A Modern House Encased in an Ancient Castle
After finding a surprise renovation I looked a little more into The Landmark Trust. Simply put they restore castles, forts, towers and cottages for self-catering holidays. These buildings are really rather special. The one that turned my head was Astle Castle in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Pretty much a ruin, it took an architectural competition to decide how this house would live on. More a fortified manor than a castle, it had been lived in since the Saxon period. Sadly gutted by fire it was hard to know quite how to breath life into the once significant estate. The winning bid by Witherford Watson Mann created a modern abode within the ruins, filled with warmth and character. Spacious but still cosy, a clear distinction from the old and new. I love the delicate bricks, Danish actually, chosen for their subtle shades. The light oak panelling bridges the age gap perfectly. In some places the views are seen through the ruin, like the castle wraps around the...