New build modern home in Limpley Stoke

The site of this inventive home is the most dramatic we have ever worked on, and the most challenging. But the end result will be a set of rooms that appear to float in space and offer wonderful views across the Limpley Stoke valley and canal.

The sloping site is in a sought-after village not far from Bath, and at its lower edge the slope drops away into a genuine cliff. The house will be positioned close to the cliff edge to exploit this dramatic position. It will be cantilevered out towards the edge, lifted above the ground, giving the sensation of being airborne high above the valley below. Large format glass windows emphasise the space.

This remarkable design is highly challenging for the builder. The groundworks and structural preparations were the most difficult we have ever encountered – and the most difficult the specialist engineers have ever encountered too.

But wherever it was sited, the building would still be an intriguing contemporary design. It will be made from a combination of pods, giving it a boxy feel. Its ground floor will be constructed of stone, whereas the first floor will be clad in reflective metal panels, designed to reflect the surroundings so the upper part of the building disappears. It will be topped by a sedum green roof, further camouflaging the building. And throughout the house there will be striking details, including windows featuring golden aeroplane wings to disguise the openings.

It is a challenging experience to build, but it will be an extraordinary home.