Located within the Waddesdon Manor Estate, the house demonstrates how architecture can both complement and elevate the landscape around it. What makes this home particularly compelling is not just its bold form, but the way it interacts with nature, materials, and artistry.
Architect: Skene Catling de la Peña
A House Clad in Flint: Nature Meets Art
The most distinctive feature of this award-winning home is its flint cladding. Flint, a material rarely used in modern architecture, has been employed here in a way that feels both original and timeless. The stones are arranged in a tonal gradient across the structure, creating a stunning visual effect that mirrors the hues of the surrounding landscape. This gradient is not just aesthetic—it’s a subtle gesture that connects the manmade with the natural, grounding the building in its environment.
Flint is historically associated with strength and permanence, and its use here conveys a sense of solidity. At the same time, the careful detailing softens the look, ensuring the building blends seamlessly into the countryside. The result is a structure that feels both rooted in tradition and boldly contemporary.
Integrating Landscape and Architecture
The house does not stop at stone. The landscaping is deliberately choreographed to enhance its harmony with nature. On the elevated side of the building, tall trees provide shade and scale, while on the lower side, shrubs and smaller plantsbalance the composition. This thoughtful planting creates not only a visual rhythm but also a sustainable, livable environment that evolves with the seasons.
The architecture itself incorporates terraces, recesses, and layered rooftops that invite interaction with the outdoors. These features blur the boundary between inside and outside, encouraging residents to experience the changing light, air, and views of the countryside.
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Interiors That Reflect the Landscape
The interior of the house continues the dialogue between architecture and nature. The bedrooms are rich with royal-inspired details—bold colors, dramatic textures, and luxurious finishes that elevate the home’s atmosphere. Yet, these elements never overwhelm the space. Instead, they enhance the connection with the natural world outside.
A large mirror, strategically placed to reflect the surrounding landscape, pulls the outdoors inward, creating a sense of expansiveness. Earth-tone palettes dominate the interior design, echoing the hues of stone, soil, and greenery. Subtle touches of flint appear inside as well, but here they are used sparingly, adding delicacy and contrast compared to the exterior.
The result is an interior that feels grounded, elegant, and intimately tied to its location.
A Living Example of Innovative Architecture
This house by Skene Catling de la Peña is not just a residence—it is a manifesto of possibility. It demonstrates how architecture can go beyond shelter to become an experience, a dialogue with nature, and a work of art. By embracing local materials, engaging with the landscape, and carefully crafting interior spaces, the architects created a home that feels at once serene, solid, and profoundly innovative.
It’s no wonder this remarkable building captured the attention of RIBA’s judges in 2015. More than a house, it’s a celebration of what happens when design listens to the land, and when architecture dares to dream in harmony with nature.
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