This private residence was designed to fulfil a number of criteria. First and foremost the family wanted a congenial home but they also wanted us to create something ‘architecturally outstanding that captured the essence of its time’. It was also important to integrate the dwelling visually, functionally and environmentally within this context. The defining character of the local area is semi-rural, mainly woodland with some open fields. The design responds with natural landscaping and gently curved contours, no hard edges. Walls, doors and windows are enveloped in the form of the building, kept private for the occupants and hidden from outside view, leaving only a mound in the landform. The private garden space uphill to the south of the dwelling, is accessed via a bridge from the main house and is clearly differentiated from the ecologically driven characteristics of the surrounding landscape.