The main requirement of the future owners of this wonderful house was to have three impressive-sized bedrooms. It was not their number that was important in the first place, but the available space. The mansion took 21 months to complete.
According to architect Peter Smith, the simple, classical forms of the house relate to the appearance of the buildings and outbuildings in the village and on the farms nearby. Note that in this type of building, the black zinc cladding combines perfectly with traditional detailing and modern techniques. The dark look of the structure contrasts with the rich color palette of the landscaped garden.
The mansion’s living space is characterized by an open floor plan. Straight from the kitchen-dining room you enter the outdoor patio and stunning garden. The building itself is quite narrow. Despite its black monolithic exterior, its owners can admire spectacular scenery through its wide windows. And when you’re outside you can see inside.
The Domb family has travelled widely, and has quite a large art collection. That’s why their new dwelling was originally conceived as a gallery. The main task of the designers and architect was to design the house in such a way that the owners would be able to display all their treasures for all to see. This process continued during construction. For example, one of the staircase walls was redesigned to hold a torch for the Olympic flame.
The building design is a combination of masonry blocks, steel and traditional wood. This is a sustainable design solution. A new well provides the owners with fresh water, a rainwater catchment basin, a heat recovery system and underfloor heating.
The owners really wanted to build with materials that don’t require any maintenance. The black zinc exterior cladding is recyclable and already contains elements of used raw materials.
Courtesy photos © Lyndon Douglas Photography.
I’m really intrigued by the MiCasa dream home project by Stephen Davy Peter Smith Architects in Hertfordshire, England. Could you tell me more about the high-tech features incorporated into this design? I’m curious to know how technology is being used to enhance the living experience in this innovative home.