Soaring Design

The first Koto designed, Falcon House, at Lower Mill Estate is bringing Nordic luxury to the Cotswolds, Abode2 takes a tour

Habitat First Group has unveiled a fantastic new addition to Lower Mill Estate: the Falcon House, designed by architectural studio, Koto. The two-storey modular house has been designed based on the minimalist Nordic aesthetic, and the building emulates both Habitat First Group and Koto’s sustainable ethos and values.

The minimalist twisted cantilevered building creates a striking juxtaposition to the natural setting around it. The upside down home was created so that homeowners can enjoy incredible views of the surrounding nature from the house’s living spaces, creating the feeling of living within the trees, whilst more intimate and cosy spaces can be found on the lower floor.

Habitat First Group champions building with nature and both of their estates, Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds and Silverlake in Dorset, are flourishing nature reserves that encourage ecology conservation and help to nurture different species and their habitats. Both estates have been accredited for Building with Nature; the architecture of properties on site are designed to make minimal impact on the environment around them, and this new design by Koto is no exception.

Allan Lambert, CEO of Habitat First Group said: “Our ambition is to create the most exciting collection of modern holiday homes in the world, enabling people to maximise their precious leisure time, whilst minimising their impact on the environment.”

The interiors have been designed to accentuate ‘quiet luxury’ throughout the property. The raw exposed CLT walls and structure throughout the first floor internal spaces contrast to the black exterior, and the restrained approach to the interiors ensures the connection between the house and the nature outside. The internal ground floor walls are painted with St Leo interiors plaster paint that brings a richness and earthy texture that is perfectly imperfect, creating a feeling of warmth.

This new building marries perfectly with Habitat First Group’s core values and ethos. Both estates stretch over hundreds of acres, encompassing lakes, waterways and ample space for homeowners to explore.

Theo Dales from Koto Design has said: “We believe well designed spaces can transform our environment. Koto creates simple, flexible and functional homes which embrace slow living.”

Established by the Paxton family 25 years ago, Habitat First Group provides the opportunity to purchase the freehold plot of land and build an environmentally sustainable house by using one of their existing award-winning designs with a recommended build partner.

www.habitatfirstgroup.com