Slideshow: this underground house by London studio De Matos Ryan tunnels beneath a listed stone tower in Gloucestershire, England.
A grass roof slopes up to cover living and utility rooms inside the single-storey building but cuts away at the centre to create a concealed courtyard.
A corridor leads from the main house into the tower itself, where a games room occupies the ground floor and bedrooms are located on two floors above.
Glazed walls at the rear of the house face out onto a sunken terrace and swimming pool.
This is the second project we’ve featured this week in Gloucestershire – see our earlier story about a school with a shiny copper chapel.
Photography is by Edmund Sumner.
Here’s some more text from De Matos Ryan:
The Round Tower, Gloucestershire
De Matos Ryan
The Round Tower is a Grade II Listed folly, which had been reduced to ruin by years of neglect and fire.
Located on the crest of a hill overlooking Siddington Village, the exposed site is visually integral to the setting of this listed structure.
Click above for larger image
As such the design approach maintains the open relationship with the surrounding agricultural landscape by developing a discreet and substantial underground extension to the tower.
Click above for larger image
This underground extension provides the main open plan living spaces and is lit by both a central open sunken courtyard and a lateral ‘landscape scoop’ concealing the new swimming pool and associated sun terraces from public view.
Click above for larger image
The listed tower remains clearly the dominant structure, providing the front door to the 4 bedroom family house and the means of vertical circulation. It is also the visual focus of the main sunken courtyard garden.
Click above for larger image
The restored tower provides additional accommodation and a roof terrace for the enjoyment of the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
Click above for larger image
A new detached building adjacent to the entrance to the site, provides garaging and an additional guest studio.
Click above for larger image
Click above for larger image
Click above for larger image
