The new English country house

Increasingly, flexible lifestyles are creating a fresh type of English country house that is a hybrid of home and office, with plenty of guest accommodation. Arabella Youens asks leading experts about the changing nature of the far-flung rural idyll

- Arabella Youens

FOR many people living in the country, the opportunity to work from home requires a radical re-think of the way they use space. The result is that many country houses are evolving rapidly; outbuildings, in particular, provide flexible additional space for offices, accommodation and gyms. With broadband creating the possibility of living in remote areas, there is also a greater focus on guest accommodation and space for large-scale entertaining. For many, this new-found freedom is providing exciting chances to create the perfect rural idyll.

The architect Ross Sharpe, Yiangou

Work There are two emerging schools of thought on how home offices are best achieved. Some people are happy to remain in the main house and feel part of the action. Other clients want to detach themselves from domestic life and set up an office elsewhere. Although a converted outbuilding can fit the bill, there’s a growing band of clients who want their workspace to be in an environment that is more architecturally striking. Several are used to working in contemporary offices and want to bring a flavour of that to the countryside; some argue that anything too traditional isn’t appropriate or conducive to a professional working environment.

Play For some people moving to the country, the dream is to be able to house a collection of classic cars in a glass-fronted barn visible from their study window. The alternative is to go underground, a concept with which many Londoners are comfortable. Off this room will be further spaces, such as a temperature-controlled wine room with tasting facilities and somewhere to host after-dinner drinks.