Chalk river house

Chalk River House is a new-build family home on the River Test in the Hampshire village of Houghton. It is composed as a series of stepped volumes that sit comfortably within the conservation area. The street-facing wing takes a traditional pitched form, while the composition opens to the river, aligning the house with its landscape and establishing a calm, confident rural presence.

Internal gardens organise the plan: a walled kitchen garden and a fern courtyard. They draw daylight deep inside, shape circulation and preserve privacy while maintaining connection to the outdoors. Open-plan living spaces unfold towards the river for family life and hosting, with framed outlooks and multi-aspect rooms supporting light, views and cross-ventilation.

Natural materials are chosen for durability and quiet character. Handmade Roman brick, lime render and pre-weathered zinc form a restrained exterior. Inside, soft clay plaster, a muted palette and strategic openings create a tactile, tranquil atmosphere, with continuity of finishes reinforcing identity throughout.