Known as Old San Juan, this exceptional Modern Movement house was designed by C. Mervyn White, Prentice & Partners in 1936. The house was the subject of a complete renovation in 2011, care of CSK architects. Internal accommodation extends to 6,068 sq ft and includes an indoor heated swimming pool, double garage, roof terrace, yoga and pilates studio and beautiful white-rendered, gallery staircase.

Old San Juan is one of a handful of Modern Movement houses in this corner of Buckinghamshire, but it is, according to architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner, “the most faithful to Modern Movement principles, with a Y-plan hinged on a circular tower, a wrap-around staircase window in one wing, ship’s rail balconies and horizontal bands of windows and portholes.” It is the celebration and preservation of these hallmark architectural features that won the house a regional RIBA award in 2012, for the outstanding renovation work carried out by CSK Architects.

Old San Juan is characterised by an emphasis on volume, asymmetrical compositions, and minimal ornamentation, wearing its continental influences on its sleeve; the white-rendered facade and swooping lines are clearly reminiscent of Le Corbusier, Groupius and the Bauhaus. The approach has been sensitively elaborated over the years. There was an initial extension and refurbishment in the mid 1980s by Thomas Deckker, which saw the introduction of a swimming pool and the conversion of the garage into an office.

The house is set back from Windsor road at the foot of a private, gated driveway. Mature oaks and palms flank the drive towards the house, which culminates in a turning area with a palm-adorned island.

Upon entry, the sheer volume of the house is immediately apparent. The hallway, lined with Italian encaustic tiles, is positioned within the circular tower at the house’s heart. A galleried staircase spirals overhead, with large sections of Crittal glazing. The eastern wing of the house is occupied principally by a sleek modern kitchen, bathed in natural light by two sets of glazed doors, windows and skylights above. An eight-metre indoor pool is accessed to one side of the kitchen and has a beautiful curve at its farthest end, lined with glazing. There is adjoining storage space, laundry room and a WC. A large office is positioned in the northern tip, in place of the former-garage with a large, comfortable family room next to it. Dark oak floorboards run across most of this floor, while porcelain tiles feature in the pool.

The dining room is positioned within the southern half of the central circular tower and enjoys wonderful views out across the garden. The external wall is curved, emphasising the sense of panorama. Glazed Crittal doors open onto an expansive terrace and lawn. A pathway traces the perimeter of the garden linking a beautifully secluded alfresco dining area and the yoga and pilates studio at the garden’s foot. There is also a detached double-garage with connected store and W.C. The western wing of the house, on the ground floor, is occupied by a large living room with an Art Deco fireplace. Further sets of glazed doors provide access to the garden terrace and there is also an additional WC.

The first floor has five bedrooms, all with their own en-suite bathrooms. The master bedroom is now positioned above the pool, in the eastern wing, and forms the only contemporary addition to the house. It has its own private roof terrace with views out across the garden and the mature trees that line the garden’s edge. There are glass balustrades and a skylight sunken into the decking underfoot. The master bedroom has its own dressing area with a row of three skylights directly above. There is one other large double bedroom with en-suite bathroom in this eastern wing of the house. The former master bedroom is positioned in the curve of the central tower and has a slightly smaller balcony overlooking the garden.

Gerrards Cross is a town spanning the foothills of the Chilterns and the right bank of the river Misbourne in the southern tip of Buckinghamshire. It is one of the UK’s most desirable commuter towns, thanks in large part to its peaceful bucolic surroundings and its twenty-minute direct train to London Marylebone. It is very popular with the film industry, due in large part to its close proximity to Pinewood Studios, less than ten minutes’ drive from the house.

The house is positioned on Windsor Road, one of the most prestigious residential streets in the area and is home to a number of significant houses with expansive private gardens. Gerrards Cross can be accessed in under five minutes’ drive, where all amenities can be found, including an Everyman Cinema, Waitrose and numerous restaurants and cafes. Stoke Park Hotel and Spa has a renowned golf course and restaurant, while  nearby Burnham Beeches is a sprawling woodland conservation area with wonderful trails for walking and cycling. Black Park is also a local favourite for beautiful rural walks.

The area is particularly renowned for its private schools, Eton College, Thorpe House, Gayhurst and St Mary’s are all accessible, while the ACS International School in Hillingdon is particularly popular with oversees students.

Gerrards Cross train station is less than a five-minute drive and runs National Rail services to London Marylebone in twenty minutes. Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 is a  15-minute drive, while Fairoaks Airport in Chobham is slightly further afield, for privately chartered flights.

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.