Oxfordshire - 2009 RIBA DOWNLAND PRIZE
The Blewbury Manor
This part 17th Century Manor House with moat is set in a garden of approximately 10 acres. The house has had various additions over the years culminating in an internal courtyard with buildings on all sides and some tortuous access corridors to get around the different parts.
The current owners decided to rationalise the layout of the house by putting a roof over the courtyard and removing walls to give direct access to all parts from this central space. The courtyard has a spectacular curved glass roof, landing and glass stairs that give additional access to the new first floor level on the east side of the house.
Both existing and new structures above the courtyard are supported on an intricate arrangement of beams which had to be woven in to the existing fabric. These beams are supported around the perimeter of the space and on a sigle internal stainless steel column.
