“I said: ‘We’re prepared to be adventurous.’” Ross Russell is recalling one of the earliest conversations he had with his architect when he came to build a home from scratch in Huntingfield, Suffolk. “That’s a dangerous thing to say,” he smiles. The resulting house features a 20-tonne sliding shell that can be removed to reveal roofless rooms and a behemoth conservatory-like structure beneath it. Adventurous, yes, as well as innovative, environmentally friendly and quite frankly extraordinary.

Having spent his formative years working as an actuary, Ross knows a thing or two about calculated risks, but this project would become his biggest. When the time came to retire, he approached his old friend, architect and founder of dRMM, Alex de Rijke, to collaborate with him on an experimental self-build in the rolling hills of East Anglia. But he also sought to conceive a home that would be self-sufficient and flexible, where he and his partner could entertain and make the most of the surrounding countryside.

If anything is going to make you want to be kind to the environment, it’s living within a landscape like this. Nestled among the trees of Ross’ garden is a wind turbine, providing power, while a geothermal heat pump also ensures the house scores maximum green points. The building itself is encircled by greenery, and the couple even have their own fruit orchards and vineyards. “We produce 40-50 litres of English white wine a year,” Alex says. “It’s not the best in the world, but it’s from our own garden. You can’t knock it.”

The house has been described by drMM as one for all seasons. During the warmer months, the structure can slide over the terrace to give shade to alfresco diners, while in winter it provides as extra insulation. Then there are the adaptable rooms inside the house, designed so they can either be sheltered or open to the sky, depending on the weather. One of the highlights is the bathroom, where people can soak under directly the sun or stars. When guests come to stay the first thing they typically ask, Ross says, is: “Can we have a bath?”

Watch the film for a deep dive into the house’s design and to hear Ross’ anecdotes about life in truly versatile living spaces. And be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode.