The Water View House

Waresley, Cambridgeshire / Completed 2024

A complete renovation and reconfiguration of a large detached dwelling in a village conservation area location

The project brief for The Lake House was somewhat simple - to turn the existing uninspiring, poorly serviced, inadequately insulated and confusingly laid out post-War dwelling into a wonderful family home. The setting of the house is beautiful, within a large landscaped plot, sited opposite a picturesque lake and rolling garden. 

The development of the scheme at the ground floor of the building centred on a two key themes: to create more joyous and generous principal living, cooking and dining spaces, supplemented by more cosy and intimate spill out spaces.  All with an eye to connecting the spaces to the garden and the site externally - either through more thoughtfully placed apertures provide views, or through the position of thresholds providing access outside. 

A dynamic entrance hall, double-height upon entry, focuses on a new curved and ornate staircase. Natural light is abundant through the double-height glazed entrance door feature. To one side of the plan is a renovated living space over looking the garden. To the other, a large open plan kitchen with new glazed bay window and link extensions providing that heavily sought-after connectivity to the landscape externally. A more intimate series of spaces also exist, including a cinema and home study.

A first floor, the existing bedrooms are greatly improved, all with attached ensuite spaces. A dramatic full height window is inserted at the end of the long hallway, providing additional natural light and strengthening the visual connection of the interior with the exterior.

Externally the existing brickwork is wrapped in an insulated render skin. All windows are replaced with new timber sales and the roof is recovered in a mottled handmade clay tile. All new services and heating and cooling systems have been included throughout.

The project was completed on site in Winter 2024.