West Stow Lodge

West Stow Lodge is a large, new build family home, built on a beautiful three acre plot in West Stow, Bury St. Edmunds. The site is characterised by landscaped lawns, numerous willow trees, and the meandering Culford Stream.

The house replaces an existing 1970's dwelling, but largely replicates its siting. This locates the house deep within the plot creating a generous foreground and impressive approach. It also allows an intimate relationship with the stream and is respectful the setting of the adjacent medieval parish church.

The proposal is a structured but informal composition echoing the form of a traditional Suffolk Hall House, with a central double height hall and two large cross wings. Red brick, render, tile and oak form the palette of exterior materials with subtle detailing of windows and fenestration used to provide a contemporary counterpoint to this essentially traditional architectural form. Internally, a controlled language of materials and details in oak, stone and bronze is used, complemented by painted tongue and groove boarding and white painted brick.

The landscape setting of the house and the garden design have been developed through collaboration with Janey Auchincloss Designs.