The House

The main house has 4 bedrooms and a staff flat. It may look authentically old but it is full of contemporary surprises. In a particularly innovative move, the owners installed an eco-friendly closed-loop water source Heat Exchange system, whose loops of submerged pipe extract heat energy from the nearby lake and through amplification and compression, supply hot water to the radiators, underfloor heating, sinks, baths and showers as well as the splendid indoor swimming pool.

Whithurst-intro-slide_2 — The main house as seen from the front aspect.

Whithurst-intro-slide_4 — The main house viewed across the lake.

Whithurst Park Aerial View — The main house viewed across the grounds.

wide-slidex2_1_house-rear — Southern aspect of the main house.

Whithurst Park, West Sussex — The main house viewed across the front garden.

The gardens

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Bird’s eye view of the walled garden.

The gardens

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The fountain at the centre of the walled garden.

The gardens

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Planting outside the potting shed.

The gardens

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Plants in the walled garden.

Residential Architecture

To begin this most Herculean task, Richard and Rick began by demolishing the 1950’s cottage and replacing it with a neo-barn of oak, glass and concrete! At the entrance to the Estate sits the Lodge, a 4000 Sq. Ft. gatehouse. Within the grounds are two other faithfully restored 18th century buildings; Whithurst Cottage and The Potting Shed, a small stable block and an agricultural barn.

Following the completion of the Lodge work began on Whithurst House. Designed by Kit Rae Scott as a neo-classic Jacobean style replica mansion house it sits fort like facing the four acre lake and amidst the rolling lawns and woodlands that are Whithurst Park. Completed in 2004 the house has gracious proportions, rooms are large with hallways to welcome and assemble in.

“Architecture should speak of its time and place but yearn for timelessness”

– Frank Gehry

“Each new situation requires a new architecture”

– Jean Nouvel

“When we build, let us think that we build forever”

– John Ruskin

“Architecture is the learned game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light”

– Le Corbusier

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The Interior

As expected from such an imposing exterior, the interior of the main House reflects the eclectic tastes of the owners. A unique confection of classical style mixed with a dash of contemporary whimsy. Remarkably restrained in the choice of colour and decor and well-proportioned in dimensions, the rooms abound with those splashes of tasteful wit and gaiety chosen with such elan.