GF residence by KERSTENS

The Antwerp interior architecture studio KERSTENS has completed Residence GF. The villa lies south of London, set within a wooded and protected British countryside estate. Heritage and planning restrictions defined the exterior of the new build, whose modest window openings, lower ceiling heights and authentic material palette give it a distinctly traditional British character.

Inside, KERSTENS’ design focuses on precise internal interventions: connecting rooms more directly and strengthening sightlines. The response to the lower ceilings is a measured vertical rhythm. Slender columns, fine millwork and bespoke joinery lift the eye and divide larger planes. Daylight enters through controlled apertures, creating gentle contrasts. In this way, the atmosphere recalls that of traditional British houses, where light is often more shaded and moods are deeper.

A contemporary interpretation of the classic British style
Materiality is rooted in the location and ties back to the exterior. Local British limestone runs across floors and walls in complementary finishes. Brushed oak returns as panelling and in refined joinery. The result is a calm, natural character that reflects the surrounding landscape.

A key anchor within the house is the kitchen—an architectural piece conceived first as a table. At the heart of circulation sits a stone volume containing the staircase. A bronze frame supports a softly profiled walnut handrail, wrapped in leather at the points of contact.

The familiar architectural language of classic British houses is distilled into proportion, alignment and material continuity. The atmosphere is welcoming, composed for living, open to patina, and ready to evolve over time.

SAVVY x KERSTENS: international press relations
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Photography: Piet-Albert Goethals