London-based Nick Willson Architects has completed Three Oaks Farm, a contemporary single-story home in West Sussex that features glazed living areas shaded by a steel-framed cloister overlooking a central courtyard. The residence, located on the site of a former disused farm on the outskirts of Ifold, is surrounded by carefully designed landscapes including lawns, a wildflower meadow, and a small pool, all visible through extensive full-height glazing.
The architectural studio designed the home across a single level to ensure the clients could continue living there comfortably while maintaining a close connection to the landscape as they age. "The house explores what a contemporary courtyard house would be like in a semi-rural setting, one which explores the relationship of nature to building, ecology, sustainability and intergenerational living," explained the studio. The design emphasizes an intimate connection between the landscaping and the house, with views carefully planned to provide a connection to nature and natural daylight throughout the changing seasons.
The facades of Three Oaks Farm showcase a striking contrast between pale brickwork and full-height glazing that maximizes natural light and views. A zinc-clad roof with large overhangs tops the structure, extending to form a cloister-style space around the central courtyard and reaching out to the surrounding gardens. The architectural design creates a seamless flow between interior and exterior spaces, with the changing seasons allowing views and colors throughout the house to transform as trees shed their foliage.
The home's layout is carefully organized around the central courtyard, with living, dining, and kitchen areas positioned along the northern side. These spaces are arranged on either side of a smaller herb garden and connected by a glazed link that opens onto the walkways through sliding glass doors. A row of bedrooms encloses the courtyard's eastern edge, offering views of the wildflower meadow beyond, while the main bedroom is positioned to the north alongside a dedicated yoga studio.
To the west of Three Oaks Farm, a garage block sits alongside a home office, plant room, and utility spaces, divided into individual blocks separated by additional small gardens and planters. Both the bedrooms and living areas feature sections where the roof pitches upward to create dramatic double-height spaces with large clerestory windows. The exterior sides of these elevated sections are clad in zinc shingles, adding textural interest to the design.
The interior design features a monochromatic palette that contrasts beautifully with the more textural brickwork of the exterior and frames the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. A timber-lined ceiling creates visual continuity between the courtyard canopy and the living areas. "The key component of Three Oaks Farm was to combine new technology with an element of craft," noted the studio. "The house brings together a rich mixture of crafted elements and landscaping: the textural brick wall, zinc cladding and timber joinery, which are all made by hand, employing specialist tradespeople."
Sustainability was a central consideration in the design, with Three Oaks Farm engineered to operate "as off-grid as possible." The home incorporates photovoltaic panels with battery storage, passive heating and ventilation systems, rainwater collection, and an air-source heat pump. This comprehensive approach to sustainable design reflects the architects' commitment to environmental responsibility and energy efficiency.
Nick Willson, who founded his eponymous studio in 2010 after serving as a director at Willson Bell, has established a reputation for thoughtful residential architecture. The studio's previous projects include a notable London house clad with sections of flint, timber, and lead. The courtyard typology explored in Three Oaks Farm has gained popularity among UK architects, with studios like Hugh Strange Architects recently completing a similar rural home in Cornwall organized around a central garden that draws inspiration from traditional farmstead designs.
