Buried Elegance in Southwest London
Stylus Architects has crafted Green Lodge, a breathtaking home partially buried in Roehampton Village, southwest London. Nestled among mature trees and historic architecture, this innovative design employs sunken lightwells to flood below-ground rooms with natural light.
A Harmonious Blend of Nature and Design
Located on the periphery of Putney Heath, surrounded by gothic revival churches and Victorian villas, this home adheres to planning constraints by embedding its structure into the landscape. Only a single-story facade graces the street view.
As described in an interview with Dezeen, “The site demanded restraint. Any building projecting too boldly above ground would clash with its historic surroundings,” remarked the architect.
Innovative Structural Features
The home’s core is organized around two full-height concrete spine walls, defining the layout from basement to roof. The upper level, under a vaulted ceiling, hosts the vibrant living spaces, while bedrooms and bathrooms are positioned below ground, bathed in light from the strategically placed lightwells.
Daylight Strategy and its Challenges
Withers highlights the challenge: “Making the lower-ground rooms feel like primary living areas required a daylight strategy integrated from the start, rather than a technical afterthought.”
South-facing lightwells ensure every room below ground receives ample daylight and access to secluded outdoor terraces. A prominent rooflight above the staircase complements additional skylights to maintain luminosity.
Sustainable and Visionary Design
To the street passerby, the house presents a modest, larch-wrapped exterior topped with an asymmetric roof equipped with photovoltaic panels. This untreated larch façade, chosen for its evolving color, creates a unified material envelope that matures to a silvery grey over time.
Withers sees the building as “something to be discovered rather than announced,” integrating seamlessly into its environment.
Environmental Integration
The design’s subterranean aspect aids environmental performance by utilizing earth as natural temperature regulation, while exposed concrete offers thermal mass for heat storage and release. Interiors boast oak joinery and polished concrete floors, with built-in furnishings completing a cohesive look.
To further explore sustainable architecture, take a look at a tiny cabin on the Greece-Turkey border that produces its own energy.
A Testament to Thoughtful Architecture
Founded in 2017, Stylus Architects, under Matthew Withers, specializes in residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects. The firm’s work, including this and a unique subterranean holiday home in Tehran, exemplifies their commitment to integrating architecture into its natural surroundings.
If you’re interested in unique residential designs, consider reading about Alireza Taghaboni’s Gable Villa which reimagines traditional Iranian architecture.
The photography for Green Lodge is by James Retief.
Source: dezeen.com
Frequently asked questions
What architectural firm designed Green Lodge?
Green Lodge was designed by Stylus Architects.
How does Green Lodge integrate into its environment?
Green Lodge integrates into its environment by being partially buried, using untreated larch for its exterior that matures over time, and employing its subterranean aspect for natural temperature regulation.
How does Green Lodge address its location’s planning constraints?
The design embeds the structure into the landscape, with only a single-story facade facing the street, to ensure it does not clash with its historic surroundings.