With five active, growing children to provide for, the owners of this traditional brick manor in Berkshire, England realized they needed more space ? but an ordinary addition simply wouldn?t do. Located in a flood plain, the property was already prone to standing water, and some the older outbuildings on it were constantly at risk of being inundated.

?Our landscape design is integral to the concept of engaging the family with their surroundings and included the swimming lake as well as creating a continuous route around the buildings,? say the architects. ?The path snakes through a sheltered garden of large, primordial tree ferns two to three meters high and then leads out onto the stepping stones in the lake.?
?Steps rise up to an elevated tree fern walkway and the bridge, which connects the two buildings. At night time, the exterior lighting design highlights mature trees in the garden to create longer views out from the buildings, whilst jets of water form an archway of illuminated lights over the stepping stones.?

The result is a perfect example of how architecture can be designed to meet special needs without compromising on beauty, quality, or functionality.

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