The Hidden House
A low energy dwelling set in an idylic meadow, with a river to the southern boundary. To preserve the site the house was to be visually low impact, barely visible to passers by. The dwelling took inspiration from the history of lead and copper mining in the area, and the monolithic slate stone structures that sit as its memories. From the road to the north the building is largely invisible, apart from two solid slate walls and a slate chimney cutting through a meadow mound. As you move to the southern side the home emerges, tucked beneath the earth, in an arced form that allows the full warmth and light of the sun to be harvested throughout the day. Local vernacular materials are used in the scheme: copper, slate, timber and earth.
