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rchitectural rendering of a new-build large family house nestled in lush greenery, featuring modern design with multiple levels, expansive glass windows, shaded balconies, integrating seamlessly with the natural surroundings for a tranquil living environment.
Twilight view of a modern three-storey family home with gym facilities, featuring a harmonious blend of slate gray tiles and warm wooden accents, large glass windows offering a glimpse into the cozy interior, and spacious balconies, all set against a backdrop of tall pine trees and a clear evening sky.
Morning view of a spacious multi-level family home with gym amenities, framed by a serene pine forest setting, featuring a combination of clean white walls and rich wooden paneling, large windows inviting natural light, and an idyllic outdoor area with a child playing, reflecting an elegant and active lifestyle.
Stylish and sophisticated living room interior in a new build family house, featuring plush beige sofas with wooden armrests, elegant sheer curtains, a modern fireplace, and a unique wooden ceiling design, with a blurred figure walking by, enhancing the dynamic and lived-in feel of the space.
Close-up of a chic modern side table with a minimalist metal frame and wooden base, neatly holding an assortment of books beside a designer chair with a woven backrest, set against the backdrop of a cozy living room with soft natural lighting, exemplifying contemporary elegance and smart design in home decor.
Inviting living room interior featuring a modern built-in bookshelf filled with an eclectic mix of books and decor, a large abstract painting in warm tones, a cozy fireplace with stacked firewood, and a stylish designer chair with a matching footstool and an elegant arc floor lamp, all harmonising with the room's warm wood finishes and soft lighting for a relaxing ambiance.
Elegant open-plan living and dining space in a new large family home, featuring a long wooden dining table with matching chairs, a sleek living area with comfortable sofas and a designer coffee table, modern pendant lighting, a cozy fireplace with a wood storage niche, and a striking abstract painting, all under a warm wooden slatted ceiling with large windows providing views of the outdoors.
Intimate and cozy setting in a modern home featuring a close-up of a wooden side table with a glass of red wine and a bowl of pistachios, beside a plush designer chair, with a softly lit bookshelf and fireplace in the blurred background, evoking a sense of warmth and relaxation in a sophisticated living space.
Aerial view of a residential neighborhood with a mix of large family homes featuring expansive gardens, private driveways, and adjacent golf course greens, highlighting the upscale suburban lifestyle with a focus on spacious outdoor living and recreational amenities.
Top-down aerial view of a new build large family house with a gym, distinctively featuring solar panels on the roof, set within a luxurious residential area with rich greenery, neighboring houses, private gardens, and a golf course nearby, illustrating an eco-friendly approach to modern suburban living.
Architectural floor plan of a proposed basement for a new build large family house with a gym, featuring a clear and detailed layout with labeled rooms including a spacious home gym area, storage spaces, and utility rooms, all designed with precision and presented in a crisp monochrome blueprint style.
Architectural plan of a proposed ground floor for a large family house, featuring an extensive layout with multiple rooms including a living area, kitchen, and a dining space, all meticulously labeled and designed with detailed furniture arrangements and space planning, presented in a high-contrast monochrome blueprint.
Detailed architectural drawing of a proposed first-floor plan for a new build large family house, showcasing a master bedroom, en-suite bathroom, multiple guest rooms, and a spacious living area, all meticulously designed with modern furniture layouts and labeled for clarity, presented in a clean monochrome aesthetic.
Architectural blueprint of a proposed second-floor plan for a new build large family house, featuring a spacious layout with bedrooms, bathrooms, and leisure areas, detailed with furniture and fittings, and integrated solar panels on the roof, presented in a clear, high-resolution monochrome design for planning and development purposes.

Substantial, fully equipped contemporary home in a secluded, tree-surrounded plot

Location

Coombehurst Close EN4

Local Authority

Enfield Council

Plot Type

Suburban

Project Type

New Build House

Accomplishment

Five-bedroom house with gym, two kitchens

Services by Urbanist Architecture

Project Architect, Delivery Architect, Planning Consultant, Lead Consultant

Collaborators

NRG Consulting, Crown Trees, ColeEasdon, H Fraser Consulting Ltd

Challenge

This project had an unusual start. Normally, clients come to us to do something they can’t do – design an extension or a block or flats or a house. One day, though, we got a call from someone who did have experience of designing buildings, but not in the UK.

He wanted to build himself an exciting new house in London, and was hoping to find a team who understood local planning policies and building regulations. He was looking for true collaborators – people who could make both practical and creative inputs to the project but wouldn’t try to nudge him away from his own vision.

It was a question we put to our team: are you happy to work like this, not to be the main creative force? The answer was: absolutely. Our architects are not divas.

And in the meantime, while our client was finding a site, something else had happened. The world had changed, and working on a design by video call had become something that we were doing all the time. The fact that for this project those video calls were going from continent to continent rather than one part of South London to another made little difference.

After

Architectural floor plan of a proposed basement for a new build large family house with a gym, featuring a clear and detailed layout with labeled rooms including a spacious home gym area, storage spaces, and utility rooms, all designed with precision and presented in a crisp monochrome blueprint style.

Solution

The plot our client had found had lots of advantages: it was big enough for the generous house he wanted, it was in a secluded spot (not easy to find in London!) and it was surrounded by trees.

The disadvantage? It was surrounded by trees. Which is to say, the trees are beautiful and are a huge asset to the site, but making sure that they aren’t harmed by the building of the new house required a great deal of care and attention.

The other limitation was the unusual shape of the existing house on the plot – we felt (and the trees again contributed to this) that it would be sensible to use the established footprint as a starting point.

But apart from those factors, this is one of those rare projects where what is possible outweighs what isn’t. In any other neighbourhood, this would be a large house – in this area, it’s actually fairly modest! Over four floors, including a basement, there are five bedrooms plus a games room, a gym, a studio, a huge living-dining room, two kitchens, walk-in wardrobes…

Plus, our client was aiming for something that was as exciting on the outside as the inside. We’ll leave it for you to judge whether the collaborative team behind this project achieved that

Morning view of a spacious multi-level family home with gym amenities, framed by a serene pine forest setting, featuring a combination of clean white walls and rich wooden paneling, large windows inviting natural light, and an idyllic outdoor area with a child playing, reflecting an elegant and active lifestyle.

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