The lakehouse came to life due to a planning constraint in the Lower Mill Estate community. The client wanted a living room with a large window overlooking the lake in the main house, but the rules of the estate's planning committee didn't allow a large glazed area in the walls of the historic barn and main house. As a compromise, Ramus designed this separate "living room" with open views across the lake.
by AR Design Studio Ltd
The client wanted the new structure to look like it floats on the water. The glass-encased living space provides 180-degree views of the water, nature and wildlife.
by AR Design Studio Ltd
Ramus wanted to keep the landscaping as natural and undisturbed as possible. This boardwalk winds its way to the main house. The path "creates a journey through the landscape," he says. The lakehouse itself has a very minimal amount of contact with the landscape, almost floating above the ground.
by AR Design Studio Ltd
The new living space is set up very simply. Ramus put the kitchen and bathroom at the rear, by the main entry. The entrance hall sits in between these two functional spaces.
by AR Design Studio Ltd
The small entry hall immediately opens out into a single open living space that looks out onto the lake through sliding glass doors. A balcony surrounds the entire home so the client can revel in the pristine setting.
by AR Design Studio Ltd
The structure uses the same materials as the main house, including light fittings and plug sockets. However, Ramus interpreted them in a more contemporary manner. "I suppose this means the material palette chose itself," he says.
by AR Design Studio Ltd
During construction, there were very few buildings nearby, making for an extremely private location. However, growth on the estate now means that residences surround the property, so the only private views are those that face the lake. Luckily, natural vegetation also helps to maintain privacy.
by AR Design Studio Ltd 
"The contemporary design of the boathouse sits in perfect harmony over the lake, and its use of glass reciprocates the emotions of the water," says Ramus.
by AR Design Studio Ltd
To create a sturdy structure over the water, Ramus had deep piles driven into the lake bed. The steel frame was built on land and then lifted into place on the water. "It was a nerve-racking day to see if it fitted," admits Ramus.
by AR Design Studio Ltd
Set off to the side, a glass cube surrounds Adirondack chairs as an ultramodern version of a gazebo. The gazebo provides completely open views of the surrounding landscape and protection from the weather. The all-glass structure has no visible fixtures or fittings; it's held together with industrial glue.
by AR Design Studio Ltd
The contrast between the historic main house and the new lakehouse is particularly striking from this overhead view.
"We wanted to create a beautiful juxtaposition from the old to the new," says Ramus. "The barn is so strong in its traditional style that we did not want to try and detract away from its beauty by replicating it in a neighboring building."
by AR Design Studio Ltd
"We wanted to create a beautiful juxtaposition from the old to the new," says Ramus. "The barn is so strong in its traditional style that we did not want to try and detract away from its beauty by replicating it in a neighboring building."
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I know that, especially in the U.S., people love to build new homes that look old, but in most other places around the world that is a no-go thing. The new structure is NEW and should look that way, imo. And the location is absolutely priceless.
I love how this house has deconstructed this by separating the two parts of the home. ..and I especially appreciate how "the contemporary space actually has the same basic structure, materials and specifications as the renovated barn and main house. " It shows a lot of thought.
I'm all for designing your own space, but if you just can't accept the governing aesthetic of your community, then maybe it's better to sell and go be hyper-individualist somewhere else. (Man... that horrible zig zag walkway has had a terrible effect on my mood!!!)
Cleverness counts, but the results here seem to be like a sharp stick in the eye; the contrast is too stark, it seems to me. And I am no stickler of tradition and conservatism. Maybe at eye level (instead of from the air), it all works.
I love love love the way the walk way isn't straight and you just meander along it. I'm wanting to do something similar at our place from the house down to a small deck through some native bush. : )
Old and modern can create a beautiful marriage of style. I love it.
The Lower Mill Estate is a private estate in the UK that sits on an old gravel pit. There are 13 lakes in the 550 acre site, and most of the houses sit on the edge of a lake or over the water.
Lower Mill Estate has a team of ecologists who manage and advise architects on how to design each structure. This building in particular is extremely eco-friendly, with insulation and walls that allow for passive solar gain in the winter. The large overhangs and opening panels keep it cool in the summer, so the building rarely needs to be heated and cooled. The bathroom and kitchen waste and water does not dump into the lake — this is illegal in the UK. Instead, there is a hidden pump that moves it up to the main house.
In terms of design, all of the other houses on Lower Mill Estate are very modern. Material palettes tie the designs into the area, but the goal is to create a new regional vernacular. "The planners also recognize that old structures should be preserved and new structures should be clearly new and of the zeitgeist," says Ramus.