Aerial view of a modern, organic-shaped house with curved gray roofs surrounded by lush green gardens and hedges.

Serenity House

Location: Nottingham, UK
Scale: 2000sqm
Constraints: Conservation area

World map with a red location marker positioned over the United Kingdom.
Aerial view of a golf course with sand traps, surrounded by trees and upscale houses on a sunny day.

Background

“Serenity” is a 21st-century country house commissioned by an affluent couple seeking a home that is luxurious, environmentally sensitive, and playful.

Rejecting conventional rectilinear design, the clients asked BACA architects to create a house that mirrored the soft, fluid lines of their streamlined cars.

The resulting design is a hidden retreat for entertaining and family living, set within a landscaped garden. The house aspires to push the boundaries of environmental and architectural design, combining low-energy performance with high aesthetic quality.

Central to the concept is a reinterpretation of the English country house, blending tradition with contemporary sculptural forms, technology, and environmental innovation.

Illustrations showing the evolution of English houses from a medieval castle with moat, to a grand manor, a smaller country house, a modern bungalow, and a contemporary curved design with solar path.
Architectural cross-section diagram showing living area with ceramic tile/grass roof, rainwater harvesting system, solar panels, entrance and entertaining space, and guest wing with natural ventilation through openings behind a waterfall.
Top view architectural rendering of a futuristic building with irregular curved shapes, blue and gray tones, green garden areas, and slender supporting structures casting shadows.

Process

We developed the house using advanced parametric modelling software, enabling the creation of fluid, sculptural forms and a complex roof structure.

The design process integrated multiple disciplines, including structural engineering, environmental and Passivhaus consultancy, and landscaping, to resolve the challenges of low-energy living without compromising luxury.

Field visits helped inspire the interior layout, particularly the feature staircase, while the team carefully orchestrated visual connections between rooms and the surrounding landscape.

The architects also used water and sunken courtyards to mediate privacy, create microclimates, and manage rainwater sustainably.

Environmental strategies included photovoltaic panels, solar thermal energy, heat recovery, and ground-source heat pumps, aiming for Passivhaus-level efficiency while maintaining aesthetic richness.

Pattern of hexagonal tiles arranged in horizontal bands with colors transitioning from dark brown and tan at the top to blue shades at the bottom.
Architectural model showing two futuristic, curvilinear building designs surrounded by miniature trees and pathways with a small pool in the center.
Architectural model showing curved, dome-shaped buildings surrounded by small trees and pathways.
Architectural cross-section of a modern house with curved roof, showing multiple rooms, greenery, a swimming pool, and an underground garage with a green car.
Modern kitchen with curved wooden ceiling and countertop, featuring three people conversing and a child drawing at a small stool.

Architecture

‍The house’s ribbon-like structure loops around a central sunken courtyard, linking three functional hubs: formal entertaining, family living, and games/recreation.

The sweeping ceramic-tiled roof appears to float above the building, providing shading, privacy, and a solar “brow” for renewable energy generation.

Interior spaces flow seamlessly through half-level changes, linking the grand hall, cinema, orangery, and pool area. The house integrates modern luxury amenities, including a grotto-style pool, home gym, and digitally connected office spaces.

Landscaped gardens surround the house, featuring pathways, terraces, and water features that not only enhance aesthetics but also support the house, featuring pathways, terraces, and water features that both enhance aesthetics and assist environmental performance.

Modern indoor pool with a circular wooden ceiling and a waterfall feature, lounge chairs, plants, and a beach ball floating in the water under a moonlit sky.
Modern architectural buildings with curved roofs and a large cascading waterfall in front, where people are sitting, standing, and taking photos.
Modern outdoor scene with people socializing near a waterfall that cascades over a glass wall revealing parked cars behind it, set against curved, illuminated buildings and greenery.
Modern curved house with large glass windows and a green roof, surrounded by lush trees and rolling green hills under a partly cloudy sky.
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