Knowle Hill

Project: Knowle Hill

Project facts

Client: Private
Date: 2019
Location: Virginia Water
Size: 600 m2

Project description

Studioshaw were invited to look at redevelopment options for a site opposite Wentworth golf course in Virginia Water, Surrey. We immediately fell in love with the site, a sloping landscape surrounded on all sides by large Oak and Sweet Chestnut trees. Our proposal for a cluster of 5 ‘downsizer’ homes takes it form from the existing tree protection zones, ensuring no trees would have to be removed as part of the build. The homes are set into the sloped landscape so as to reduce their visual impact and are orientated to maximise sunlight.

Access to each house is via a central paved mews, with all homes looking out onto a beautiful mature woodland landscape. The ‘mews’ is a shared amenity space that encourages interaction with neighbours. Each home has a private amenity space, with privacy created by the staggered building form. The flat roofs become terraces giving outdoor space overlooking the trees canopy.

This is a housing typology that we find endlessly fascinating and some of the ideas developed here have been further explored in our community housing scheme in Somerset. 

Project images

Site plan of Knowle Hill housing cluster, Virginia Water Surrey, 5 homes within tree protection zones, Studioshaw architects
Render of Knowle Hill cluster of 5 downsizer homes, Virginia Water Surrey, surrounded by oak and chestnut trees, Studioshaw
Ground floor plan.
Massing development models for Knowle Hill, Virginia Water Surrey, homes arranged around central paved mews, Studioshaw architects
Massing development models.
Ground floor plan of Knowle Hill housing cluster, Virginia Water Surrey, 5 homes set into sloped wooded landscape, Studioshaw
Massing development models.