Architecture studio DeDraft has unveiled its latest residential project, a striking five-bedroom property that masterfully balances modern concrete textures with the rustic charm of rough-hewn Cotswold stone. Located at the highest point within the Grade II-listed Aynhoe Park estate in rural Oxfordshire, the home—known as AYN3—pays homage to the historic landscape while embracing contemporary design principles.
Modern Geometry Meets Historic Surroundings
The Aynhoe Park estate, renowned for its 17th-century architecture and gardens originally shaped by the legendary landscape designer Lancelot “Capability” Brown, now welcomes this modern addition by DeDraft. Designed after a more compact and vertically stacked scheme was dismissed by planning authorities, the final structure features a low-profile form with three wings radiating outward from a double-height central entrance hall.
This layout, DeDraft founder Grant Straghan explained, was conceived to maximise panoramic views across the estate. “The house consists of stacked rectilinear volumes that radiate from a central core, with varying slices cut into the external envelope to frame vistas of this impressive historic site,” Straghan told Dezeen.
Architectural Features and Material Palette
The journey through AYN3 begins at an oversized wooden front door leading into the expansive entrance hall. Here, large windows open onto a concrete terrace, offering unobstructed views of a swimming pond and the Oxfordshire valley beyond.
At the heart of the space stands a sculptural spiral staircase, finished in smooth clay plaster and bathed in natural light from a circular skylight overhead. Straghan describes the staircase as “a monumental gesture that tucks calmly into a central cylindrical void, unifying all three floors while introducing a tactile, monolithic quality.”
The home’s three wings are designed for both privacy and functionality. The southern wing houses the primary living, dining, and kitchen spaces, with guest and children’s bedrooms located above. To the north, a cosy guest suite is situated below a dedicated playroom and TV lounge, while the western wing contains the main bedroom and dressing room atop a generously proportioned home office.
A lower-ground level extends the property’s amenities, featuring a dance studio, sauna, car simulator, utility spaces, and an integrated garage.
Melding Traditional and Contemporary Design
Externally, AYN3 is visually anchored by a base of traditional pale Cotswold stone, with its upper levels clad in sleek, slim fibre cement panels. This dual approach enhances the home’s modern aesthetic while respecting the estate’s historic fabric.
“Pushing for a lighter rainscreen finish, we selected slim fibre concrete cladding to evoke a monolithic appearance, using deep angular reveals to introduce shadow and depth,” noted Straghan.
For the interiors, DeDraft collaborated with Katie Grove Interiors to achieve an atmosphere of tactile comfort. The spaces feature rough plastered walls, dark wooden carpentry, beaten metal light fixtures, and robust cast-concrete fireplace surrounds—elements carefully selected to complement the home’s exterior character.
DeDraft, established by Straghan in 2010, has earned a reputation for blending thoughtful material choices with innovative architectural forms. Past projects include bespoke home extensions across East London, featuring striking cladding materials such as weathered steel and green aluminium panels.
