Willowbrook

Paul Archer Design completed Willowbrook in 2017 for clients who first self-built the property in 1981, naming it after the surrounding trees and the brook on the plot. After years as a rental, the practice was commissioned to rebuild and extend the house, correcting failing elements uncovered on site while upgrading its sustainable performance. Original bricks were reclaimed and reused alongside new courses, retaining the memory of the original build.

The reworked plan adds floor space to the side wing and reorganises circulation around a relocated front hallway that runs as a central spine through the upper floors. A sculptural red steel bridge, spanning a lower courtyard beneath the driveway, leads to the entrance. Inside, large rear windows offer glimpses of the surrounding greenery, and roof lights with double-height glazing flood the tall volumes with daylight.

The main double-height space carries sliding partitions, allowing it to be closed off into private guest rooms when needed. Built across three levels on a 949 square metre site, the house is engineered to flex around future use rather than locking in a single arrangement.

Photography by Matt Chisnall and Nick Guttridge.