Introduction
No day is ever the same at Design by Uber and many of the projects that we are invited to work on are utterly unique. One such request was for the space planning and design of an extravagant subterranean leisure facility to be linked to the family home, a Grade II listed manor house. Working with Cassidy and Ashton architects, the project was ambitious and involved excavating an 11,000 square feet subterranean space to the back of the house and relaying the garden over the completed new build in the form of a lawned ha-ha. This extensive space was to include a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, treatment rooms, social areas and games areas as well as a bowling alley and garaging for a number of luxury vehicles.
The build was challenging and required the excavation of a tunnel from the existing basement of the house which extends 15 metres underground before opening out into the entrance hall to the new space. A key requirement was for the garaging and display of a collection of luxury cars. The space planning was designed with an illuminated rotating turntable and a glazed wall from the garage into the entertainment area. Our client has an extensive extended family and social events tend to take place at their private residencies. Hence, a further request was for the space to be flexible and able to accommodate social gatherings for up to 150 people. With this in mind, the turntable has a dual purpose and turns into the dancefloor when required. From this starting point the space planning evolved organically with a further circular element to the design, the changing rooms, positioned equidistant from the entrance. This provides the space with perfect balance and symmetry. A further circular section was designed around a sunken fire pit. The additional elements of the design flowed naturally from these visual focal points. Level changes within the design enable the area to be delineated into separate sections.