Sandwich House by Outset Think — Minimalist Home with Courtyard Inspired by Formal English Gardens, Surrey, England

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Modern luxurious house with extensive use of natural stone, wood and glass, featuring outdoor space and contemporary architectural design

Sandwich House by Outset Think

Located in the green belt of Surrey with exceptional natural beauty, the Sandwich House is a modern home by Outset Think, inspired by formal English enclosed gardens and minimalist Japanese homes with courtyards. Completed in 2023, the dwelling reflects a pursuit of honest materiality, craftsmanship and seamless integration of interior and exterior spaces.

Privacy in Front, Openness Behind

The house presents a defensive front facade, emphasizing privacy and security for inhabitants. However, moving through a narrow, dimly lit entrance, the architecture unfolds into spacious, well-lit interiors.

At the rear, the house opens to a covered terrace for year-round outdoor living, where sliding glass doors create a continuous flow between central living areas and landscaped gardens.

Spatial Organization

The layout is organized around a central living space, the heart of the house, with separate wings for owner and guest bedrooms. This arrangement ensures privacy while maintaining a strong connection to nature.

The gallery entrance hall, illuminated by a dramatic through-window, contrasts with the intimate entry zone with low ceilings, highlighting the transition from enclosed to open space. Main living areas are bright, spacious and connected to the garden, while more private zones provide a sense of intimacy and seclusion.

Materials and Craftsmanship

The Sandwich House uses a limited but expressive palette of materials:

Corten steel, providing warmth and sculptural presence.
Stone cladding, with earthy rust tones, complementing the corten and expanding inside as accent elements.
Concrete surfaces, balanced between durability and refined detailing.
Oak and custom wooden joinery, handcrafted for each room, offering storage and warmth while preserving a minimalist aesthetic.

A limited palette strengthens the dialogue between architecture and landscape, allowing natural textures to define atmosphere.

Integration with Nature

The design goal was to blur the boundaries between house and garden. Garden stone walls traverse the site, framing views and allowing wild nature to move freely.

Openings in the walls connect the front and back gardens, while a expanded roof provides shelter for the terrace. A green roof and trees growing through the roof structure further integrate the house with the landscape, softening its perception and enhancing connection to nature.

Warm Minimalist Retreat

The Sandwich House successfully creates a home that is protected and welcoming. Its defensive front contrasts with the openness of the rear, offering safety without losing connection to nature. The richness of materials, spatial diversity and strong integration with the landscape make it a contemporary example of minimalist architecture in an English countryside setting.