28. Turn End

The three houses at Haddenham, built by Peter and Margaret Addlington in the 1960s are a unique expression of a modernist architecture that responds to the local vernacular and village context. Whilst their contemporaries were busy creating object buildings designed around the needs of cars and urban environments, Turn end, Middle Turn and The Turn were to be a counterpoint to this type of life and integral to the village in which they are sited. We were shown around Turn End by the couple on a chilly March day, who are so enthusiastic about educating others that they allow small groups of visitors to come and visit their very special home. The house is a reflection of their spirit of generosity. Its living spaces face west onto the garden, connected by open plan circulation spaces. The monopitch roofs allow east light in so that although the buildings are single storey the spaces feel light and generous. The kitchen / dining area faces south and forms the heart of the house and you can imagine it full of activity when the couple’s family were young. The house was built mostly by them and the material palette is simple and robust so it is possible to understand how the parts have come together. Durox Blockwork walls are painted white internally and rendered externally and exposed timber roof structure adds warmth and tactility. Large windows and sliding doors framed in stained timber remind us that although rustic, the design utilised modern technologies to achieve large spans. These openings frame views of the garden which is a natural extension of the house and although not large feels like it contains a variety of landscapes; an english walled garden, a glade, a sunny courtyard and a peaceful orchard.

https://www.turnend.org.uk/the-house-garden