Uplands

Uplands Fruit Farm, surrounded by apple orchards and mature oak trees, was purchased by a Cambridge couple as a rural retreat. A contemporary-style new house was built to take full advantage of the site and the clients’ interest in timber was central to the design.

The main spaces open up to the sun and views over the orchards. Full height glazing and balconies exploit this in the two main bedrooms, with morning sun in the master bedroom and its en suite bathroom. The bedrooms are oak clad wedge-shaped elements with copper covered roofs linked by flat-roof elements with copper fascias clad with clay tile hanging.

The ground floor storey is red brick in lime mortar and incorporates a billiard room with a copper butterfly roof. The use of traditional materials such as oak, tile and red brick refers to the local Suffolk vernacular. A pergola of green oak leads to a Japanese Tea House surrounded by water. It is a place for contemplation with a moon window through which a black granite and copper ‘waterwall’ can be seen.