House For Sale £1,250,000
Long House is an award-winning project in Winchester that saw the transformation of a traditional 1960s house into an outstanding four-bedroom contemporary home. Completed in 2011, the design was conceived by Dan Brill Architects and skilfully uses the original footprint of the house to create a dramatic double-height, open plan living area at the heart of the home, while the bedrooms, secluded at the rear, all open out onto a private terrace and an expansive garden. Long House was awarded the riba Downland Prize in 2012.
The Tour
Dan Brill designed Long House to be entirely inconspicuous from the street. The only aspect of the façade belying the contemporary interventions within is a large frosted glass pane, where an en-bloc garage could plausibly be sitting. However, entrance via the vibrant yellow front door reveals a voluminous open-plan space with a truly modern approach to space and light. Brill explains his approach thus: “Treated as a kind of architectural stage set, only the shell of the original house has been retained as the minimum required to appease planning stipulations. This has been used to accommodate the main open-plan living areas within a single double-height volume.”
A beautiful wooden staircase delineates the entrance hall from the adjoining kitchen and dining area. There is a long kitchen island, with integrated storage and an induction hob, which doubles as a breakfast bar. The living room lies beyond, with its dramatic double-height ceilings, bespoke built-in plywood units, and a wood-burning stove on a raised concrete hearth. Glazed doors open from the living room to the terrace at the rear. Polished concrete floors (with underfloor heating) run underfoot and the space is illuminated by light that flows in through the large pane of frosted glass to the south-eastern aspect.
The extension makes up the remainder of the ground floor plan. This is laid out along a long corridor, with a linear skylight running the best part of its length. Four bedrooms can be found along this walkway, as well as a study. Each room has full-height flush-glazed windows and doors along the south elevation, allowing for direct access onto the terrace. The main bedroom, at the end of the corridor, has an en suite bathroom, as does the neighbouring bedroom. There is a family bathroom next to the third bedroom. Brill has remarked of the linear orientation, “Careful architectural treatment of this space was critical to the design: A continuous glass roof, a framed view of the garden, a generous width and break-out spaces along its length make the corridor the clients’ favourite space in the house.”
The staircase leads up to a wonderfully peaceful home studio or office, which occupies an enclosed mezzanine overlooking the living room below. There is a WC on this level, as well as built-in storage and shelving, making it the perfect space for working from home.
Outdoor Space
The Long House has a secluded terrace running along its southern aspect, which can be accessed from each of the bedrooms and the living room. This area is wonderfully private; lined with tall bamboo and laid to concrete, it is perfectly configured for alfresco dining. There is a small area laid to lawn, with a gravel path leading to the larger section of garden and wild flower meadow at the rear. This expansive space is accessed via concrete steps that ascend from the main bedroom. Beyond the meadow, there are an array of mature plants and shrubs, including espaliered trees, and a further seating area.
The Area
Long House is situated approximately two miles from the centre of the sought-after city of Winchester. The cathedral city is consistently voted one of Britain’s best places to live, combining easy access to the countryside with direct trains to London in under an hour. Its outstanding facilities including a hospital, an Everyman cinema, plenty of shops, and restaurants including The Black Rat (the only restaurant in Hampshire with a Michelin star), the Chesil Rectory, the Ivy and Rick Stein.
The mainline railway station offers direct services to London Waterloo in approximately one hour. As well as the mainline railway station, Winchester has easy access to the road network via the M3, and is a short distance from Southampton International Airport. The South Downs, the New Forest and the south coast are all within easy reach.
The Tour
Dan Brill designed Long House to be entirely inconspicuous from the street. The only aspect of the façade belying the contemporary interventions within is a large frosted glass pane, where an en-bloc garage could plausibly be sitting. However, entrance via the vibrant yellow front door reveals a voluminous open-plan space with a truly modern approach to space and light. Brill explains his approach thus: “Treated as a kind of architectural stage set, only the shell of the original house has been retained as the minimum required to appease planning stipulations. This has been used to accommodate the main open-plan living areas within a single double-height volume.”
A beautiful wooden staircase delineates the entrance hall from the adjoining kitchen and dining area. There is a long kitchen island, with integrated storage and an induction hob, which doubles as a breakfast bar. The living room lies beyond, with its dramatic double-height ceilings, bespoke built-in plywood units, and a wood-burning stove on a raised concrete hearth. Glazed doors open from the living room to the terrace at the rear. Polished concrete floors (with underfloor heating) run underfoot and the space is illuminated by light that flows in through the large pane of frosted glass to the south-eastern aspect.
The extension makes up the remainder of the ground floor plan. This is laid out along a long corridor, with a linear skylight running the best part of its length. Four bedrooms can be found along this walkway, as well as a study. Each room has full-height flush-glazed windows and doors along the south elevation, allowing for direct access onto the terrace. The main bedroom, at the end of the corridor, has an en suite bathroom, as does the neighbouring bedroom. There is a family bathroom next to the third bedroom. Brill has remarked of the linear orientation, “Careful architectural treatment of this space was critical to the design: A continuous glass roof, a framed view of the garden, a generous width and break-out spaces along its length make the corridor the clients’ favourite space in the house.”
The staircase leads up to a wonderfully peaceful home studio or office, which occupies an enclosed mezzanine overlooking the living room below. There is a WC on this level, as well as built-in storage and shelving, making it the perfect space for working from home.
Outdoor Space
The Long House has a secluded terrace running along its southern aspect, which can be accessed from each of the bedrooms and the living room. This area is wonderfully private; lined with tall bamboo and laid to concrete, it is perfectly configured for alfresco dining. There is a small area laid to lawn, with a gravel path leading to the larger section of garden and wild flower meadow at the rear. This expansive space is accessed via concrete steps that ascend from the main bedroom. Beyond the meadow, there are an array of mature plants and shrubs, including espaliered trees, and a further seating area.
The Area
Long House is situated approximately two miles from the centre of the sought-after city of Winchester. The cathedral city is consistently voted one of Britain’s best places to live, combining easy access to the countryside with direct trains to London in under an hour. Its outstanding facilities including a hospital, an Everyman cinema, plenty of shops, and restaurants including The Black Rat (the only restaurant in Hampshire with a Michelin star), the Chesil Rectory, the Ivy and Rick Stein.
The mainline railway station offers direct services to London Waterloo in approximately one hour. As well as the mainline railway station, Winchester has easy access to the road network via the M3, and is a short distance from Southampton International Airport. The South Downs, the New Forest and the south coast are all within easy reach.
