Orchard Place

Simplicity, light and space – the design signatures of its architect owner – are guiding principles at this minimalist four-bedroom house for sale.

Founder of architectural practice NG Architecture, Nick Gowing’s knack for creating concise, timeless spaces is encapsulated at his self-designed family home. Built in 2014 on the site of 36 lock-up garages, its low-slung, half-sunken footprint is both a sensitive response to the surroundings and a lesson in simplicity.

As the electric entry gates close behind you, privacy prevails. A cedar clad exterior and green sedum roof lend a camouflaging, unobtrusive effect that continues inside. Nothing shouts here. Bookended by gardens to the front and back, sliding floor-to-ceiling picture windows ensure an abundant supply of natural light, which adds to the calming, easy-going atmosphere. The curated palette of materials is restrained: iterations of gallery-like white walls, polished concrete floors that are cooling underfoot, and solid oak details are repeated throughout.

With living spaces spread across the ground floor and bedrooms found below, there’s a natural sense of flow, too. All doors are full height, meaning one room rolls into the next in linear fashion when open, resulting in an inclusive footprint. To the front of the house, the reception room and kitchen incorporate zones for kicking back, dining and cooking, with no one area dominating.

Purposefully designed to resemble a piece of furniture, the kitchen is particularly understated. An oak worktop with mitred joints feels reassuringly solid and seamlessly tops the custom-made cabinetry by Naked Kitchens. Neff appliances are discreet; the fridge and larder cleverly concealed behind a blackboard wall. A Vola tap is one of the few nods to the space’s intended function.

Wide corridors ensure connectivity and a sightline through the house. Sitting on a north-south axis, the front garden enjoys a bright outlook, while gentler, softer light illuminates the back garden’s counter current pool. This is accessed via a second living space, currently set up as a playroom – note the entire wall of corkboard, perfect for displaying family mementos. Bespoke cabinetry offers convenient storage, while full-height windows dissolve boundaries with the pool area beyond. Set between both living spaces, a purpose-built home office is positioned to be in constant dialogue with the rest of the house. Internal lightwells offer viewpoints in either direction without compromising the room’s sense of privacy.

Below, the subterranean bedrooms feel anything but. Large, light-filled spaces that open out onto lightwells and decked courtyards, each comes devoid of distractions. Sheltered and well-insulated, they also maintain a constant, ambient temperature year-round.

The principal suite is conducive to switching off, completed by a bright bathroom with a walk-in shower. Three further bedrooms are similarly neutral and calming in finish – two of which come with built-in desks. The same blank canvas palette continues into the family bathroom: all matt white tiles that mimic the neutral walls, plus Duravit sanitaryware and a Bette double-ended bath.

Thoughtfully integrated details further elevate the overall living experience, from the underfloor heating controlled by Heatmiser room thermostats to the 4kW photovoltaic panels. Privacy and security excel too, courtesy of the Hikvision video intercom and Banham alarm.