Slideshow: this underground house by London studio De Matos Ryan tunnels beneath a listed stone tower in Gloucestershire, England.
A grass roof slopes up to cover living and utility rooms inside the single-storey building but cuts away at the centre to create a concealed courtyard.
A corridor leads from the main house into the tower itself, where a games room occupies the ground floor and bedrooms are located on two floors above.
Glazed walls at the rear of the house face out onto a sunken terrace and swimming pool.
This is the second project we've featured this week in Gloucestershire - see our earlier story about a school with a shiny copper chapel.
Photography is by Edmund Sumner.
Here's some more text from De Matos Ryan:
The Round Tower, Gloucestershire
De Matos Ryan
The Round Tower is a Grade II Listed folly, which had been reduced to ruin by years of neglect and fire.
Located on the crest of a hill overlooking Siddington Village, the exposed site is visually integral to the setting of this listed structure.
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As such the design approach maintains the open relationship with the surrounding agricultural landscape by developing a discreet and substantial underground extension to the tower.
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This underground extension provides the main open plan living spaces and is lit by both a central open sunken courtyard and a lateral ‘landscape scoop’ concealing the new swimming pool and associated sun terraces from public view.
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The listed tower remains clearly the dominant structure, providing the front door to the 4 bedroom family house and the means of vertical circulation. It is also the visual focus of the main sunken courtyard garden.
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The restored tower provides additional accommodation and a roof terrace for the enjoyment of the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
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A new detached building adjacent to the entrance to the site, provides garaging and an additional guest studio.
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was the photographer refused access inside the house?
on a less pedantic note, this is absolutely beautiful.
Love the mix of old and new.
Really nice house!
Some pics from the inside of that tower would have been nice.
Especially if they showed a fair damsel sleeping on a 4-pillar bed ;)
Wow! this is simply awesome! Very unique architecture indeed! Who wouldn't want to live in a castle..LOL Well, at least that's how I feel. I'm sure there are enough who would prefer not too. Well, I'd love to spend a few days living there and exploring the architecture and interior design. I need the vacation too!
The best Stronghold!
Drool… if ever there was a reason to make money, then this is it.
I love too the discretion of the modernism.
Top marks all round.
Is this the one that featured in some television show? A woman purchased a similar tower and the presenter was taking her around similar projects to inspire her. Think it may have been on Channel5, I know I don't like the presenter.
I love the marriage of the old and the new…it is as if a story is being continued on this land,this is beautiful.