Five years ago, geologist Nikki Earthrowl and her husband, Richard, approached architect Oliver Leech with an idea firmly planted in the future. “The brief was to create a house that would enable accessible living,” Leech says.

Nikki and Richard live just outside London in the town of Esher, and they wanted to construct a home on their property where her mother could live independently and comfortably for many years to come. The dwelling would be modest in size—just two bedrooms and a compact living space—although the couple had big goals in mind and sought to prioritize accessibility, sustainability, and a forward-looking aesthetic.

“We were asked to use contemporary construction methods to produce a low-energy and sustainable house, and chose materials that would be healthy to promote well-being,” says Leech.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle was the plot of land where Nikki and Richard hoped to build: a triangular site in the southern corner of their garden with uneven terrain that posed challenges for mobility.

“The main concern was the slope of the site, and keeping level thresholds at the front and back entrances,” Leech says. “We also wanted to make sure the approach to the house was suitable for wheelchair access, should it be needed.”

After consulting numerous models for accessibility and details like light filtration, the team came up with a compact layout beneath an inverted butterfly roof.

The kitchen features an island on wheels and low-casted drawers that can be easily accessed from a seated position. The main bedroom and bathroom, accessed via a slight ramp so as to minimize the need for steps, have smooth flooring and simple, wide-open spaces that allow for ease of movement.

“The house is a completely contemporary design, and there was no classic influence,” Leech says. “Larch was used for all the exposed structure, with a white-oiled finish; it’s a sustainably grown British timber. Locally sourced oak was chosen for the interior joinery and windows, and clay plaster was used on the interior walls for its sustainability, acoustics, and aesthetic.”

The home’s green roof and charred-wood exterior allow it to blend into the garden, while clerestory windows illuminate its interior and allow nearby trees to cast shadows on the walls by day.

The team kept the interiors minimalist by choice, and the most detailed elements can be found overhead in the windows and rafters. “Showing the structure of the ceiling gives meaning to the geometry,” Leech says. “I think if we were to hide it, it would be hard to understand the shape of the space.”

Now that the project is completed, it stands as a lesson of patience and planning. Nikki and Richard feel at peace knowing her mother is just steps away, in a thoughtfully designed home that’s all about simple beauty. “It is always exciting when we see an unexpected shadow on a wall, or a shaft of light striking a piece of joinery,” Leech says. “That is what brings this project to life.”

Related Reading:

A Family Guesthouse Made for Accessibility, Aging in Place—and That View

Muji’s Prefab Home Is a Minimalist Dream Come True

An Energy-Efficient Home Allows Graceful Aging-in-Place

Project Details:

Architect of Record: Oliver Leech Architects / @oliverleecharchitects

Builder: Trace Design and Build Ltd. / @tracedesignandbuild

Structural Engineer: Whitby Wood

Cabinetry Design: Weymont & Wylie / @weymontandwylie

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In England, a Couple Build a Serene Backyard Home for Aging in Place