House For Sale £2,500,000
Built in 1999, Sphinx Hill is an intriguing house designed by the British architect John Outram, one of the most compelling British exponents of the style called postmodernism. Their brilliant colours and bold gestures have earned him a high reputation; among his works are the Storm Water Pumping Station, Isle of Dogs London (1985–8 now Grade II* listed, the New House at Wadhurst Park, Sussex (1978–86 now Grade I listed), the Judge Institute of Management Studies in Cambridge (1995), and the Computational Engineering Building (Duncan Hall). National Life Stories conducted an oral history interview with John Outram in 2007 for its Architects Lives' collection held by the British Library.
At Sphinx Hill, he has drawn on his highly developed ideas about domestic architecture and the colour and symbolism of visual and iconographic traditions, particularly those of Egypt, for the house is also known locally as "the Egyptian House". The external colouring is almost entirely provided by through-coloured render rather than paintwork.
Sphinx Hill is arranged symmetrically in parallel with the river. On entering the house, the eye is immediately led through complementary double doors into the garden, where a straight channel of water runs down towards the Thames beyond. The entrance hall leads through to a vaulted dining room at the heart of the house; limestone flooring reflects richly painted walls. To the left of the dining room lies the spacious kitchen with an informal dining area. The kitchen has fully fitted floor and wall units, a range of integrated appliances, and a substantial island unit; ample storage space includes a larder and a large china cupboard. To the opposite side of the dining room is a large study with beautiful fitted office furniture much designed by a local cabinet maker, Philip Koomen.
From the study, you enter a swimming pool pavilion with gorgeous colour; a black tiled pool is flanked by blue and gold columns with gilded capitals and sits under a fine midnight blue vaulted ceiling that reflects the water below; there is also a spacious shower room with W.C. To the front of the house is a second substantial study, this room could also be used as a further guest bedroom.
Winding stairs rise from the entrance hall to the sitting room, set beneath a barrel-vaulted ceiling, with free-standing columns which are also up-lighters. A gas fire in the centre of the room is covered within a glass pyramid, two circular windows high beneath the roof open mechanically to provide ventilation in the summer months. There are lovely views over the formal garden, the Thames, and the countryside from the large windows.
The principal bedroom suite occupies one wing of the house to one side of the sitting room with a mosaic-tiled bathroom and dressing room. The principal bedroom has double doors leading on to a spacious roof terrace. Two additional double bedrooms and a family bathroom are to the far side of the sitting room. All windows throughout the house are double glazed and fitted with custom-made blinds.
To the front of the property is a large driveway with ample parking and a boundary combining hedging with trees, many of which are flowering specimens. To the left side is a wide paved area leading to the garden terrace accessible from the kitchen, central dining room and pool. The terrace leads to the fantastic formal garden, with rectangular pools on each side of a central water cascade descending towards the Thames. There is a grassed area to one side bordered by mature trees and gravel paths leading down to a low wall, where a 'ha-ha' defines the end of the formal garden while preserving the views across the river. Two sphinxes look out over the lower wild garden, where there is a mooring of some 65 feet. The garden is well planted with shrubs and is designed to give all year round colour.
Sphinx Hill is situated in the village of Moulsford, tucked away on the longest reach of the River Thames. The area is steeped in literary history, from the Wind in the Willows to Three Men in a Boat. Across the river lies a floodplain providing uninterrupted countryside and a wonderful outlook teeming with wildlife.
The pretty nearby town of Wallingford has an excellent range of shops and recreational facilities. Henley-on-Thames, Oxford and Reading are also within easy reach. There is a good commuter rail service from Didcot, Goring and Cholsey stations to London in approximately 50 minutes.
Schools in the area include Moulsford Preparatory School; The Oratory at Woodcote; Cranford House School at Moulsford, and St Helen and St Katharine School for girls in Abingdon. Oxford schools include The Dragon; Headington School for girls; Summerfields, and Radley College.
Central London, the M25 motorway and Heathrow Airport are easily accessible via the M40 (J6) and M4, each less than half an hour away.
At Sphinx Hill, he has drawn on his highly developed ideas about domestic architecture and the colour and symbolism of visual and iconographic traditions, particularly those of Egypt, for the house is also known locally as "the Egyptian House". The external colouring is almost entirely provided by through-coloured render rather than paintwork.
Sphinx Hill is arranged symmetrically in parallel with the river. On entering the house, the eye is immediately led through complementary double doors into the garden, where a straight channel of water runs down towards the Thames beyond. The entrance hall leads through to a vaulted dining room at the heart of the house; limestone flooring reflects richly painted walls. To the left of the dining room lies the spacious kitchen with an informal dining area. The kitchen has fully fitted floor and wall units, a range of integrated appliances, and a substantial island unit; ample storage space includes a larder and a large china cupboard. To the opposite side of the dining room is a large study with beautiful fitted office furniture much designed by a local cabinet maker, Philip Koomen.
From the study, you enter a swimming pool pavilion with gorgeous colour; a black tiled pool is flanked by blue and gold columns with gilded capitals and sits under a fine midnight blue vaulted ceiling that reflects the water below; there is also a spacious shower room with W.C. To the front of the house is a second substantial study, this room could also be used as a further guest bedroom.
Winding stairs rise from the entrance hall to the sitting room, set beneath a barrel-vaulted ceiling, with free-standing columns which are also up-lighters. A gas fire in the centre of the room is covered within a glass pyramid, two circular windows high beneath the roof open mechanically to provide ventilation in the summer months. There are lovely views over the formal garden, the Thames, and the countryside from the large windows.
The principal bedroom suite occupies one wing of the house to one side of the sitting room with a mosaic-tiled bathroom and dressing room. The principal bedroom has double doors leading on to a spacious roof terrace. Two additional double bedrooms and a family bathroom are to the far side of the sitting room. All windows throughout the house are double glazed and fitted with custom-made blinds.
To the front of the property is a large driveway with ample parking and a boundary combining hedging with trees, many of which are flowering specimens. To the left side is a wide paved area leading to the garden terrace accessible from the kitchen, central dining room and pool. The terrace leads to the fantastic formal garden, with rectangular pools on each side of a central water cascade descending towards the Thames. There is a grassed area to one side bordered by mature trees and gravel paths leading down to a low wall, where a 'ha-ha' defines the end of the formal garden while preserving the views across the river. Two sphinxes look out over the lower wild garden, where there is a mooring of some 65 feet. The garden is well planted with shrubs and is designed to give all year round colour.
Sphinx Hill is situated in the village of Moulsford, tucked away on the longest reach of the River Thames. The area is steeped in literary history, from the Wind in the Willows to Three Men in a Boat. Across the river lies a floodplain providing uninterrupted countryside and a wonderful outlook teeming with wildlife.
The pretty nearby town of Wallingford has an excellent range of shops and recreational facilities. Henley-on-Thames, Oxford and Reading are also within easy reach. There is a good commuter rail service from Didcot, Goring and Cholsey stations to London in approximately 50 minutes.
Schools in the area include Moulsford Preparatory School; The Oratory at Woodcote; Cranford House School at Moulsford, and St Helen and St Katharine School for girls in Abingdon. Oxford schools include The Dragon; Headington School for girls; Summerfields, and Radley College.
Central London, the M25 motorway and Heathrow Airport are easily accessible via the M40 (J6) and M4, each less than half an hour away.
