Waterlilies is a striking contemporary family home designed to embrace its rural Hertfordshire setting. Replacing a 1970s modernist house that had fallen into disrepair, the new design draws inspiration from the original’s ambition and connection to the landscape while reimagining it with a fresh, forward-thinking approach.

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Upon arrival, landscaped ‘bunds’ formed from excavation spoil partially screen the expansive garden, gently guiding the driveway to the front of the house. The light brick façade presents a modest and inviting entrance. The cross-form footprint divides the site into distinct garden areas, allowing every elevation and internal space to capture stunning countryside views and natural light throughout the day.

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Stepping inside, the voluminous, light-filled core of the house hosts a double-height dining hall, family kitchen, and reception room. These areas are connected yet defined by timber louvered screens that filter light and offer curated vistas through the interiors and out to the gardens. The interiors provide a range of contrasting ambiances through the use of rich natural materials, varying ceiling heights, and the manipulation of natural light. Much like a traditional country house, Waterlilies offers a variety of spaces to enjoy depending on your mood—from the cosy, dark snug to the luxurious reception and the lofty, light-filled dining hall.

Contrasting cave-like corridors lead to more private spaces, including a guest suite and a leisure wing featuring a gym, sauna, and a dramatic swimming pool hall.

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On the first floor, the four limbs of the cross-form plan host the bedrooms, arranged around a central landing that overlooks the dining hall. The master bedroom extends into the garden with a cantilevered balcony that frames views of the lily pond and captures the evening light.

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The structure combines steel portal and timber framing, with clay facing bricks grounding the ground floor, supporting larch timber cladding to the upper levels. Heating, hot water, and the swimming pool are powered by air source heat pumps, powered by a large solar PV array on the roof. Lush sedum covers the flat roof areas, and rainwater is harvested for garden irrigation.