Secret Address Book
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COUNTRY LIFE’S secret address book You’ve just bought a country house and now you’re faced with the business of restoring and enhancing it—and possibly knocking it down and starting all over again. Or perhaps you’ve decided that the house you’re in isn’t fulfilling its potential. Who are you going to call? COUNTRY LIFE gives you the top 100 architects, interior designers, builders and garden designers who have the knowledge and experience to create the rural retreat of your dreams Compiled by Arabella Youens T is rare that a house is ever frozen in time. Successive owners have needs and tastes that add something new; colour palettes change, layouts are Ireconfigured, cellars become media rooms, derelict outbuildings are reborn as swim- ming pools. Or sometimes they simply need to be protected from the ravages of time— or the ravages of their previous owners. All these changes offer an exciting opp- ortunity to make a house your own. We are fortunate in this country to have a wealth of experts to help us on our way—archi- tects, designers and builders whose intimate knowledge of country houses and their gar- dens offer an extraordinary opportunity to maximise the possibilities that they pre- sent, whether they are village houses, con- verted barns or listed manor houses. The following are those who COUNTRY LIFE considers to have the experience, knowl- Quinlan & Francis Terry Architects replaced a Victorian extension with something more edge and skill—and a little magic—required in keeping with the period for Higham House in Essex to take a country house to the next exciting stage in its evolution. Giles Kime ADAM Architecture Stewart in the early 1980s and undertakes World-renowned team of six architects with projects in the UK and overseas, with a par- a portfolio spanning many countries and ticular focus on the restoation and conserv- vernacular styles from Regency to modern ation of historic buildings in Scotland. He is Architects Classical via Palladian and Arts-and-Crafts. the architect, she runs an interior-design and As the name suggests, country houses They say ‘We’re one of the leading practition- homeware business. are shaped by their setting. It’s a rela- ers of traditional and progressive architecture They say ‘Our architecture is strongly informed tionship that’s hugely complex to manage and contextual urbanism in Europe’ by the Scottish vernacular and we are best correctly. Everything from framing the We say ‘Impeccable credentials for designing known for our own interpretation and con- correct views from the windows to new-build country houses in a traditional ver- temporary take on the building tradition’ meeting the challenges of 21st-century nacular and a favourite of The Prince of Wales’ We say ‘Fearless outfit that’s perfect for seem- living—informal spaces with built-in 01962 843843; www.adamarchitecture.com ingly insurmountable conversions of Scottish flexibility for entertaining when required castles’ —demands careful thought. Andrew Jones Associates 01862 832477; www.anta.co.uk Thanks to the support and expertise Residential work comprises barn conversions, available, there’s never been a better loft conversions and extensions. London Ben Pentreath (see also Interior Designers) time to tackle a new-build country- clients include developer Candy & Candy and Ben and his large team design new-build houses house project. Whether your taste is designer Kelly Hoppen. in a range of Classical styles. Ben is also a big for the Postmodern or neo-Classical, They say ‘We promote enthusiasm and co-op- player in the masterplanning of the Duchy of there’s an extraordinary pool of talent eration among all parties involved’ Cornwall’s Poundbury development in Dorset. available in Britain, some of it world- We say ‘A hands-on architect with a modern They say ‘Whatever the size of project, we renowned. In addition, with the (albeit touch and a strong emphasis on natural light’ apply the same principles: an understanding of marginal) relaxation of planning laws www.andrewjonesassociates.com; 020–8643 scale and proportion, intelligent care and atten- —specifically, National Planning Policy 0601 tion to detail and the creation of buildings that Framework Paragraph 55, which rep- feel timeless and appropriate to place’ laces some fiendishly complicated Andrew Wright Associates We say ‘A real talent who can draw, design regulations—constructing new country Architect and masterplanner who works in and write beautifully about his life, which dances houses on greenfield sites isn’t quite a dramatic and modern idiom. Current pro- between Dorset and Bloomsbury. He’s in such as challenging as it once was. jects include Higher Mapston, a twin-domed demand, we’re not sure that he ever sleeps’ It won’t be within everyone’s desire new family house within the Dartmoor Nat- 020–7430 2526; www.benpentreath.com or grasp to start a