A new self-build house with guest annexe and garage for a rural site in Suffolk, East England – a smallholding formerly characterised by bungalow, outbuildings and caravan arranged casually under a big sky. Three  conventional  building  forms  with  unconventional    detailing. A  linear  building  of  apparent  simplicity  is  sliced  into  three programmes : house, garage  and  annex. The garage  is  pulled  of   axis  to  create  a  courtyard  between  the  three. The  composition  is  further  defined  by material  and  color:  red  rubber  membrane  and glass; red  and  black  stained  larch.

The  surprise: the separated  forms  can  be  transformed  by  a  20  ton  mobile  roof/wall  enclosure  with  traverses  the  site, creating  combinations  of  enclosure, open-air  living  and  framing  of  views,  according  to  position. This  is  an  autonomous  structure; steel, timber, insulation  and  unstained  larch  spanning  recessed  railway  tracks. Movement  is  powered  by  hidden  electric  motors  on  wheels  integrated  into  the  wall  thickness. The  tracks  can  be  extended  in  the  future  if  the  client  wish  to  build  a  swimming  pool, which  may  need  occasional  shelter.

Sliding  house  offers  radically  variable  spaces, extent  or  shelter, sunlight  and  insulation. The  dynamic  change  is  a  physical  phenomenon  difficult  to  describe  in  words  or  images. It  is  about  the  ability  to  vary  the  overall  building  composition  and  character  according  to  season, weather  or  a  remote-controlled  desire  to  delight.