How would you describe Woodhouse in a nutshell?
The idea was to do something completely unique but in total respect to the surrounding environment. A lot of thought went into the design so that no matter where you are in the house, the natural trees and shrubs are right there.
Glass windows offer views throughout the length of the house and there’s total privacy — while you can see out, nobody can see in. I wanted to ensure that the eye travelled outside (rather than staying inside), so it has a really clean, Scandinavian interior design and that nothing disturbs you from the views.
What was the inspiration/story behind Woodhouse?
The architect who designed the house was doing a project on my garage and was always talking about Agger. I’ve always had an interest in architecture and he kept saying I needed to see this place to appreciate its uniqueness. So eventually I decided to go with him and see a block of land he’d found. When I stood there and experienced the forest and its privacy, I was in love.
The next weekend I returned to Agger and bought the land, then phoned the architect to let him know he better start drawing! We had lots of meetings to discuss our shared ideas, which centered around creating a house that stood out but also blended in with the natural setting. The house is designed like a bird spreading its wings and the architect actually listened to a piece of music with birds singing in the background for inspiration while he worked.
How would you describe the atmosphere of the house?
While the house is an enclosed building, you’re in constant contact with nature. When I’m inside, it’s impossible to feel any stress and I have a sense of freedom — freedom from work and the space to let my thoughts wander. It’s a really inspiring place and at the same time, equipped with everything you need.
Guests often comment that when they enter the house, it feels like they’re the first ones. It’s important to us that it’s incredibly clean when they arrive, so there’s nothing to do except relax and just enjoy the house.