Oak House

Located on the outskirts of the popular market town of Beaminster in west Dorset, we were commissioned to design this new bespoke Oak framed house in 2017.

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Over the past 15 years the clients had been planting trees in the paddock attached to their house with the hope that one day planning would be granted for this new house. Eventually approval was given in 2019 which has allowed the construction of this ambitious home to begin, set amongst the now maturing trees.

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The house is mainly clad in Sherborne stone with larch boarding to areas of the façade that transform the otherwise traditional new home into something altogether more modern and tied to its site. Internal spaces will be vaulted in many parts of the building to celebrate the frame design and workmanship.

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The outbuilding including double garage, plant room, garden machinery store, log store, with accommodation above was built first to give the clients somewhere to live while the main house was under construction.

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The new house itself takes references from the rural context and has a ‘barn’ like form with single storey wings out to north and south. It sits centrally on the site to be able to appreciate the site from all angles. It is built robustly of Sherborne stone and has a slate roof like many rural Dorset buildings, but there are also areas of larch boarding and sleek window frames that transform the otherwise traditional new home into something more contemporary. Internally, a beautifully crafted oak frame reveals itself to give a warmth to the interior spaces. Many rooms have vaulted ceilings to celebrate the frame in full.

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Now almost complete, the house is a credit to the many skilled craftsman who have had a part to play in its making.