Collingdon Court, Cranleigh, Surrey

Designed by architects Brewer Smith and Brewer in 1973, this remarkable four-bedroom, late mid-century house occupies a peaceful spot in Cranleigh, Surrey. Its lateral plan unfolds across over 1,650 sq ft and has views of the generous surrounding garden from every window. The house has been sympathetically renovated in recent years by its present owners, who took great care to retain its clean architectural lines and overarching pared-back ethos. Cranleigh is well-placed between city and country: it sits on the periphery of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, yet is a 40-minute train journey from London via Guildford station, a 20-minute drive away.

The Architect

Brewer Smith and Brewer emerged as an innovative firm in the UK architectural landscape during the 1970s. Though their residential designs are not exhaustively documented, the firm became known for its distinct approach to late modernism and brutalism, emphasising clean, geometric forms, bold structural elements, and functional, enduring spaces.

BSB experienced a transformative period around the time that this house was built, aligning their output with the brutalist movement that valued minimalist forms and utilitarian designs. Their projects from this period typically used durable materials like exposed brick and concrete, crafted into streamlined, purposeful designs.

The Building 

An unassuming front elevation belies the spatial ingenuity and sense of volume within. The building comprises several interlocking geometric forms, predominantly formed of brick and grey-painted shiplap to create hidden patios and courtyards. Floor-to-ceiling glazing lets natural light pour through while allowing the open-plan interior spaces to seamlessly interact with the garden beyond, blurring the boundaries between indoors and out - a motif perhaps most associated with the mid-century California Case Study homes.

The Tour

Entry is to an open hallway, where a cloakroom cupboard and utility room provide plenty of built-in storage. The roof here is pleasingly pitched and inset with a large skylight that draws in plenty of light. To one side is a neat WC.

The living and dining spaces sit beyond, accessed via two entrance points on either side of the hall. Off-white poured resin floors compliment the reddish tones of the interior brickwork. A white feature wall with raised contours adds a textured focal point, while glazed doors on two other aspects slide open to the garden. Special consideration has been given to the lighting, with uplighters cleverly hidden and dimmable Meno Round luminaries by XAL Lighting.

The bespoke galley kitchen runs the length of the wall and floats to give a greater sense of space and volume. Neutral cabinetry is complemented by contemporary Corian worktops, while brushed stainless steel accents chime with the house's mid-century origins. Another set of glazed doors open onto an immaculate patio, offering easy access for outside dining.

Four bedrooms fan from a central corridor, which is illuminated by newly added skylights. Well proportioned, each room opens onto a different aspect of the garden. The main bedroom sits at the rear, with an immaculate en suite finished with a soft grey palette. There is also a family bathroom largely executed with geometric white tiles and a walk-in shower.

On the opposite side of the hallway lies a fifth bedroom or office space, with tall windows on two aspects.

Outdoor Space

Sitting on a third of an acre, the house is surrounded by flourishing gardens. Tall mature trees act as shady canopies over the lawn in the warmer months, which in turn stretches out towards a private woodland at the rear. Several patios and seating areas offer sun dappled spots to read, eat and entertain. Established bushes enclose the borders, adding a layer of privacy and seclusion.

The rear gate provides direct access to the remarkable Downs Link, which runs all the way to the coast. It follows the old railway line that was removed during the Beeching cuts in the 1960s.

The house also has a large double garage and separate workshop, along with a summer house and shed in the garden, dotted between the trees.

The Area

Cranleigh sits just south of the expansive Surrey Hills National Landscape (AONB), known for its rolling landscape and country lanes. The area is popular with walkers and cyclists - particularly after the Olympic route passed over nearby Box Hill. There are walking routes directly into the countryside and along the Wey Navigation, with inlets loved by locals for river swimming. The Downs Link, a long-distance route following two disused railway lines crossing the Surrey Hills, offers great long-distance walking and cycling routes through the Low Weald, the South Downs and the Coastal Plain.

There are also some excellent places to eat in the nearby villages, including Michelin-starred The Clock House, the much-loved Anchor in Ripley, the Michelin-starred Sorrel in Dorking and several local vineyards, including Albury Vineyard and Greyfriars Vineyard, High Clandon Estate Vineyard and Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking.

Good schools in the area include St Catherine’s, Lanesborough, Tormead, Guildford High School, Royal Grammar School, Cranmore, St Teresa’s, Cranleigh, Charterhouse and Prior’s Field.

Cranleigh is ideal for commuting to the city, with regular fast services into London Waterloo from Guildford in around 40 minutes. There are also excellent road connections; the nearby A3 offers a quick connection to the M25, the South coast and the wider national motorway network. Gatwick Airport is approximately a 40 minute drive.

Council Tax Band: G