Green Orchard, Compton Greenfield, Gloucestershire

Sited in a secluded pocket of green belt countryside around eight miles north of Bristol, Green Orchard is an exceptional net-zero carbon house that overlooks the Severn Estuary. It was conceived by the acclaimed architect Paul Archer, whose design is defined by a striking minimalist profile of matt-aluminium geometric elevations that artfully reflect the surrounding landscaped gardens. Inside, seamless living spaces spanning some 2,315 sq ft have a masterful command over the natural light that enters through glass walls across both levels. The result is sublime, ensuring an unbroken visual connection between the house, land, and sky.



Architect



Paul Archer Design is an award-winning London-based architectural practice focused on delivering the highest level of design in architecture and interior design. The pursuit of innovation in residential design has underpinned its output since the practice was founded in 1999. Projects to date include new-build, extensions, renovation and remodelling, including the renovation of historic listed buildings. The practice's ambition of applying green designs to modernist-inspired architecture is encapsulated by Green Orchard, the practice's first new-build house, which was completed in 2012.



Environmental Performance



Exemplary eco credentials were integral to both design and construction, resulting in a net zero carbon home. Solar and photovoltaic panels, an air source heat pump and high levels of insulation ensure optimum energy efficiency. Underfloor heating runs throughout the bathrooms, and a borehole provides an independent water supply. External panels are heavily insulated allowing control of the thermal performance of the home throughout the seasons. There is also an EV charging point in the parking area.



The Tour



The house occupies a secluded position at the edge of the village of Easter Compton; it is barely visible from its quiet country lane approach. A curved driveway leads up through high banks of garden beds packed full of perennials plants and grasses.



Taking its cue from aeronautical design, the architectural construction comprises a skin of bonded aluminium panels with a honeycomb structure inside, durable yet surprisingly lightweight, and rendered matt in order to blend into the landscape.



Split over two levels, the lower section of the house has been set into the ground to create a modest impression on the site and the appearance of a much smaller footprint than it in fact occupies.



Primary living spaces extend across the upper floor and are flooded with natural light that streams in through every side over the course of the day. A large Stuv log-burner forms a natural focal point in the living room while polished concrete runs underfoot, adding to the sense of refined materiality consistent throughout. Fitted wall cupboards add an excellent provision of storage space.



The adjoining kitchen and dining areas have been cleverly conceived for the practicalities of daily living and easy entertaining. The kitchen is a bright and clean space with appliances neatly housed in bespoke cabinetry. Well-equipped for keen cooks, there is a Rangemaster double oven, Smeg double sink, Liebherr integrated fridge and freezer, and Corian worktops. Flowing directly to the dining area, this space is similarly defined by clean, linear forms and orientated towards the garden, with full-height glass walls framing it as a backdrop.



The lower level houses three double bedrooms, each a quiet retreat with large, garden-facing picture windows. Two bathrooms lie on this level too, one with a bath tub and the other with a shower.



Outside Space



Exceptionally well-designed, the gardens form an integral part of the overall experience of the house, with terraces and seating areas strategically placed to follow the sun through the course of the day.



Designed and lovingly tended by the current owners - two keen horticulturalists - the gardens are rich in biodiversity and teeming with flora and fauna; an immersive celebration of local wildlife, with decked pathways winding through beds of natural, prairie-style grasses and abundant perennial borders bursting with seasonal colour.



There is also a well-established and productive vegetable patch that provides the opportunity for self-sufficient growing throughout the year. There is also a good provision of secure outdoor storage.



The Area



Compton Greenfield is a small hamlet of houses and farms near the village of Easter Compton, surrounded by fields and green belt countryside, around eight miles to the north of Bristol. For daily provisions, Easter Compton has an excellent farm shop with a butcher, bakery and café, and there is a local pub. The surrounding area is well-renowned for the wide-open countryside and easy access to extensive walking paths and cycling routes. Europe’s first full-sized inland surfing lake, the hugely popular The Wave, is a 10-minute cycle from the house.



Bristol’s centre can be easily reached in around 25 minutes by car; the city has a thriving art and music scene, with Arnolfini and Spike Island leading a well-regarded programme of contemporary exhibitions and performances. The Watershed is a well-loved institution on the harbourside known for its international film screenings.



The independent food scene in Bristol has shot up in recent years, with heaps of restaurants cropping up in the centre and throughout the city’s neighbourhoods. Notable highlights on Chandos Road, Redland, include Wilsons, a Michelin-starred family-run restaurant co-founded in 2016 by partners Jan Ostle and Mary Wilson, while Little Hollows and Dongnae are just a few doors down.



Occupying the ground floor of a beautiful Grade II-listed building on Baldwin Street, Marmo has an Italian-focused menu and a great organic and biodynamic wine list created by former St John / Luca couple Cosmo and Lily Sterck. Two notable family-run neighbourhood restaurants Cor and Sonny Stores, are set on the city’s south side. Farro is the spot for modern viennoiserie, sourdough, soft serve in the summer, and for coffee, New Cut Coffee, Small Street Espresso and Full Court Press. For sourdough pizza, head east to The Red Church and for a glass of wine and a small plate, Cave or Kask.



Motorway connections from the house are very good, and Bristol International Airport can be reached in around 30 minutes.



Council Tax Band: F