November 15, 2013

DOWNLEY HOUSE HAMPSHIRE DESIGN BY BIRDS PORTCHMOUTH RUSSUM ARCHITECTS




DOWNLEY HOUSE HAMPSHIRE
DESIGN BY BIRDS PORTCHMOUTH RUSSUM ARCHITECTS




DOWNLEY HOUSE HAMPSHIRE
DESIGN BY BIRDS PORTCHMOUTH RUSSUM ARCHITECTS
Downley House is a large new country house built in the South Downs. The client called for a tranquil yet playful place, full of natural texture, contrasts, and indigenous materials. BPR created an entrance sequence which commences in a circular stone entrance court, extends along a pergola into an inner court bounded by a ruined wall and through the house to a roof terrace where a stair bridges into the landscape.
The house is divided into a family wing and a guest wing linked by a barrel vaulted dining hall centred on the ruin entrance. The barrel vaulted hall opens at each end onto courtyards which receive sun in the morning and evening. The form of the dining hall is like a foudre wine barrel and reflects the clients love of wine. The circular glazed stair ascends to the roof terrace.
Downley House is constructed of timber elements prefabricated in Swizerland and built over a two month period. The family and guest wings are constructed of cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and the barrel vault is made of a CLT timber shell and glue lam ribs. The low-embodied energy of the construction, the efficient envelope, ground source heat pump and heat recovery system create a highly sustainable and energy efficient building.
Downley House has won a south east regional award at the RIBA awards 2013.
This is the latest in a host of awards including: An Evening Standard Best Luxury Home, Daily Telegraph Most Innovative Home, Civic Trust Award Commendation and International Design Award.







































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BIRDS PORTCHMOUTH RUSSUM ARCHITECTS
Birds Portchmouth Russum Architects was established in January 1989, when the partners left the office of James Stirling and Michael Wilford to develop their competition winning design for the highly acclaimed Avenue de Chartres Carpark in Chichester.
Since then the practice has moved on to undertake a wide range of projects and have been invited to a number of competitions, many of which the practice has won. BPR’s work has been exhibited throughout the world and was the subject of a major retrospective at the Architektur Museum in Basle. BPR have become known for the their beautiful drawings, original approach and innovative solutions for the built environment.
BPR’s projects, both built and unbuilt have earned the practice 11 design awards to date, including the Royal Academy ‘Best Architecture’ award for their work on the Bellmouth Bridges in 2002 and for Wood Lane and Highlands housing in 2011, the RIBA Award for the Avenue de Chartres Carpark and a Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award for the Plashet School Footbridge.
Birds Portchmouth Russum Architects is a RIBA Chartered Practice. BPR are also on U.K. Constructionline Register confirming that it has reached the required technical, managerial and financial standards for the many public and industry partners.

ANDREW BIRDS, RICHARD PORTCHMOUTH & MICHAEL RUSSUM
Prior to the establishment of Birds Portchmouth Russum Architects 1989, the partners Andrew Birds, Richard Portchmouth and Michael Russum previously worked for the office of James Stirling, Michael Wilford and Associates as project architects leading the design development of various prestigious projects in Britain and overseas.
The partners have been invited as visiting critics to many schools of architecture and taught a degree unit at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London. The practice has also exhibited work and lectured in Europe, USA, India, Russia and Japan. The Architektur Museum in Basle, Switzerland recently held a retrospective of the practice’s work. Richard Portchmouth served a 5 year term as design review committee member for CABE and is now a member of South East Regional Design Panel and the Newham Design Review Panel.