Rickmansworth by Gregory Phillips Architects

ByJon Dykstra Houses

This is an exterior photograph captured at nighttime, showcasing a distinct garden, which includes an indoor swimming pool.

🔥 Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Architect: Gregory Phillips Architects

In order to come up with the very specific design ideas, we create most designs with the assistance of state-of-the-art AI interior design software. Also, assume links that take you off the site are affiliate links such as links to Amazon. this means we may earn a commission if you buy something.

Background

The clients purchased the site with an existing bungalow occupying the plot. The existing house having had little architectural merit. We saw an opportunity to build a new unequivocally contemporary home.

The Brief

The constructed design comprises a 400m2 main house occupying two floors and a distinct garden building of 110m2 which includes an in-door swimming pool. A double height hallway design allows the south facing winter sun to be brought into the living spaces at ground floor. This double height glass helps ensure that the use of heating in the winter is minimised and that natural light is plentiful.

In the summer, unwanted sun-gains are shaded by the fact the glazing is set back in a deep reveal with an overhang. This deep reveal also helps provide fenestration to the facade and ensure that the double height glazing is less prominent. The central kitchen / living / dining space is the focus of the house.

Within this arrangement the property has achieved an outstanding level of spatial variety and sequence. The route from the entrance passes through a small, dark panelled hallway straight into a double-height, roof-lit atrium before entering the full-width living space and addressing the stunning garden views. This is classic compression-and-release but the effect is not lost on even the initiated.

Outcomes

The house is a sleek, stylish and modern 21st century house. With every detail finely honed, the house is a shining example of carefully-considered architecture and precisely-detailed construction. The materials have been selected to fit a muted palette of greys and soft Scandinavian tones; their texture varying from rough brick through dark stained Western red cedar to polished grey concrete. Detailing is minimal and clinical.

This property deals with the challenge of being a comfortable, luxury family home while accomplishing the client’s sustainable responsibility in an elegant, mature and replicable way.

This is an exterior photograph captured during the daytime, which showcases a distinct garden featuring an indoor swimming pool.
This is an exterior photograph captured during the daytime, which showcases a distinct garden featuring an indoor swimming pool.
This is an exterior view that showcases a glimpse of the interior of the different sections of a house, as seen through its glass walls and windows.
This is an exterior view that showcases a glimpse of the interior of the different sections of a house, as seen through its glass walls and windows.
This is an exterior photograph of a house, captured during the daytime, that showcases its modern architectural design.
This is an exterior photograph of a house, captured during the daytime, that showcases its modern architectural design.
This is an exterior photograph which showcases a distinct garden featuring the indoor swimming pool building. The image also highlights the lush green trees and vegetation that surrounds the property.
This is an exterior photograph which showcases a distinct garden featuring the indoor swimming pool building. The image also highlights the lush green trees and vegetation that surrounds the property.
This is an exterior photograph that showcases the driveway leading to the house's parking area.
This is an exterior photograph that showcases the driveway leading to the house’s parking area.
This is a photograph that showcases the modern and stylish architectural design of the house's exterior
This is a photograph that showcases the modern and stylish architectural design of the house’s exterior
This is a photograph captured during nighttime hours that showcases the modern and stylish architectural design of the house's exterior.
This is a photograph captured during nighttime hours that showcases the modern and stylish architectural design of the house’s exterior.
This is a photograph that showcases the exterior design of a house with soft Scandinavian tones. The image features a variety of textures, ranging from rough brick to dark stained Western red cedar and polished grey concrete.
This is a photograph that showcases the exterior design of a house with soft Scandinavian tones. The image features a variety of textures, ranging from rough brick to dark stained Western red cedar and polished grey concrete.
This is a photograph featuring the view of an indoor swimming pool from the outside. The image also showcases two sunbathing beds that are situated infront the building.
This is a photograph featuring the view of an indoor swimming pool from the outside. The image also showcases two sunbathing beds that are situated infront the building.
This is a photograph captured from the outside, which showcases the full-width main living space of a house.
This is a photograph captured from the outside, which showcases the full-width main living space of a house.
This is a photograph that features the dining area and the adjacent kitchen area, showcasing their elegant and modern interior design, creating a sophisticated and inviting space.
This is a photograph that features the dining area and the adjacent kitchen area, showcasing their elegant and modern interior design, creating a sophisticated and inviting space.
This photograph showcases the elegant and modern interior design of the dining area and features the adjacent spiral staircase, which adds a touch of sophistication to the space.
This photograph showcases the elegant and modern interior design of the dining area and features the adjacent spiral staircase, which adds a touch of sophistication to the space.
The image has been captured from different perspectives, providing a comprehensive view of the sophisticated and contemporary interior design of the dining area and the adjacent spiral staircase.
The image has been captured from different perspectives, providing a comprehensive view of the sophisticated and contemporary interior design of the dining area and the adjacent spiral staircase.

🔥 Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

This photograph offers a detailed view of the modern staircase, highlighted by the adjacent large windows, showcasing its design and materials in detail.
This photograph offers a detailed view of the modern staircase, highlighted by the adjacent large windows, showcasing its design and materials in detail.
This photograph showcases a detailed view of the interior design of the bathroom, providing an overall sense of the bathroom's aesthetic and atmosphere.
This photograph showcases a detailed view of the interior design of the bathroom, providing an overall sense of the bathroom’s aesthetic and atmosphere.

🔥 Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Jon Dykstra
Jon Dykstra

Jon practiced law before launching his online publishing career, bringing analytical rigor to everything he builds. Home Stratosphere combines that precision with a lifelong obsession with residential design — architecture, interiors, landscape, and furniture.

His current focus is AI-driven design analysis, using artificial intelligence to study patterns in color, layout, and material choice across thousands of homes. His Personality Type Home Design Guide applies personality frameworks to interior aesthetics, helping readers design spaces that reflect how they actually think and live.

His favorite piece on the site is the 25 Most Popular Designs, is a daily-updated ranking of the top designs over the last 30 days, driven entirely by visitor activity. The feedback is invaluable for understanding what resonates most with readers. LinkedIn

Read More