West Oxfordshire

Rural tradition and a very modern surprise.

Along a country lane six miles west of Oxford, a new OGA building completed spring 2022 was inspired by agricultural conversions – a staple in the area – this stand-out design married bold layout choices with a traditional English country aesthetic.

Heavy, agricultural materials continue indoors but the interior area is more fluid than any barn conversion. Intersecting circulation axes will lead to interlocking reception spaces. Light is borrowed from neighbouring rooms, and a first-floor spa features a glass-bottomed pool over a formal dining table.

The horizontal axis in the first floor spa is closely linked to the flat, rural landscape visible through its windows. Alongside the pool a full-length, folding window leads to a terrace balcony, screened and sheltered by oak-panelled balustrades and eaves

The West Oxfordshire house is an exercise in a how an unassuming exterior can give way to a series of surprising interior moments.