WISBOROUGH GREEN
Old Wharf, Wisborough Green, Billingshurst
Site : This large site lies to the west of The Arun and Wey Canal. The C19th brick building originally served as a wharf and storage for the canal and, was formerly part of Wharf farm. The house affords extensive views but is well screened to the east of the river.
Proposal: To reconfigure the existing layout, extend the building to the north and west and landscape the grounds. The concept looks to retain the hierarchy of the brick wharf and the industrial style at the centre of the design.
The extension wraps around the existing building hovering over the canal at one end and stretching out to the barn at the other. A glass spine links all the courtyard buildings while retaining views to the brick wharf at its core. Using contemporary complimentary materials of full height glazing and bronze slatted cladding the extension reflects the colours and tones of the exposed brick walls which are also exposed internally to form a gallery entrance hall.
The roof appears as an elevated ground with sedum and wildflower mats to form a transition to the landscape and root the building to its site. Courtyard planting is extended out to the lawns with swathes of grasses and birches with water troughs introduced at intervals to visually link to the adjacent canal. RIBA Stages 0-4
