The Hampshire House

I was born in the county of Hampshire, and lived there in the 'sticks' until I was 14. First in a tiny hamlet and then in a little market town. My memories of the countryside are full of peace and space. Wandering by hedgerows and rolling fields with swaying grains broken by clumps of ancient trees and wide reaching oaks. 

Quite different to our Cornish grey granite down here, the houses were instead Victorian red brick like our ex-farm workers cottage, and plenty of grey glistering flint. 

The flint is what caught my eye on this Hampshire new build, a giant of modern, minimal design making the most of its privileged position. 

'Hampshire House' by Níall McLaughlin Architects commands the landscape in a series of protruding boxes - all with tapered edges and a generous helping of glass.

The flint softens what could be a rather austere building along with wooden verticals, all sitting alongside the horizontal slabs of green lawn. There is interest from every angle. 

Inside, the design makes the most of the height and allows colour and warmth to come from the generous oak panelling and the woodland and lake views. 

This home includes a library and indoor swimming pool with the massive footprint being tamed by zoning individual spaces and framing views inside the building. This helps the structure feel connected and a little more personal. 

I think this architectural feat would sit quite comfortably in amongst the landscape of Hampshire, a place close to my heart. If it were mine I would plant grasses and wild flowers to rise and sway softening further that great facade. 

Originally found at Ignant.