Architect Projects
Folding House
Folding House is a private, bespoke
new build house located in Ringwood
completed by award winning
Winchester based architects AR Design
Studio.
This site is bordered by mature trees
and boasts stunning views of the
surrounding landscape. A steep 18m
slope down to the bank of the River
Avon completes the aperture and
provided the basis for AR Design
Studio’s intervention. The design
team’s vision called upon the natural
topography in its response to the site.
The house steps down the hill, with a
folded ribbon connecting each floor and
linking the entrance of the site down
to the riverfront. Solid timber boxes
were inserted in between this ribbon
where private space were required,
with the remaining space offering open
plan living with a connection to the
expansive balconies and stunning views
beyond.
The top floor of the house, being
situated at entrance level, contains the
majority of the open-plan living spaces,
while the middle floor accommodates
bedrooms. The lower ground floor
provides guest accommodation and
further living spaces connected to
the lower outside space to the rear.
A central atrium and staircase offers
connection between each floor, leading
occupants from the front door at the
top of the site down through the house
and onto the garden. Each level of
the building features outdoor terrace
spaces to allow for outdoor living
and a connection to the surrounding
landscape.
The internal finishes of each room
are bright and clean, allowing light to
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flood throughout the building while
maintaining the view of the outdoors
as the focal point of each space. Timber
cladding runs through the building,
softening the internal spaces and
providing a relationship to the verdant
surroundings. A light grey tile runs
seamlessly between indoors and out,
giving definition to the ribbon as it
folds down the site.
www.ardesignstudio.co.uk