Graylings Retreat, Woldingham UK
Graylings Retreat is a newly built home and landscaped setting that includes a bat loft and tea house, all overlooking the picturesque Surrey Hills. Nestled among the tree-topped slopes of Woldingham Garden Village, the site is a rare remnant of the original early 20th-century army barracks settlement—an area notable for its large, detached plots and single-storey, timber-clad barracks houses.
The original guard house on the site had been demolished by previous owners, leaving the plot derelict when acquired by the current client. Working closely with them, we developed a design that both honours the local architectural language of timber-framed barracks huts and creates a serene, contemplative living environment.
The new house comprises a series of elongated, gable-ended forms, inspired by traditional barracks structures, arranged in an ‘H’-shaped layout. This configuration establishes a rhythm of intimate courtyards and connecting passages, encouraging both privacy and flow.
Conceived as an ‘upside-down house,’ the building nestles discreetly into the sloping terrain. One gabled wing, however, rises to meet street level, housing an open-plan living space with panoramic views across the Surrey Hills.
Building and landscape completed late 2023
Design: www.brownurbanism.com
Groundworks: https://eclipsegroupltd.co.uk/
Building Prefabrication: https://www.baufritz.com/uk
Landscape Design: https://www.matthewwilsongardens.com/
