Pillwood House

A High-Tech holiday home by John Miller of Colquhoun and Miller with Su Rogers, 1973-1974.

MATERIALS: steel, aluminium, glass and white glass reinforced plastic (GRP).

DESCRIPTION: Pillwood comprises two floors linked by two spiral stairs, one in the double-height space to the front and one leading from the parents’ bedroom and the bathroom at the back, where there are also single-storey storage areas. Sleeping is accommodated on the lower level where a series of sliding walls gives flexibility: depending on the number of visitors, rooms can be opened up or enclosed as required, and each has a glazed door to the outside. Upstairs the kitchen, dining and main living spaces make the most of the views. This has a single partition and gives the effect of a platform within a conservatory, with a patio at the rear giving on to the steep valley side. Louvres in the glazing at the bottom and top provide natural through ventilation, aided by blinds and the surrounding trees. There was under-floor background heating for winter use, to which a stove was later added, and the panels were highly insulated by the standards of the time.

Structurally the concrete floor slabs (originally covered in orange foam-backed vinyl) are supported on a steel frame of eight columns, four horizontal members and four pairs of trusses, painted green to complement the surroundings. The walls are formed of white Artech GRP sandwich panels with neoprene joints and patent glazing in aluminium frames, which is also used for the roof. Green Artech GRP is used for the two spiral stairs.