Bath BA1

This outstanding contemporary house lies in Lansdown, within Bath's conservation area and a five-minute drive north of the historic city centre. It has been the subject of a recent redesign by Simon Morray-Jones Architects, with an exhaustive expansion and renovation to an exceptional turn-key finish including the very latest energy-efficient interventions. Situated on a quiet no-through road within a spacious plot, the home unfolds across some 2,500 sq ft with four bedrooms and a capacious open-plan living space to the rear. There is also glorious south-facing walled garden - a rarity for Bath at 120 ft long - with views extending to the city below and to the rolling Somerset hills beyond.



The Tour



From Summerhill Road, the home’s roofline peers above a bank of Portuguese laurel, affording great privacy from the road. Electronically remote-operated wooden gates open to a block-paved driveway. There is discreet side access around the side of the house for services and a convenient EV point has been installed for electric vehicle charging.



The main elevation incorporates dressed Bath rubble stone, single storey to the north and two storeys to the south; with the slated roof to the front inset with a dormer in each range. Fenestration throughout has been supplied by Altegra in powder-coated aluminium and is double-glazed with exceptional energy efficient properties. The house also has an integrated alarm system, which can be app operated.



Opening to a spacious hallway, pale oak flooring by Boen extends underfoot throughout the entire ground floor, and a clear vista extends to the main living space and gardens with further views beyond. Brushed-brass electric plates and ironmongery in a similar finish have been used throughout, adding subtly unified architectural touch points. The ground floor is heated by underfloor heating, all app operated, and the latest Cat-5 cabling has been installed throughout as part of the completely new electrical system complemented by a 3 Phase electric power supply. Additionally an entirely new plumbing system has been installed with an air source heat pump.



To the front of the plan, a side hallway leads to a guest WC, plant room, and at the very end a spacious utility/boot room/secondary kitchen. Fitted with bespoke cabinetry and incorporating a clothes drying cupboard, it is fitted with Siemens appliances including separate washer and dryers, an overflow freezer cabinet and a wine fridge. There is a handy butler sink for hand laundry, and this room would also make for an excellent prep kitchen for parties, with its own exterior access to the front of the house for external caterers.



In the east range, opening from the hallway through French windows is an informal sitting room with wood burner and spanning the entire width of the plan to the rear is the dramatic open plan living room, with a wonderfully tall ceiling volume. Four sets of full-height sliding glass doors frame incredible views to the garden and onward landscape; this room has an exceptional quality of south-facing light. The glazing incorporates UV filters to avoid solar glare when the sun is at its fullest and to maximise thermal gain and views while minimising overheating.



The entire space includes seating and dining areas, with the kitchen area set in the west range. Contemporary units by Bulthaup are added to by a large island unit incorporating a breakfast bar with space for four tall stools below. All appliances are by Siemens, including double ovens, an integrated dishwasher and larder-size fridge/freezer. Worktops are veined quartz, and the induction hob with integrated downdraft charcoal-filter extractor is by Bora.



From the central hallway is an oak open-tread staircase with simple stick balusters; this leads to sleeping quarters on the first floor. There is an en suite bedroom in each range, with the east range accommodating the principal bedroom suite with windows to both north and south aspects. Bespoke wardrobes are fitted in all bedrooms, of which the south-facing three have wonderful views to the rolling Somerset hills in the distance.



The bathrooms are beautifully designed, with Mandarin Stone tiles, Crosswater brushed brass brassware and Duravit sanitaryware, while all the bedrooms and the landing space are carpeted in sand-coloured sisal.



Outdoor Space



South-facing, the garden is mainly laid to lawn with tree specimens including established magnolia and maple trees, a tall Scots pine and some younger specimens, all carefully planted to complement the mature existing trees. Nearest the house a limestone flag terrace is set on two levels and extends across the entire width of the garden, offering separate areas for lounging and dining and exceptional views across the unfolding landscape. The east wall, after which the house is named, is a remarkable architectural feature. Built from beautiful semi-dressed Bath rubble stone, it contributes to the exceptional level of privacy the garden offers.



The Area



Wall House is set on the peaceful hillside above Bath’s busting centre in the Lansdown area on the northern slopes of the city, dotted liberally many of Bath’s important historic homes, and somewhat uniquely Summerhill Road, a quiet no-through road with stunning south facing views. The road is one part of the ancient Cotswold Way, a footpath some 102 miles long and now officially a ‘National Trail’, running all the way from Bath to Chipping Campden along the Cotswold Edge escarpment. There are open fields and community woodland immediately to the north and a short cut down the continuing Cotswold Way through Royal Victoria Park to the south, for a pleasant and verdant 20-minute walk into Bath’s town centre.



Bath’s centre is exceptionally well served by outstanding retailers and restaurants, with a particular focus on independent provisors. Colonna and Small’s, Corkage, Landrace Bakery, Walcott House, Wolf Wine, Beckford Bottleshop and the weekly farmers' market are of particular note.



Locally and at the foot of Sion Hill is the Marlborough Tavern and to the north on Lansdown Road is the Hare and Hounds, with its wonderful views of the city below and Somerset hills in the distance, while the Lansdown Tennis and Squash club is a social hub in the immediate area with excellent Tennis, Squash, Racketball and Croquet facilities and has an excellent café and bar.



The city’s cultural distractions are plentiful, with brilliant theatres and galleries; The Holburne Museum and The Edge arts centre all hold world-class exhibitions. We've written more about our recommendations in Bath.



The area is renowned for the quality of its independent and state schooling, including St Stephens’ Primary School, King Edward’s and Prior Park College. Royal High, Royal High Junior School, Kingswood School and Kingswood Preparatory School are directly behind Wall House and mere moments away on foot.



Transport links are excellent, with Bath Spa train station at the southern edge of the city centre – around a 30-minute walk from Wall House or a short car journey – providing a direct line to London Paddington in under 80 minutes. The number 700 bus also goes directly from Summerhill Road to Bath town centre and Bath Spa train station. Additionally, the M4 motorway lies to the north of the city and is quickly reachable by car.



Council Tax Band: G