Windlesham
Our Projects
Windlesham
Bespoke stonework for a private mansion
Bristol-based stonemasons Rowland turned to Vobster Architectural to create a stunning exterior look for this luxury one-off California-style residential dwelling.
With 22,000 square feet of floor space over four floors, Windlesham Court sits between Ascot and Sunningdale in one of the most sought-after locations in England. Set in four acres of landscaped gardens and woodland in leafy Surrey, it has eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a spa, home cinema, indoor swimming pool and a six-car garage.
It’s a palatial country house for the most discerning buyer.
Project planning
Having already worked with Vobster Architectural on numerous projects in the South West, and having built a good working relationship, Rowland approached us as soon as they took on the project. In fact, they were so pleased with the materials and service they had received previously, we were the only cast stone company they spoke to.
After looking at the architect’s plans and seeing the scale of the project, Rowland proposed the use of our wet cast Bathstone. We sent samples and both the architect and their client were delighted with the look and feel of the material. With such a prestigious build, attention to detail and a stunning look were imperative – something Rowland knew we could deliver.
The next step for our team was to produce a detailed ‘take off’ and provide Rowland with a schedule of the material they would need, along with creating individual stone component drawings and fixing details, all of which were approved prior to manufacture.
As Adam Rowland, Director of Rowland said: “Vobster Architectural’s understanding of the project and what was required from an early stage gave us and the architect confidence that we could deliver our clients expectations. It was a complex project, but once we started fixing stonework on site it was clear we’d made the right choice of material.”
Our technical team liaised with Rowland, the client and the architect at every stage of the project, involving them right from the start to provide free consultations to help select and design all of the cast stone profiles and fixings. This ensured the specific aesthetic requirements of Windlesham Court were successfully incorporated in the stone elements.
During the build
Adam Rowland commented “On my visits to site I would hear our masons frequently praising the high standard of stone finish and how great the material was to work with. Their jobs were made much easier as they could rely on the mouldings to match up perfectly, and knew their fix would be accurate. The team at Vobster Architectural made regular site visits to offer help and guidance, and kept the communication channels open throughout the duration of the project.”
“In our opinion, the product is the best on the market.”
Adam Rowland, Rowland Stonemasonry
Their ongoing commitment to the project was a great help to Rowland. “If we were ever held up on certain elements of the build and we needed other areas of stone on site in a hurry, all we had to do was make a call to Vobster, explain the situation, and they would do everything they could to help us out. It was a pleasure dealing with a company that would go that extra mile when needed.”
“Their understanding of the project and what was required from an early stage gave us and the architect confidence that we could deliver our clients expectations. It was clear we’d made the right choice of material.” Adam Rowland — Director of Rowland
Project completion
The end result of this building project is a hugely impressive stone clad country mansion, with a striking modern façade but with that classic touch. It’s a fine addition to the local area and fits beautifully into the natural landscape. The client and architect were extremely pleased with the end results, and off the back of this project the client has instructed Rowland on another project of an even grander scale.
Rowland were particularly impressed with our knowledge and understanding of large scale projects, and our commitment to ensuring the scheme ran smoothly for its duration. Adam Rowland concludes: “We would be delighted to work with Vobster Architectural again and are already recommending them to all of our contacts and clients. In our opinion, their product is the best on the market.”