This pair of gabled houses in Winchester, England, are described by architect Adam Knibb as “modern timber pods on top of a dark monolithic base” .
The semi-detached Cedar Lodges are situated on a plot previously occupied by a dilapidated garage.
Knibb, who is based locally, was asked by a developer to create a pair of modern day residences that respect the visual style of the neighbouring buildings, but also steer clear of hunting directly into a residence across the street.
“The developer didn’t have a specific specification in mind about what kind of home it need to be, which was good because it allowed us to feel very dramatically about what we could place into the spot to increase it,” Knibb told Dezeen.
The undertaking staff worked closely with the developers and regional planners to produce a constructing they felt could become a case research promoting contemporary architecture in the location.
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The normal terraced properties in the neighbourhood attribute narrow frontages and a major volume that extends away from the street. The architects replicated this format, so the building’s impact on the street is reduced.
The two houses occupy the entire depth of their relatively narrow plot, with outside spaces integrated at the sides rather than the front or back. These get the form of small gardens and decked areas accessed by way of the kitchens.
Parking and the primary entrances are integrated in a podium at street degree, which is painted a dark shade that continues the tone of the other components connecting the houses with the street.
“These contemporary timber pods sit on top of the dark monolithic base,” stated Knibb, “so it appears as if it is increasing out of the ground and there is this lightweight timber framework clipped onto it.”
The internet site is tucked into the side of a tree-lined hill, which informed the determination to clad the bulk of the facades in timber.
“We wished to mimic the trees behind so we employed cedar that will turn silver above time, and oriented it vertically so it will mix in with the background,” Knibb extra.
A distinct datum is formed by the junction among the podium and the wood-clad units, as effectively as the line where the timber cladding meets the roof. Recessed downpipes in between the homes support to separate the types and give every house a clear identity.
The topography of the street implies there is a drop in the degree towards the opposite side, so the architects introduced trinagles of glazing beneath the roof that reduce the visual mass, but also avoid views down into the home opposite.
“The glazed apexes nonetheless enable views to the sky with out overlooking,” Knibb explained.
“We also worked very tough at keeping the roof kind actually thin, with most of the construction behind the glass so it appears as a folded type above the leading of the two timber-clad elements.”
The bulk of openings are positioned in the side elevations to make sure privacy to the inner spaces. In the rear bedrooms, angled windows projecting from the facade give natural light and controlled views.
The major residing areas attribute an open-strategy layout that assists to maximise normal light, although carefully positioned skylights illuminate the bathrooms and stairwells.
Ground floor prepare 
Initial floor plan 
Second floor strategy 
Roof prepare 
Cross section 
Long area Dezeen
