SANDWAY HOUSE
A contemporary family home inspired by the timeless formality of the walled garden and the quiet simplicity of the Japanese courtyard house.
Featured in ELLE Decoration, ArchDaily and Restless Living
Where architecture becomes part of everyday life
Sandway House was conceived as a home where architecture and landscape become inseparable. Inspired by the timeless formality of the traditional walled garden and the quiet simplicity of the Japanese courtyard house, it creates a sequence of calm spaces shaped by natural light, carefully framed views and honest materials.
At a Glance
Location: Farnham, Surrey
Type: Replacement Dwelling
Size: 285sqm
Status: Completed 2024
Photography: Silviu Pasargiu
A modern interpretation of the walled garden
For centuries, walled gardens have created places of shelter, beauty and contemplation. Sandway House reinterprets this tradition through contemporary architecture, using walls not as barriers but as devices that frame views, define outdoor rooms and create moments of privacy. The garden becomes an extension of the home, offering changing perspectives throughout the day and across the seasons.
Inspired by the Japanese courtyard house
The plan draws on the quiet simplicity of the Japanese courtyard house, where architecture is organised around a sequence of intimate outdoor spaces. Rather than relying on large open-plan rooms alone, the home unfolds gradually, revealing framed views, carefully controlled daylight and moments of calm that encourage a slower pace of everyday life.
"The garden is not viewed from the house, it becomes part of it."
Light shapes every space
Natural light was treated as a building material from the earliest stages of design. Courtyards, rooflights and generous glazing draw daylight deep into the home, while carefully considered overhangs and orientation provide shade and comfort throughout the seasons. Every room enjoys a unique relationship with the surrounding landscape.
““Timeless homes are shaped by light, landscape and the rituals of everyday life.””
Crafted through timeless materials
A restrained palette of natural stone, walnut, corten steel detailing and soft interior finishes creates warmth without excess. Honest materials have been chosen for their durability, tactile quality and ability to age gracefully, ensuring the house feels as timeless in decades to come as it does today.
Designing for everyday rituals
Architecture is at its most meaningful when it quietly enriches daily life. Every room at Sandway House was designed around the routines of family life, morning light in the kitchen, sheltered courtyards for moments of pause, and living spaces that remain connected to the changing seasons.
About Outset Think
At Outset Think, we believe exceptional homes begin with understanding the people who live in them. Every project is individually crafted to connect architecture with landscape, natural light and daily life, creating timeless homes that are as beautiful to live in as they are to look at.
Internationally recognised
Sandway House has been recognised for its thoughtful architecture and contemporary approach to family living.
Could your home tell a similar story?
Every project begins with a conversation about how you want to live, rather than simply what you want to build. Whether you're planning a replacement dwelling, a contemporary extension or a new family home, every project begins with understanding how you want to live.
Book a complimentary Outset Conversation to explore what's possible.
““Outset Think were a really great firm that truly collaborated with us. They listened and then took us through a structured process to really help us understand what we really liked. There were numerous iterative sessions where they listened and adjusted their designs until we came to the final design. Where required he did challenge our assumptions which really helped us move forward.
To help us actually visualise it Silviu also provided us with a VR headset with the design so we could really get a feel for what we’re shooting for!
We would work with the firm again without hesitation.””