Friends Lab House by AMPS Arquitectura & Diseño

Friends Lab House is a contemporary cottage designed by AMPS Arquitectura & Diseño in the serene landscapes of Hampshire, United Kingdom. Conceived as a retreat for friends and family adjacent to the main farm residence, the project combines modern architectural design with a deep respect for its rural surroundings. With a focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and natural integration, this 350 m² home is a quiet, elegant extension of the existing farm complex.

Architectural Concept

Inspired by the traditional double-pitched black timber-clad barns and the farm’s stable yard, the design reinterprets rustic agricultural forms into a contemporary language. The exterior maintains a strong visual connection with the surrounding landscape through its black-stained Accoya timber batten façade and unified roofline, while the interiors are intentionally bright and open. The house sits naturally within the landscape, emphasizing simplicity, clarity, and harmony with the environment.

Sustainable Construction

The house is built using prefabricated CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) panels, ensuring precision, speed, and reduced environmental impact. Its sustainable features include:

• PV solar panels powering the house
• Ground source heat pump for energy-efficient heating
• Borehole water supply with treatment plant This careful integration allows the house to sit quietly within the landscape, blending modern technology with natural materials.

Exterior Design

The exterior features a double-skin façade with a permeable timber screen that camouflages the building as an agricultural structure. The continuous double-pitched roof is punctuated by a half-bay over the living area, opening views to southern fields. Sliding doors seamlessly integrate indoor and outdoor spaces, creating private terraces that extend into the surrounding landscape.

Interior Design

Contrasting the dark exterior, the interiors are bright and tactile, featuring:

• Limestone and Mortex floors
• Chestnut-paneled walls
• Mineral micro-mortar finishes

The home’s design emphasizes vertical layering:

• Earth layer: Up to 2.20m, with textures designed for human touch.
• Air layer: Lofty ceilings with rooflights, bathing interiors in natural light.

Bedrooms and communal spaces are fully integrated with the landscape. Two master bedrooms face East and West, featuring a cantilevered marble desktop and a meditation space. Children’s bedrooms are designed with full-height spaces and creative features, including a treehouse-inspired sleeping platform.

Bathrooms & Details

Each bathroom is uniquely designed with natural light, baths, and showers. Distinct mineral paint shades complement encaustic tiles, while master bathrooms feature circular mirrors with black metal edging, paying homage to architect Carlo Scarpa.

Experience

Friends Lab House offers a contemporary barn aesthetic within a rural landscape of ploughed fields and woods. Its black exterior set against green surroundings creates a subtle, elegant dialogue with nature, combining sustainable technology, modern comfort, and timeless architectural forms.