Perched on a tranquil plateau overlooking the River Teme, Skylark is not the sort of building one expects to encounter just outside a Shropshire market town. The area is defined by its medieval, half-timbered houses and, while full of charm, is not known for architectural experimentation. And yet, discreetly set back from the road is a modernist home that feels both radical and deeply rooted in its setting.
Designed by Emma Bodie and Matthew Sanders, founders of the London-based studio House Of EM, the property occupies one of three plots on a site originally approved for traditional new-build dwellings. While the other two houses follow a more familiar vernacular, the owners reserved the most dramatic, elevated spot for themselves.
‘It’s a very special position,’ agrees Matthew. ‘It is private, has amazing views, and the site already had a lot of character.’ The brief was unapologetically contemporary. The couple, James and Sam Charters, who have a young family and run a property-development business, wanted a home that reflected their way of living – open and sociable – but was also sensitive to its locality. ‘Even though they had a lot of experience in building, they knew they needed more help and felt they would benefit from an outside perspective,’ says Matthew.
Inspired by mid-century architecture, the resulting house is arranged in an F-shaped plan and, while the design appears simple, it is loaded with exacting detail. The stepped upper floor, for instance, reduces the perceived mass of the building and allows it to blend into its surroundings. ‘By shifting the top floor back, we minimised the two-storey element, so when coming up to the house, you only get glimpses of it between the trees,’ says Emma.
Rather than a single open-plan space, the ground floor is a sequence of interconnected areas, shown through subtle changes. ‘By using small shifts in levels, you get separation without losing the visual connection,’ explains Matthew. A private wing includes a guest bedroom suite, office, playroom and utility spaces, while the first floor accommodates the main bedroom and two children’s rooms. Light plays a central role, thanks in no small part to a skylight that illuminates the double-height entry hall.
Materiality is deliberately restrained for a sense of serenity. Outside, horizontal off-white brick was chosen for the façade. ‘We looked at red bricks, but that tied the house too closely to the town and we wanted it to sit more calmly within the landscape,’ says Emma. Castellated detailing, inspired by Tate Modern, introduces texture, while dark-green metalwork chimes with the trees and planting. Inside, natural materials are a strong focus. Walls are finished in lime plaster sourced from Herefordshire, while chestnut timber from a nearby yard lines the ceiling. Bespoke joinery includes a dining banquette that echoes the external brick. ‘We were very lucky to work with so many local specialists,’ says Matthew. The timber is offset by concrete floors. ‘They look beautiful together,’ adds Emma.
The landscape was approached with an equal degree of intention. ‘The owners planted about 1,800 bulbs while the steel structure was going up,’ recalls Matthew. ‘They wanted it to feel established by the time they moved in.’ The house was one of the first major projects by House Of EM, which Emma and Matthew set up in 2020 after several years working at leading architectural and design studio Michaelis Boyd. ‘For the clients to take that risk with us was huge,’ says Emma. ‘But we worked very closely together, particularly as they were the contractors, so it felt like a team. They understood the value of getting things right.’ houseofem.co.uk
