courtyard house
west sussex
Located within a forest clearing on the edge of ancient woodland, this family home sits on a long, sloping site, partially set into the terrain to follow the natural contours.
The ground floor centers around a courtyard designed to capture sunlight and treetop views, fully openable towards the south through perforated steel pivot gates. Living spaces are positioned on the west side of the house for afternoon and evening sun, whilst bedrooms are positioned on the east side for morning light. Cut into the building volume, the covered balcony faces the sloping woods. A combination of tall ceilings and strategically placed glazing enables long views, while deep-set, minimal frames blur the boundary between inside and out, connecting the interior to the forest throughout the seasons.
While skylights bring sunshine into the shower rooms, reflections across the courtyard glazing create a sense of depth and spatial sequence. Set along the courtyard glazing, a wide concrete stair connects to the lower level and allows the afternoon sun to penetrate into the north-facing space, while the steel balustrade casts moving shadows across the polished concrete floors.
At the base of the stair, the open space extends from east to west with concrete walls, whilst the long side is fully glazed in minimal frame sliders. A set-back, covered outdoor space runs along the glazing, supported by rotated concrete columns positioned inside and outside along the building perimeter, blurring the boundaries—the lap pool sits sheltered in this space.
Thermal mass is provided by solid exterior walls finished in unpainted, sealed lime render, which shows natural variations in texture and tone, while the lower floor is constructed from fair-faced poured concrete, leaving a raw texture exposed internally. The roof is fully planted with local flora to blend the structure into the tree canopy and enhance biodiversity on site.
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Key Materials: Lime render, concrete and oak
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Architecture:
Angela Marquito Architecture with kronig designs
Structural Engineer: Constant Structural Design
Photography: Ståle Eriksen