The Bucolic English Landscape Inspires the Minimalistic Weald House

Story at a glance:

• Weald House is a contemporary revision of the region’s traditional black agricultural barns.
• The low-lying L-shaped home blends into the site and includes passive ventilation, rainwater collection systems, and solar panels.
• The project, a collaboration between MailenDesign and Peter Bradford Architects, carefully balances a connection with nature and desire for privacy.

For MailenDesign and Peter Bradford Architects, a residential project in Kent, England was an opportunity to collaborate with inspired, innovative, site-specific design.

When their clients purchased the verdant two-acre plot they were eager to move from their central London townhouse to a place where they could reconnect with nature and host family and friends. Their vision was an unimposing, low-energy home that would not only nod to the local agricultural vernacular but be a peaceful retreat with cinematic views. They had a clear aesthetic in mind, presenting the design team with a scrapbook filled with Japanese minimalist and bespoke New Zealand beach homes in a simple palette of glass, steel, concrete, and wood.

While a design had already been approved by the planning commission, the condensed three-story footprint felt “too large, too bold,” says Ben Mailen, project director and founder at MailenDesign. “We weren’t trying to make the building look like a house. We wanted it to feel like a barn.” Instead they opted for a more conscious approach to the build, one that would seamlessly blend in with the neighboring barns, historic brick farmhouse, and black-clad Grade II-listed barn, all within an L-shaped form.

Embracing the Site

The new home replaced a series of black barns, likely once used for storage. “There’s something interesting in picking up a few elements from the site to respond to,” Mailen says. Rather than stand out, the project blends in with a pitched zinc roof, concealed rain gutter, and timber cladding with boards of varying depth for natural texture and warmth.

The true challenge was designing a house that engaged with its landscape while maintaining privacy and a feeling of intimacy, especially given its closeness to surrounding plots. “As you come down the lane it’s hard to tell that it’s a domestic house,” Mailen says.

Its front facade is intentionally closed off and gives brief glances of the airy interiors through full-height niches and a corridor. Once inside, the connection to the meadow beyond can be fully appreciated. In the south-facing kitchen an 82-foot glass wall allows for panoramic views of the countryside, while a paved terrace and deep eaves make for sheltered spaces that can be enjoyed year-round.

Let in the Light

The architects arrived at the plan quickly, sketching layout options derived from previously approved plans and the location of the old barns, all which lead to the L-shaped form “creating a bookend corner to the rest of the site,” Mailen says.

Plentiful natural light reaches the main spaces, while other rooms yield perfectly framed views. “It was important to place picture windows to make it look like a beautiful British landscape photo,” Mailen says.

The palette was also key to making the home feel peaceful, with white walls, a matte black kitchen, and light gray porcelain tiles. “There’s something magical about the way the sun creates beams of light in the house, especially when it hits the roof light. It brings the space to life,” Mailen says. Strategically placed roof lights and full-height windows give way to an ever-changing dynamic between light and shadow.

A Sustainable Future

Sustainability was a top priority for both the architects and the homeowners. The home is able to function largely off-grid, with 45 solar panels and two air source heat pumps, while the roofline, which extends over the front and rear sides of the home, helps regulate temperatures while also providing shade. Rainwater is captured through a subterranean collection system.

The location of the walls and windows themselves also served the home’s sustainability mission. “We didn’t want too much glazing,” Mailen says. “The closed and insulated elevations provide environmental protections and help regulate the home’s internal temperature.”

The project was also the chance to lean into one of the homeowner’s Sicilian roots and embrace his passion for cooking, gardening, and entertaining. He’s already planted an orchard with plans to produce his own wine and cider. “He’s a man of the land. Every time we visit he’s planting something new,” Mailen says. “He’s really in his element there.”

Project Details

Project: Weald House
Location: Staplehurst, Kent
Completion: December 2023
Size: 4,100 square feet
Architects: MailenDesign & Peter Bradford Architects
Structural Engineer: SD Structures
Contractor: Syntheto Construction
Interior Designer: MailenDesign
Fireplace Specifier: Victoria Stone