Badgers Mount

A new home set deep within an isolated Kent woodland.

Located on the banks of a former lime quarry, Badgers Mount replaces an abandoned timber cabin with a highly sustainable 3-bedroom dwelling.

Surrounded by verdant trees and bushes and set on a steep slope, the off grid building will have living spaces on its top floor and bedrooms built into the hillside below. Large expanses of glazed openings will give panoramic views into the surrounding canopies; taking full advantage of this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With balconies set-back from the overhanging roof structures, the design incorporates natural shading measures to combat overheating in response to warmer climes.

The proposed materials sit harmoniously within the site. The retaining structure at the lower storey is expressed in flint block and lime render, echoing the strata of the land upon which it sits. On the upper storey, UK-sourced treated larch cladding completes the external appearance; sitting comfortably within the wider woodland context. The area is well known for extensive chalk/lime beds and flint deposits - some up to two miles deep - and provides an excellent opportunity to utilise natural local materials.

Sustainability is key to the project and its special location. The proposal, which has been granted planning permission, replaces the existing building without removing any of the surrounding trees. The house aims to be self-sufficient with its own sewage treatment, vertical ground source heat pump, solar panels and a natural well for water supply. Working with an ecologist, the architects are also improving the woodland through native planting and supporting local habitats to satisfy the latest Biodiversity Net Gain requirements.