accommodation and extensive garaging all contribute to the wider functioning of the estate.

Future planning has been embedded into the scheme, with formal greenhouses supporting on-site food production and creating opportunities for resource symbiosis.

Energy management sits at the heart of the project. A large, sensitively sited solar PV array is integrated into the national infrastructure, supporting on-site generation and battery systems that allow the estate to operate almost fully off-grid.

The entire development has been designed as an electric-only site, ensuring year-round resilience and long-term sustainability.