Ferry House is a split-level dwelling, cleverly built into a bank to make the most of the sloping terrain. The house features three distinct wings, each with its own purpose. The design allows the home to appear as a single-story pavilion from the front, while the rear reveals a lower ground floor as the slope drops away. The use of steel frames were critical in achieving the large openings and vaulted ceilings that define the house’s spacious and airy feel. Reinforced concrete substructures were employed to create retaining walls, enabling the house to be built into the bank while maintaining structural integrity.

Given the restricted access to the site, all materials had to be carefully sized and transported through a narrow entrance, necessitating the use of steel beams and columns rather than precast concrete.

One of the most significant challenges was the installation of a modern sewage treatment plant. However, space constraints required innovative solutions, such as placing the drainage field into the riverbank while maintaining necessary distances from the water. The landscape also required protection of certain trees, which meant regrading of the slope to support the land while preserving exposed tree roots. Ground conditions varied across the site. Most of the soil was chalk, suitable for mass concrete foundations, but adjustments had to be made to the retaining walls as construction progressed.

The project was a collaborative effort between AWA, the architect AR Design Studio, landscape architect, and contractor Matrod Frampton. AWA’s use of Revit 3D drawing and design software allowed for precise planning and execution, ensuring that the extreme levels of the roof eaves and ridge lines were accurately constructed.