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Downley House, designed by Birds Portchmouth Russum, is a celebration of the curve. Circular forms and organic sweeps define the spatial character of this residence located in South Downs National Park of London. Clustered about a relic wall of the old farmhouse that used to inhabit the site, the sprawling estate makes quite a first impression with its circular court entrance, a bold announcement of the unique curves and turns in the home. Continued visual impact comes from the barreled foudre and its exposed wooden ribbings, the elegant spiral staircase, and stone-clad light well in the center of the home. The levels created within the house compounded by the many degrees of curvature add a variety that can only be achieved by abandoning the rigidity of linear form.
