Somersbury House
Somersbury House
Somersbury House is a carefully considered extension and remodelling of a property in the heart of Guildford, set against the backdrop of the Surrey Hills. The project reimagines the home to maximise scenic views and make full use of its generous garden, while introducing a contemporary architectural language that complements the existing structure.
The design emphasises height and volume, with a vaulted ceiling in the main kitchen and dining area rising to over five metres. A stepped floor strategy reduces the apparent mass of the building and creates a dynamic interplay of solid and void spaces. Carefully positioned voids of glass through walls and ceilings define circulation and interior zones, enhancing openness and flooding the spaces with natural light. A full-length rooflight illuminates the kitchen, while a narrow slot rooflight separates the dining and seating areas, establishing a clear architectural rhythm without the need for solid partitions.
Externally, the property is defined by a delicate exoskeleton frame, with sections separated by minimal spacers and no visible fixings, giving the impression that both frame and roof float above the façade. Solid and glazed elements interact throughout, including a striking half-glass, half-brick gable that mirrors interior geometry and establishes a harmonious visual connection between inside and out. The alignment of glazing with the steel frame reinforces the precision and cohesion of the overall design.
Internally, these external cues are echoed in the spatial organisation. The half-brick gable intersects with the seating area, meeting the slot rooflight with a hairline joint, while the opposite side aligns with a matching brick wall that separates dining from living spaces. Bespoke joinery, including a custom media unit, punctuates the interior, complementing the clean geometry and guiding movement through the home.
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Connection with the Garden
The design establishes a strong dialogue between the house and its generous garden, making the outdoors an integral part of daily life. Large expanses of glazing and the half-glass gable draw light deep into the interior while framing views across the landscape, creating a seamless visual connection. Circulation flows naturally toward the garden, reinforcing a sense of openness and continuity between inside and out.
At the rear, the swimming pool and pool house extend the living experience outdoors, forming a cohesive relationship with the main house while respecting the natural contours of the garden. Materials and proportions are carefully calibrated so the pool and gym feel like a natural extension of the home, reinforcing the functional and visual link between interior and exterior spaces. The result is a home intimately connected to its surroundings, where inside and outside coexist in balance and harmony.
Solid and Voild Volume and Shape
Model making played a central role in the early design process, allowing the team to explore form, volume, and the relationship between solid and void. The card models made it possible to test proportions, spatial hierarchies, and the interaction of light and shadow, helping to refine the extension before committing to detailed plans.
These physical studies informed the positioning of glazing, walls, and structural elements, ensuring that the final design achieves both visual balance and functional clarity. By manipulating volumes at a tactile scale, the team could experiment freely with how the new extension sits alongside the existing house, ultimately shaping a home that feels coherent, dynamic, and intimately connected to its context.
Natural Light
Daylight defines the rhythm and character of the home, with carefully composed glazing and rooflights shaping the interior experience. Wraparound, dual-aspect glazing integrates a large-scale sliding door system, opening the south and west facades and blurring the boundary between inside and out. Two significant rooflights enhance the vaulted ceiling: a full-width north-facing rooflight stretches from eaves to ridge above the kitchen, creating a deliberate contrast between solid and void, with the north side fully glazed and the south side fully solid. The smaller strip rooflight separates the dining and living spaces, meeting the vaulted ceiling with a precise hairline joint.
Every detail, from the alignment of the ridge line to the framing of rooflights, was meticulously resolved to maintain visual clarity and spatial harmony. Together, these interventions flood the home with light, define zones subtly, and reinforce a dialogue between architectural form and natural illumination
A Place to Retreat
Within the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space, the living area is deliberately positioned to create a cosy retreat, shielded from glare on the television while maintaining visual connection with the rest of the home. The bespoke media joinery, fully designed by Stylus Architects, integrates seamlessly with the kitchen through its combination of wood and painted panels, yet maintains a distinct identity to define the space. A custom brass handle provides a subtle accent, adding a touch of refinement and material richness. The result is a comfortable, thoughtfully considered corner of the home that balances intimacy, functionality, and design coherence
Quiet Corners
The master bedroom, ensuite, and snug offer a more intimate, traditional character with contemporary twists. Vaulted ceilings, subtle detailing, and carefully considered materials create spaces that are calm, refined, and full of personality.
