SIMPLE SERENITY
This straight-lined, modern home has transformed the way the Gray family live, giving them a tranquil space flooded with light, says Nichola Hunter
Sleek, modern living in the historic town of St Andrews
Helen and Ben Gray had no intention of building their own home but when they couldn’t find a property that fulfilled their wish list, it seemed like the obvious solution. Having sold their previous home, a large, Victorian tower house in Fife, the couple wanted to move to St Andrews to afford their 13-year-old son Zac a bit more independence.
‘We had three criteria,’ Helen recalls. ‘It had to be within walking distance of the town centre, it had to have tall ceilings and doorways because Ben is 6ft 6in and that essentially meant buildings from 1860s to 1910, and it had to have a large garden as I’m an enthusiastic gardener. That list narrowed it to around 20 houses and this piece of land.’
The land in question was a former growing garden for the house opposite but it was a challenging brief. ‘When it became clear that we were going to build our own house, I felt strongly that we shouldn’t build a pastiche,’ says Helen. ‘I didn’t want a house that was embarrassed about being contemporary. If it was built in 2012 it had to be of 2012 and the design would emerge not because we or the architect had set views but entirely in response to its surroundings and how we wanted to live.’
The couple had seen a house several years ago which was designed by award-winning architect Gareth Hoskins and thought it was one of the most beautiful houses they’d ever seen.
‘We didn’t think Gareth would take our project as in recent years he worked predominantly in the public sector,’ said Helen. ‘However, we decided to ask.’
After a successful meeting with Gareth, who sadly died in 2016, the process commenced and took an interesting direction straight from the get-go. ‘Easily the most fun bit of the project was sitting down with the team at Hoskins Architects and going through what was almost like therapy. They asked us, “What makes you happy? Think of places where you lived or stayed that made you feel good and then try and think back to why that might be. Conversely what niggles you or makes you feel uncomfortable?”
‘A common theme emerged. We realised we liked an easy flow of life through the main living spaces but without feeling the vastness of living in a barn. We wanted connections through the rooms but with the option to close areas off, and again, to have distinct spaces but without lots of doors.
“We liked an easy flow of life through the main living areas
‘The way the architects responded was phenomenal. The main design concept for the house is what the architect calls the datum, the central line that runs through the house to which all the other spaces relate.’
Following a straight line through the site, the garden, house and garage were designed off it, making each room or space a series of boxes which were then positioned off the line to create the best layout. The main living spaces, kitchen, living room, TV room/study flow easily into each other, while at the rear of the property the main bedrooms and bathrooms are located off a long corridor which provides privacy and separation. The garden was also part of this process, being separated into zones to provide a wild garden, growing garden, entertaining spaces and so on.
With the kitchen located in the centre of the property it is now the place where the family congregate. But unlike their previous home, the Grays now use every inch of the house. ‘We really wanted this house to help us live better. In our last house, despite our best intentions, we wound up eating most meals in front of the TV. Now, the family meal just naturally happens at the table. Pocket doors allow us to close off areas as and when we want to, and the only area I possibly don’t walk through every day is the second guest bedroom and bathroom which are up the stairs. But again, that works brilliantly because when we have guests, they have their own space.’
It’s not just the layout that works however, it’s also the atmosphere in the house that has taken the family by
surprise. ‘We learned so much about buildings, spaces and psychology on this project. The architects encouraged us to be really disciplined on certain aspects and I’m so glad they did. While there are many reasons for sticking to certain measurements, especially from a practical point of view, there are also reasons from a psychological point of view. Almost everything aligns on both vertical and horizontal planes, in both the house and garden. The subconscious registers patterns as conforming to one clean design: it’s restful, and the architects were correct.’
While there was the odd disagreement – Helen’s fireplace doesn’t have a mantel for the Christmas cards – the process has been an enjoyable one and a few years since its inception the house is now taking on more artwork and design-led pieces which emphasise its architecture and the family’s personalities.
Helen’s garden is maturing magnificently and her passion for it knows no bounds. The garden is a brilliant combination of practicality and aesthetics. Aside from growing her own produce, Helen even dyes the pond water black, so it appears like a mirror reflecting the house. She’s also just added a pizza oven in the entertaining space, which has been a huge hit. ‘We bought one for our holiday home, The Green Lodge at Aviemore, and it was such good fun we had to put one in here as well. We use it all the time.
‘At the outset, our brief to the architects was that we wanted the house and garden to be designed as one and that’s what they did. It’s so easy to live the way we want to. Good design really can change the way you live.’