Dillington House is a Grade II* Listed Building that dates from the 16th Century and, for over 50 years has been Somerset County Council's centre for adult education and life-long learning.
The new building provides additional studio and conferencing facilities, together with 15 fully-accessible ensuite bedrooms. Placed on a previously under utilised part of the site, it exploits the existing topography to create a series of linked courtyards, with 2 storey building entered, at its upper level, across a timber bridge.
The studio spaces are housed within a black stained timber box which floats over the dining room and cantilevers across the adjoining paddock to capture dramatic views of the Somerset Levels. The lower grass roofed residential wing defines the western edge of the site and is orientated to provide each room with a private view over the adjoining farmland.
An intentionally limited palette of materials is used, consisting of render, black stained timber and glass to make reference to both existing buildings and the broader landscape context.
RIBA Regional Award 2010
Undertaken at Niall Phillips Architects
