The tower was purchased more than 13 years ago by the Harris family. They wanted to turn an abandoned building into a house of the future, to give new life to the structure. But since the water tower is of historical value, and, in fact, is a monument of architecture, it proved very difficult. The family had to overcome a lot of bureaucratic hurdles, collect a bunch of papers, hold dozens of meetings with officials and spend a lot of their time. It took the Harris family over five years to get the design and budget approved. And it wasn’t until 2002 that construction finally began.
The architects had to combine modern interior design with the architectural features of the building. This is why the house was designed to follow the octagonal shape of the tower, bypassing the mature trees that grow around. The house has several floors. Because the windows face different sides of the world, the architects created a special arrangement of the rooms. The sun rises in the breakfast room, at noon the sun is over the dining room, and at sunset – over the living room.
Panoramic glazing creates a feeling of closeness to nature. The primary color of the interior is white; even the floor is painted in this tone. Varied lighting adds brightness to the decor, which is one of the main motives of the decoration. This home can be considered a model of stylish design. New ideas interact with old traditions to create a surprisingly harmonious interior. A lot of glass gives clean lines and spaciousness to the rooms. The stone stairs keep the mood of the era, the wood combines softness and echoes of country style. Modern solutions and a combination of materials from different epochs is a real delight. Once completed, the house is not only a new neighbor to Limm, but also a real tourist attraction.
We have already discussed various original and unusual solutions to build a dream home, but this project really strikes the imagination.
What inspired Ellis Williams Architects to embark on the modern loft project, transforming a historic water tower? Can you provide more insights into their design approach and how they balanced preserving the building’s heritage while creating a contemporary living space?