Villa Windward House is a reconstruction of a farm from the end of the Georgian era, that is, the turn of the 18th - 19th centuries. It occupies an advantageous place: the highest point of the county of Gloucestershire above the valley of the Wye, along which the border of England and Wales passes here. Not far away are the ancient Dean forest and the deep Severn, where the Wye flows into.
The beautiful landscapes that open from the villa, its garden and courtyards, inside the house, are complemented by a collection of African and Indian art, which has been collected by the owners for 40 years. Alison Brooks called her project a “residential gallery,” where works are performed by friends and relatives of the owners who share the interiors with them.
The space unfolds from the farmhouse, where half is three-height galleries and stone walls contrasting with mirrored metal surfaces, to a two-story West Wing with dark metal facades. It is there that the owners live - in this house with a 3x3 type plan, although it is rather strongly curved. The farm and the West Wing are connected, and next to them, the garden walls, protecting from the constant winds, have created an intimate courtyard. Particularly beautiful views are from the rooftop wing terrace and from the double-height living room.
In the light-filled West Wing, with its dark, gleaming concrete floor, the kitchen and dining area are central to the host's delight.
The third part of the house is the “Gallery by the Pool”, surrounded by a stone wall reminiscent of local traditions, one side of which is a multifunctional pavilion with a dressing room, a guest apartment, an exhibition space and a storage room. The pool is painted black in order to be warmed up by the sun better (this gives an advantage of 4 degrees), moreover, it is heated by an air heat pump. The same device heats the pavilion and the hot water in its water supply.
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zooming 1/6 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 2/6 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 3/6 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 4/6 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 5/6 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 6/6 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
The farm and the West Wing are heated by a ground source heat pump, solar collectors are installed on the roof of the farm, and solar panels are installed on the roof of the pool pavilion. The roof of the West Wing is planted with native wildflowers. The surrounding 8.5 hectares of land have a wild meadow and orchards, while 2.5 hedges are being restored with species with abundant pollen. In parallel, 2,500 trees are being planted. All this is aimed at regenerating the ecosystem and increasing biodiversity.
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zooming 1/4 Villa Windward House Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 2/4 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 3/4 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 4/4 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 1/3 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 2/3 Villa Windward House Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 3/3 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 1/5 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 2/5 Villa Windward House Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 3/5 Windward House Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 4/5 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
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zooming 5/5 Windward House Villa Photo © Paul Riddle
