Classic Architecture Case Study
LEADING
T
he Cloud House is an
inspirational concept that
sprung from a planning policy
requirement stating that new
houses built in the countryside
should ref lect typical buildings
within the landscape. The house replaced a
small bungalow and a group of farm buildings;
generally opportunities for building new houses
are restricted to converting an existing barn or
replacing an existing house – in this case with a
limit of no more than a 50% increase. However,
our clients were more ambitious and wanted a
5400 square foot house, more than double the
size of the original bungalow.
The answer lay in the policy that said that an
exceptionally larger house could be acceptableif the design was appropriate to its landscape
setting. The planning officers were quite specific
and advised us that a large Georgian type would
not be accepted. Thus the concept was born: to
form the house from linked separate buildings
that would sit comfortably in their setting as
they would appear as a typical group of farm
or agricultural buildings. Typical of the chalk
down land setting this could include a grain
silo and Dutch barn shaped buildings. Also
typical that the group could include examples
of different periods, and in our group we have
an element that appears as an historic barn. It
was this concept that secured us the planning
permission.
In design terms it also presented us with
some challenges but brought an exciting mixClassic Architecture discusses the stunning Cloud House, an
impressive design that emerged from the restrictions of local planning policywith the
LANDSCAPE
Suppliers
Roof tiles - Tu d o r, laid by
G M Spicer roofing: 01747851313
Frameless glazing - Saper glass:
http://www.saperglass.co.uk
Copper/zinc roof - Pace roofing:
http://www.paceroofing.co.uk
Bricks - York Handmade:
http://www.yorkhandmade.co.uk
Flooring: East Brothers Timber
http://www.eastbros.co.uk