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Weald House
Designed and delivered a contemporary, sustainable family home that harmonises with its rural surroundings.
Staplehurst / Kent
New Build / Residential
Weald House, designed by Mailen Design in collaboration with Peter Bradford Architects, is a four-bedroom, single-storey home nestled into the Kentish countryside. The project responds to the client’s desire for a low-lying family home that respects its rural surroundings whilst incorporating modern design and sustainability principles. A contemporary interpretation of the traditional black agricultural barn, Weald House blends minimalist architecture with a refined material palette. By carefully considering the site’s context, the design harmonises with the natural landscape whilst ensuring privacy and maximising panoramic views of the surrounding meadows and woodland.
Project highlights
At a glance
01
Design philosophy
Weald House is a modern interpretation of the traditional black agricultural barn, designed to harmonise with the rural Kent landscape. Positioned carefully in one corner of the site, the house takes full advantage of sweeping meadow views while ensuring privacy from the front approach. The single-storey structure embraces a minimalist design, with a focus on volume and openness. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors along the south-facing façade provide a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a sense of connection with the surrounding landscape. Windows and rooflights are positioned to bring natural light deep into the home, enhancing the interplay of light and shadow throughout the day.
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Sustainability
Sustainability was central to the design of Weald House, which functions predominantly off-grid. The home is powered by 45 solar panels and two air source heat pumps, significantly reducing its reliance on external energy sources. A rainwater harvesting system is integrated into the design, alongside the extended pitched roof, which provides both shading and temperature regulation. The home’s thermal performance is optimised through highly efficient insulation and the careful placement of rooflights and large windows, ensuring abundant natural light and reducing the need for artificial lighting. Materials were chosen with sustainability in mind, including locally sourced timber and natural cladding, which minimise the project’s environmental impact. The black zinc roof not only provides durability but also supports rainwater collection, contributing to the home’s long-term sustainability.
02
Challenges and solutions
One of the primary challenges was balancing the need for privacy with the desire for openness. The front elevation, facing the public approach, was designed as a solid façade, using carefully integrated windows and doors to maintain seclusion. In contrast, the south-facing side opens with expansive glazing to maximise views and foster indoor-outdoor living. Another challenge was designing a layout that provided distinct spaces for both entertaining and private family life within a single-storey footprint. The solution was a zoned floor plan, allowing communal areas to flow into more intimate spaces. This approach ensures the house can adapt to the clients' needs, whether for day-to-day living or hosting large family gatherings. The use of black timber cladding and a zinc roof ties the design to the local agricultural heritage while ensuring durability and low maintenance.
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Outcome
Weald House exemplifies a careful balance between modern minimalism and traditional rural architecture. Its single-storey layout is designed to reflect the form of a traditional black agricultural barn, whilst the clean lines and expansive glazing offer a contemporary twist. The south-facing façade, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, creates a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, blurring the boundaries between the house and its natural surroundings. Black timber cladding adds texture and references local building traditions, whilst the zinc roof enhances the home’s sleek profile. Inside, light grey porcelain tiles and chalk-painted walls contribute to a calm, open atmosphere, with windows and rooflights positioned to invite natural light and create dynamic light patterns throughout the day. At the heart of the home is a custom-built kitchen designed for entertaining, featuring a blackened steel island with induction hob, sink, and pull out storage drawers facing the open dining and living area as well as sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.
From the client
"Mailen Design saw our vision, sincerely understood what we were trying to achieve and gave us ideas that inspired us. The result is a home that is completely personal to us; supporting the way we want to live and allowing us to have an intimate dialogue with the surrounding natural landscape."
Saro Castagna
Homeowner, Weald House
