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Downs House

One of the great delights of English rural homes is the way that they have evolved over time. The original portion of this two storey farmhouse dates back to the 15th century, which was extended in the 16th and again in the 18th. In this respect, our addition is the latest in a long line of adaptations and amendments. The owners of the Downs House wished to extend the property once again with the principal aim of creating a studio, suitable for both work and pleasure.

The original house features tall, towering chimneys, which influenced the sculptural form, which features a semi-conical roof. The overall impression is of a building – and its pitched roof – cut in half, so that it forms a book end on the site with a flat, straight back. Clay tiles coat the entire structure, reinforcing the sculptural quality of the addition, while a transparent glass link to the rest of the house creates a clear transition between old and new.

Within, the vaulted ceiling is a key feature. The walls and ceiling are lined in panels of veneered oak ply, while the floors are in reclaimed slate. Corner glazing slides back on two elevations to create an open relationship with the courtyard alongside. The client has mounted an art collection upon the walls of the studio – which is toplit by a skylight – reinforcing the impression of a gallery space.

“The new pavilion echoes the handsome southerly gable of the original house in a design that is allusive and respectful.”

Architect’s Journal, 5th August 2018
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James Gorst’s work has helped to heal one of the most unnecessary and painful wounds in contemporary British architecture: between the traditionalists and the modernists. Like Louis Kahn in the United States or Peter Zumthor in Switzerland, Gorst reminds us that modernism can be beautifully reconciled with the underlying principles of classicism and that modern materials and idioms can carry all the elegance, dignity and grandeur associated with historical masterpieces.

Alain de Botton

© 2023 James Gorst Architects. All rights reserved.

Design: Tom Green Design. Build: Designagogo.