Aylesford House
Farnham, Surrey

SOLD

Architect: Kate Stoddart

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"A more expansive and beautiful rural setting is hard to conceive. Nesting herons, roaming deer and swooping kites share the bordering woodland, creating a series of ever-changing tableaux, framed in each window."

Aylesford House is an extraordinary five-bedroom property secluded by the surrounding pine woodland, with breathtaking views from Beacon Hill, across the valley below. Designed by architect Kate Stoddart and completed in 2019, Aylesford House draws on its bucolic setting to sublime effect, across approximately 3,378 sq ft of internal space.

The material pallet of Norwegian Kebony timber, black brickwork, lead cladding and extensive glazing, respond to the woodland setting in a sensitive manner, encouraging an aesthetic merging of inside and out. Aylesford House is a contemporary adaptation of an existing 1960s bungalow and retains original brick stock on the ground floor. The upper floors cantilever out, maximising first floor space, while also focusing the views out onto the valley below and the towering pine trees above.

Kate Stoddart is a highly regarded residential architect. She has led her own chartered practice for 10 years and  previously worked for a number of established international practices, including Terry Farrell & Partners and California-based, John Onken.

Stoddart has talked about Aylesford House as a upcycling project, utilising the existing structure as a launchpad for this contemporary reinterpretation of the 1960s dwelling. The new design presents a modern, hybrid form in an angular, almost modular silhouette. Orientating the spaces on the upper floors in response to the landscape and the view, Stoddart has allowed the ground floor to stretch out laterally in an open-plan, towards the forest and expansive private gardens.

Aylesford House is situated at the end of a private, gated driveway. The front elevation is beautifully glazed and the canopy clad in lead, to allow light to flood the hallways and staircase. To the left of this space is a living room with built-in modular storage units and a modern wood-burning stove. The majority of this floor has grey-washed engineered-oak parquet. To one side, there is an adjoining, annex-able guest bedroom with en-suite bathroom and a boot room, providing access to the rear of the house.

The open-plan kitchen and dining room are arguably the most impressive spaces. The kitchen itself has Corian worktops and porcelain tiles run through to the dining room. Two expansive sections of glazing join at a right angle. Sliding doors open out onto a patio and outdoor dining area, offering an uninterrupted 50 mile panorama of the Hampshire countryside towards the Chiltern Hills. There are also a number of flexible spaces on this floor currently used as an office, family room/play room, cloak room and w/c respectively.

The first floor is occupied by three large double bedrooms, a family bathroom and a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and dressing room. The master bedroom benefits most from the cantilever above the ground floor below, resulting in elevated views of the countryside, a neighbouring stables positioned further down the hill and horses grazing in nearby fields. The cut of the land beneath and the woodland to either side give the impression of sleeping in the treetops, while kites and buzzards can be seen swooping through the thermals.

The roof terrace is accessed on this floor. Seating has been set up for evening drinks with similar, elevated views across the countryside. A roof top spa and outdoor hot shower have also been installed, screened on three sides by woodland.

The house has a large double garage and a further outbuilding, currently configured as a gym/office, with storage space for bikes and garden equipment.

Aylesford House is flanked by privately owned woodland which is protected from development. To the east, there are numerous walking and biking trails through hundreds of acres of publicly accessible heathland, woodland and forest lakes. The small, picturesque village of Ewshot can be accessed by foot in ten minutes, where a popular local pub called The Windmill can be found. The neighbouring village of Crondall has an highly regarded primary school and a Montessori Nursery, as well as a village shop, Post Office, two pubs and a church.

Farnham, an historic market town, is a short drive away. It is routinely named as one of the best places to live in the UK, thanks to its historic town centre, vibrant cultural life, excellent transport links and the beauty of the surrounding countryside. Farnham has a number of excellent private schools, including Frensham Heights.

The Telegraph recently described Farnham, in a survey of outstanding British towns, as “a bustling town which has 38,000 residents, plenty of green space and is rich in Georgian architecture”. It has a thriving town centre which offers a mixture of independent and well-regarded chain restaurants, shops and boutiques. It also has a renowned arts centre, the Maltings, and a well-regarded University.

Train services run from Farnham to London Waterloo in under an hour. Fleet train station is more accessible and runs services to London in under 45 minutes.

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.


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