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Mayfly Cottage by Stiff + Trevillion, UK
Mayfly Cottage by Stiff + Trevillion, UK
Designed for a couple of London-based fly-fishing enthusiasts seeking a weekend retreat in the English countryside, Mayfly Cottage is a new residential project by London-based architects Stiff + Trevillion
The two-level, 310sq m house, created with traditional construction methods from the area, is the architects' reinterpretation of a rural barn on the River Test in Hampshire
The new building sits on the grounds of a listed manor house, on a plot where an old cottage once served as ancillary accommodation
'A sustainable approach was key,' explains lead architect Chris Eaton. 'This was led by using a combination of local materials and tradesman and traditional construction methods in a contemporary fashion.'
Living areas flow out onto a stone terrace
An abundance of glass brings in plenty of natural light into the interior
The spacious ground floor unites the kitchen, dining, living and TV areas in a bright, open space
The dining room
Wooden beams are used throughout the house, echoing local architecture
The bright and airy kitchen
The double-height core of the house
The downstairs bathroom
Bricks and wood bring contrasting pattern into the house
The spacious entrance hall
A wooden staircase leads to the top level with its master bedroom, en suite bathroom and dressing area, plus three additional bedrooms and bathrooms
This double bedroom looks out onto the pool below
The sink area in the master bathroom
Sloped ceilings give the building a distinctly barn-like feel
A bath with a view
A picture window enlivens a corridor on the first floor
One of the ensuite bathrooms
Though the architects designed all internal details, down to the joinery, the owners were heavily involved in every stage. Having worked with Stiff + Trevillion on two previous properties in Putney and Kensington, they had a solid relationship with the architects and remained a key part of the process
Sticking to local techniques, environmentally friendly features and natural materials like handmade bricks and roof tiles, charred timber cladding and green oak for the frame, Stiff + Trevillion cleverly translated the barn's vernacular typology to a space fit for 21st-century living
