Design in Harmony with the Landscape at Flint House, Waddesdon Manor.

In the second of our series on Homes that Inspire Us, HollandGreen’s Gemma Williams writes about her admiration for Flint House, Waddesdon Manor Estate, designed by architect Charlotte Skene Catling and interiors by David Mlinaric.

The key to a great design is always one that works together in harmony with its surroundings and sits seamlessly within its landscape. A home which successfully achieves this whilst incorporating contemporary design elements is Flint House in Buckinghamshire. It is set within the grounds of the Waddesdon Manor Estate and is designed by architect Charlotte Skene Catling, with interiors by David Mlinaric. The house was the winner of the RIBA House of the Year Award in 2015.

The house and annex appear to emerge from the ground, and are almost unrecognisable as buildings from afar due to their rough flint and chalk exterior.

Flint, which is found in the surrounding chalk fields, clads the exterior of the house which begins dark grey at ground level, gradually rising to white chalk blocks at the top with a stepped roof which dissolves into the skyline.

The 360-degree views surrounding the house are utilised by the slim framed windows which create focal points internally that frame the landscape beyond, allowing the surroundings to become part of the artwork. There is even a small ‘river’ which runs through and round the edge of the house. The cantilevered elements of the design create the effect of the building floating within the landscape.

The buildings have a strong sense of serenity and harmony throughout which is no doubt the effect of the seamless connection between the inside and out. Natural materials, neutral colours and reflective surfaces are used throughout the interior to blend with and bring in the landscape.

Outside, pockets of garden are set within the building structure, with inset terraces, planting beds and terrazzo tiles on the roof that allow one to walk up the house onto the terraces, creating different viewpoints at each.

Whilst we don’t all have the luxury of being surrounded by uninterrupted rolling hills as at Flint House on the Waddesdon Manor Estate, there are definite design aspects here that can be incorporated within any design. With our in-house Architecture, Interiors and Landscapes teams at HollandGreen, we consider all three of these elements together from the very beginning of the design process, to achieve a design which belongs to, and sits harmoniously within, its setting.

What’s next?

See the first in our series on Homes that Inspire Us on Max Fordham’s Passivhuas iconic London home.

Find out how copper is an elegant and sustainable roof for a listed building extension in Oxford.

See more on Cotswolds-inspired design and injecting the dreamy Soho Farmhouse feel into your home.

See our article on Nature Inspired Floral and Fauna Interiors.

We provide Interior Design services, together with Architectural and Landscape Design, throughout London, Surrey, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and the Cotswolds.  Find out more about how we work or get in touch for an initial conversation.