Klee House, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire

Despite its position in the bucolic Buckinghamshire countryside, this outstanding mid-century house wears its West Coast modernism inspiration on its sleeve. It was first built in the 1950s by Ian Preston and was extended and remodelled in 2004 by the multi-award-winning John Pardey Architects. The plan is exceptionally generous, spanning some 2,720 sq ft with five peaceful bedrooms and a separate two-bedroom annexe. Glass panels stud its exterior, framing pastoral views across the garden and to the scenery beyond.



The Architect



Architect Ian Preston built Klee House for himself in 1959. In 2004, it was extended by John Pardey Architects, a firm known for its thoughtful residential work. It has plenty of accolades, including nine RIBA awards and, for its work on Klee House, a 2004 Chilterns Buildings Design Award.



The Tour



Little Kingshill, the setting for Klee House, is a small, peaceful village on the fringes of Great Missenden, a town in the Chilterns National Landscape.



Low-lying in its plot, Klee House takes an angular, geometric form. Grounds of an acre surround the house and include a substantial parking space. There is also a garage attached to the annexe and the gym.



The plan is inverted to make the most of the views and the light. There are points of entry on both the ground and the first floor; on the upper level, a door leads to an internal corridor. To the left, behind a timber-panelled door, is a sitting room, bookended by windows that capture uninterrupted views. A log-burning stove is a warming focal point in the winter.



On the other side of the corridor is the open-plan primary living space. The social crux of the house, it is an integrated space that is at once gently delineated and cohesive. The kitchen, which has white units and built-in appliances, has an internal window that overlooks the adjacent dining and relaxing area. There is a fireplace formed of exposed brick on one side and cherry wood pannelling on another. Windows and glazed doors stud three aspects of the house, upholding a near-unbroken connection with the outdoors.



The first of Klee House’s bedrooms lies on this level; it has a smart en suite shower and a wide window on its northerly edge.



An original staircase with a quintessential mid-century bannister ascends to the lower ground floor, where the principal bedroom lies; it has an en suite bathroom and built-in wardrobes. The remaining three bedrooms are serene spaces served by two additional bedrooms. The entrance hall lies at the furthest end of the lower level, with handy cupboards for coats and shoes.



There is an additional two-bedroom annexe outside, with an open-plan living space. It adjoins a study/gym and a garage. There is also a separate garden office.



Outdoor Space



The garden that surrounds Klee House spans over an acre and receives the sun throughout the day. It is largely left to the lawn but has plenty of mature trees around its periphery, some evergreen. Terraces abut the house, making the transition between inside and out on a summer's day easy - especially convenient when hosting.



As well as the annexe and a generous studio (currently used as a garden office), there is also a heated swimming pool with plenty of space next to it for a pair of well-placed sunloungers.



The Area



Little Kingshill lies in the Chilterns National Landscape and so is surrounded by extensive walking, cycling and horse-riding routes. The National Trust-owned Hughenden is a short drive away and is well worth the visit.



Great Missenden is a short distance away and has three pubs, shops, a post office and the Roald Dahl Museum. There is also a farm shop at Peterley Farm, and a fantastic nursery and display gardens at The Plant Specialist. Chesham is a short drive from the house a nd has a twice-weekly market and a pedestrianised high street with independent retailers and a large Waitrose.



The area has a number of highly regarded state and independent primary and secondary schools including Chesham Grammar School, Dr Challoners High School, The Beacon School, and Heatherton House.



Amersham station is under a ten-minute drive from the house and runs twice-hourly Chiltern Line services to London Marylebone. Despite its rural setting, the house is under 15 minutes’ drive from zone nine of the London Underground at Chesham, which is the last stop on the Metropolitan line. The M40, M4, M25 and M1 are all within easy reach, as is Heathrow airport.



Council Tax Band: H