Windmill Hill by Stephen Marshall Architects, UK

Sited in the grounds of Waddesdon - one of the most visited historic houses among England's National Trust properties, originally owned by the Rothschild family - Windmill Hill opened earlier this summer as the new home of the Waddesdon archives and the Rothschild Foundation.
Aiming to become a facility for study and outreach in the fields that Waddesdon represents (the arts, heritage, culture, conservation, the environment and horticulture) and a centre for the Rothschild Foundation's philanthropic work, the Windmill Hill centre was in need of an architecture design to match. And, thanks to London-based practice Stephen Marshall Architects, the new complex - a converted and extended former dairy farm - has already scooped one of the 2011 RIBA awards.
Windmill Hill follows the footprint of the original buildings, keeping references to the farm typology, like the central courtyard as well as the material palette (oak windows and shutters, rendered walls, wood cladding and zinc roofs). The three main areas that are housed within the complex – a reading room, offices and archives – are arranged around the courtyard on three sides, while the fourth side is open to the south.
The architects framed the surrounding stunning views and formal landscaped internal garden with carefully planned openings that connect the building with the scenery; the western view notably stands out, highlighted by a 25m beam.
Nestled in the grounds of the 1877-built Waddesdon Manor, the new complex is subtle, minimal and beautifully detailed through its thoughtful material selection. It is also in good company, joined in the grounds by sculptures by the likes of Sarah Lucas, Angus Fairhurst and Stephen Cox.
It opened earlier this summer as a new home for the Waddesdon archives and a centre for the Rothschild Foundation’s philanthropic work
Thanks to London-based practice Stephen Marshall Architects, the new complex – a converted and extended former dairy farm – has already scooped one of the 2011 RIBA awards
Windmill Hill follows the footprint of the original buildings, keeping references to the farm typology, like the central courtyard...
... as well as the material palette, comprising oak windows and shutters, rendered walls, wood cladding and zinc roofs
The architects framed the surrounding views and formal landscaped internal garden with carefully planned openings that connect the building with the scenery; the western view notably stands out, highlighted by a 25m beam
The three main areas that are housed within the complex – a reading room, offices and archives – are arranged around the courtyard on three sides, while the fourth side is open to the south
Vertical louvers provide a strong visual and practical feature
Historically, they protected cattle sheds from wind while allowing fresh air to circulate. Now they shield the Reading Room and Gallery from excess direct light
Oak gridshell roofs add to the geometry of the interior
Lights are recessed out of view where possible
Nestled in the grounds of the 1877-built Waddesdon Manor, the new complex is subtle, minimal and beautifully detailed through its thoughtful material selection
ADDRESS
Waddesdon Manor
Waddesdon
Near Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire HP18 0JH
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
A 432 Park Avenue apartment is an art-filled family home among the clouds
At 432 Park Avenue, inside and outside compete for starring roles; welcome to a skyscraping, art-filled apartment in Midtown Manhattan
-
Kitchen Trends 2026: luminosity, colour, and unexpected materiality
These are kitchen trends shaping interior design in 2026, from collaborative kitchens to warm luminosity
-
A gallery in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales showcases work inspired by nature
Thorns Gallery opens in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, with founders Jonathan Reed and Graeme Black aiming to showcase artworks inspired by the natural world
-
The inimitable Norman Foster: our guide to the visionary architect, shaping the future
Norman Foster has shaped today's London and global architecture like no other in his field; explore his work through our ultimate guide to this most impactful contemporary architect
-
Kengo Kuma’s ‘Paper Clouds’ in London is a ‘poem’ celebrating washi paper in construction
‘Paper Clouds’, an installation by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, is a poetic design that furthers research into the use of washi paper in construction
-
Foster + Partners to design the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II
For the Queen Elizabeth II memorial, Foster + Partners designs proposal includes a new bridge, gates, gardens and figurative sculptures in St James’ Park
-
Wolves Lane Centre brings greenery, growing and grass roots together
Wolves Lane Centre, a new, green community hub in north London by Material Cultures and Studio Gil, brings to the fore natural materials and a spirit of togetherness
-
This ingenious London office expansion was built in an on-site workshop
New Wave London and Thomas-McBrien Architects make a splash with this glulam extension built in the very studio it sought to transform. Here's how they did it
-
Once vacant, London's grand department stores are getting a new lease on life
Thanks to imaginative redevelopment, these historic landmarks are being reborn as residences, offices, gyms and restaurants. Here's what's behind the trend
-
Lego and Serpentine celebrate World Play Day with a new pavilion
Lego and Serpentine have just unveiled their Play Pavilion; a colourful new structure in Kensington Gardens in London and a gesture that celebrates World Play Day (11 June)
-
Inside Abbey Road's refresh: touring the legendary studio's new interior
Abbey Road gets an interior refresh by Threefold Architects, bringing the legendary London recording studio in tune with the 21st century