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LUXURY HOME IN CONVERTED WWII LISTENING POST IN BEDFORDSHIRE

Our client approached the Woods Hardwick residential architecture team to explore redeveloping a dilapidated former WWII Listening Post into a luxury home. The key was to create a beautiful, high specification home, while retaining the historic character of the building, especially from public vantage points.

Beyond the dilapidated war time listening post sits a charming building. Offset 2m behind the double skin brick outer wall and sliding heavy metal doors is a 1m thick concrete wall with regular high head and deep cill windows flooding the interior with day light. Above this lies a very thick concrete bomb proof slab.

We wanted to retain the bunker aesthetic and meadow frontage so that the building remains relatively understated on arrival. The heavy metal sliding doors and slightly scruffy outer brickwork remain, be punctuated with openings allowing views out and through the building. We explored many concepts for the first floor and felt a zinc barrel vaulted roof would be fitting, echoing the war time aesthetic of shelters. To the rear, the existing outer brick wall has been completely removed opening up views to the garden and over the meadows beyond.

The accommodation has a double height entrance lobby, lounge and kitchen along with cosy snugs and games room. The top floor has five double bedrooms with en-suites, four of which have a cantilevered balcony. There are two patio/garden areas, one is lawned while the second, a high specification retractable patio/deck revealing a pool beneath.