new country house ional Park. from scratch, but the more than They say ‘Design should respond to each Birds Portchmouth Russum Architects 300,000 owners of Grade II, Grade II* individual situation. When it does, the person- Modern practice whose most recent country- and Grade I listed houses in England ality that emerges helps to enhance and define house success was Downley House, an orig- and Category A and B houses in Scot- a very special sense of place’ inal sequence of differently shaped buildings land are also comprehensively served We say ‘Inspirational contemporary and sus- that incorporated the ruined walls and set within by practices that have deep, specialist tainable designer of new country houses’ the existing walls of an earlier house located in knowledge in the restoration and refurb- www.andrewwrightassociates.com a hidden valley in the South Downs AONB. ishment of these important historic They say ‘Our ideas draw strength from buildings. Some of those listed are ANTA urban, historical and social analysis, contem- formed of several individuals with spec- This Highlands-based design and architect- porary culture and art through to the tech- Preceding pages: Paul Highnam/Countryialist Life Picture Library; Andy Marshall experience of country-house work. ure firm was founded by Lachlan and Annie nology of construction’ 60 Country Life, March 8, 2017 www.countrylife.co.uk They say ‘We have a reputation for the design onial building in Colombo, Sri Lanka. of new buildings in Classical and traditional They say ‘We specialise in all aspects of work styles as well as the scholarly repair and res- relating to historic buildings and the design toration of historic buildings’ of new buildings within Conservation Areas We say ‘There is no whiff of cookie-cutter style and AONBs’ here. This is a versatile a practice with a good We say ‘A practice particularly worth approach- track record of delivering well-designed, indi- ing if you’re tackling a project on a listed house vidual new country houses’ in one of London’s conservation areas’ www.francisjohnson-architects.co.uk; 01262 020–7582 0748; www.quarme.com 674043 Gluckman Smith Francis Terry and Associates Tom Smith has won awards for his residential Francis Terry recently left his father’s practice work in Gloucestershire, including the sensitive after more than 20 years (see Quinlan & Francis conversion of an early-19th-century stone-built Terry, p64) and his newly established eight- threshing barn into an eco-friendly family home. strong team promises great things in the future. They say ‘Our design process aims for an They say ‘Our approach is to design buildings architecture that balances poetic and rational that satisfy the needs of our clients while simul- sensibilities’ taneously creating beautiful architecture’ We say ‘A good mix of experience for anyone We say ‘A master draughtsman with tremen- with projects in both London and the country- dous experience and empathy for the neo- side and looking to use one practice’ We say ‘Thought-provoking practice if you’re Classical tradition’ 020–7998 1525; www.gluckmansmith.com looking to do something highly distinctive’ 01206 580528; http://ftanda.co.uk www.birdsportchmouthrussum.com; 020– Groves-Raines Architects 7253 8205 Giles Quarme & Associates Nicholas Groves-Raines has more than 30 Experts in the conservation, restoration and years’ experience in the sensitive and con- Craig Hamilton Architects alteration of historical buildings in the UK and structive reuse of historic and listed buildings, Specialists in progressive Classical and trad- overseas—the practice was most recently with a particular focus on Scottish projects. itional houses in a country and urban context commissioned to work on an Edwardian col- They say ‘My technique is very much of the ➢ that has undertaken several commissions for chapels in recent years, including one that won a Georgian Group Award last year. They say ‘We are committed to the develop- ment of the Classical language of architecture’ We say ‘Excellent pedigree—The Prince of Wales is a fan—and at the top of the Class- ical architecture game’ 01982 553312; www.craighamiltonarchitects. com Donald Insall Associates When it comes to managing, repairing and adapting historic buildings as well as new- build houses, this large practice of seven offices knows its game. Its experience and its portfolio of work are very impressive. They say ‘We are a leading conservation architecture practice with more than 50 years’ experience in the care, repair and adaptation of historic buildings’ We say ‘Experts in knowing how to bring an old country house into the 21st century’ www.donaldinsallassociates.co.uk; 020– 7245 9888 Francis Johnson and Partners Probably best known for designing large-scale new-build country houses that are respectful of local vernaculars in England, it was the first practice to complete a house under the require- ments of PPG7 (‘Gummer’s Law’).