An ARCHITECTURAL STATEMENT
REF: UK_021
REF: uk_021
Steel Clad Suspended House in Rural Suffolk
About
Perched over a Suffolk hillside, this 30 metre long steel clad house is a striking exploration of light, materiality, and landscape. Designed by MVRDV, the house is both sculptural and inhabitable, half suspended above the slope and half grounded, creating a precise dialogue between tension and stability. Its reflective steel exterior captures the changing sky, shifting from silver to copper as light moves across its surface, offering a dynamic and ever-changing backdrop for photography and film.
The design responds directly to the site’s agricultural past. Built on the footprint of former farm buildings, the house integrates terraces, raised lawns, and a sculptural fire pit that echo the history of the land while establishing a distinctly contemporary presence. Planting and landscaping are integral, extending outward into surrounding woodland and neighbouring Suffolk Wildlife Trust land, ensuring the property blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings.
Inside, the interiors balance Dutch minimalism with a quieter English sensibility. Bespoke furniture, muted materials, and carefully placed artworks create spaces that feel composed without being overly styled. Full height sliding windows dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, drawing in natural light and allowing the surrounding landscape to become part of the living environment. Sliding back these windows opens the house directly onto terraces, gardens, and outdoor activity areas, offering flexible options for production set ups.
The house includes four thoughtfully designed bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom. At one end of the house, the open plan kitchen and dining space is generous and adaptable, suited to both domestic use and production. At the other end, the sitting room offers a more contained atmosphere, with timber, soft textiles, and a restrained palette of stone and steel. The transition between these spaces is fluid, allowing variation in tone and scale within a single continuous plan.
Circulation through the house is carefully considered. The suspended section introduces moments of lightness and exposure, with elevated views back down across the hillside and outward into the landscape. A glass floor, roof, and walls, along with a swing suspended beneath the cantilevered portion, provide unique filming opportunities and playful experiential elements. External terraces extend from this section, appearing to hover above the ground and offering additional vantage points for photography and film.
Materiality is central to the experience. Polished concrete floors, brushed steel, and raw timber are balanced by softer elements, creating a layered but controlled palette. Sliding panels, concealed storage, and movable furnishings introduce flexibility without disrupting the architectural clarity of the space.
Beyond the house, six acres of private gardens provide a range of intimate outdoor settings, while the surrounding 138 acres of Suffolk Wildlife Trust land offer seclusion, wildlife, and a landscape that shifts noticeably with season and weather. Terraces, sunken seating areas, and raised lawns create depth and variation, allowing multiple compositions across the site.
From sunrise through to dusk, the house engages continuously with its environment. The reflective exterior captures colour and movement, while the interiors maintain consistent, balanced light. For film and photography, the property offers a combination of strong architectural identity, varied spatial conditions, flexible interior and exterior spaces, and a landscape that extends the visual narrative well beyond the building itself.
Key Features
• 30 metre long steel clad house, half suspended over the hillside with a reflective exterior
• Four bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, accommodating up to eight guests
• Open plan kitchen and dining area connected to a generous sitting room
• Full height sliding windows opening directly onto terraces, gardens, and outdoor activity spaces
• Interiors combining Dutch design influences with a restrained material palette and bespoke furnishings
• Glass floor, roof, and walls, and a suspended swing under the cantilevered section
• Landscaped gardens with raised lawns, planted terraces, sunken seating, and a fire pit
• Six acres of private grounds surrounded by 138 acres of protected Suffolk countryside
• Architecture retains the footprint and memory of former farm buildings
• Wide, uninterrupted views across open countryside
Image credits: Jack Hobhouse, Chris Wright, Ollie Tomlinson
CAPACITY
Enquire
ACCESS
Enquire
STYLE
Modernist
SIZE
six Acres of land
30 metres long and 7.5 meters wide
PAINTING & DECORATING
N/A
LOCATION
Suffolk
DOWNLOADS
FEATURES
Striking cantilevered structure
Glass floor, walls and skylights
Steel clad exterior
Ash lined interiors
Iconic architectural design
Bold modernist furniture
Full height glazing opening onto landscape
Suspended swing beneath cantilever
Wood burner
Set within six acres of private gardens and terraces
SPACES
Open plan kitchen / dining area
Living area
Four double bedroom
Four en suite bathrooms
Outdoor terraces and garden areas
SERVICES
N/A
PARKING
Available
OTHER
N/A