this-wood-covered-house-hovers-above-the-hillside-in-the-forest

This Wood Covered House Hovers Above The Hillside In The Forest

A small home with one bedroom is clad in western red cedar.

Michael Kendrick Architects has designed a unique house that’s hidden away from view and blends seamlessly into the surrounding protected woodland.

Located in East Sussex, England, this small lodge, clad in western red cedar, appears elevated amongst the trees as the ground levels fall away below.

A small home with one bedroom is clad in western red cedar.
A small home with one bedroom is clad in western red cedar.

With large picture windows on both the front and rear facade, visitors benefit from stunning natural views from all areas of the lodge, enabling them to fully immerse themselves in the setting.

With large picture windows on both the front and rear facade, visitors to this home benefit from stunning natural views from all areas of the lodge, enabling them to fully immerse themselves in the setting.

Guests arrive at the lodge on foot via a narrow woodland path, where they arrive at a generous grade-level terrace on its south side.

Guests arrive at this modern lodge on foot via a narrow woodland path, where they arrive at a generous grade-level terrace on its south side.

Throughout the year, the lodge is flooded with natural light, while self-tinting electrochromic glass grants privacy and limits overheating and the spill of artificial light as dusk falls. Upon entering, guests are welcomed by a living room with an L-shaped couch, an armchair, and a hanging fireplace.

A modern living room with an L-shaped couch, an armchair, and a hanging fireplace.

The nearby bespoke kitchen sits in the middle of the lodge, and though compact, has been carefully configured to provide space to both cook and dine. Birch plywood has been chosen for the cabinet materials.

A modern kitchen includes birch plywood cabinets and black pendant lighting.
A modern kitchen includes birch plywood cabinets and black pendant lighting.

Glass walls and the wood ceiling connect the kitchen to the bedroom.

Glass walls and the wood ceiling connect the kitchen to the bedroom.

In the bedroom, there’s a custom shelving niche above the bed.

Glass walls and the wood ceiling connect the kitchen to the bedroom in this small home.

Opposite the bed, there’s a freestanding bathtub by the windows, while the ensuite bathroom is located behind a sliding door.

A bedroom with a freestanding bathtub and an en-suite bathroom hidden behind a sliding door.
A bedroom with a freestanding bathtub and an en-suite bathroom hidden behind a sliding door.

There’s also a shower located within the en-suite bathroom.

A small en-suite bathroom with a walk-in shower, and black accents.

At night, the lodge blends into the trees, while the lighting creates a warm glow.

A wood clad home nestled between the trees.
A wood clad home nestled between the trees.
A wood clad home nestled between the trees.

Here’s a look at the floor plan, elevation, section, and site plan.

The floor plan of a small home.
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A diagram for a small home nestled within the trees.
A diagram for a small home nestled within the trees.
A diagram for a small home nestled within the trees.
Photography © Tom Bird | Architect: Michael Kendrick Architects | Main contractor: Client self-build | Structural Engineer: Momentum | Approved Inspector: East Sussex Building Control Partnership | Glazing sub-contractor: The Door Co | Carpentry sub-contractor: Ben Rootes Carpentry | Bespoke joinery sub-contractor: Johnson Bespoke

Source: Contemporist