OAKLANDS

About this property

Architecturally fascinating, Oaklands was designed by award winning Adrian James Architects. The brief was to create a truly exceptional house that would sit gently within its wooded landscape. From outside, the cantilevered first floor seemingly floats above the ground floor.

Internally, the symbiosis between oak, basalt, stainless steel, glass and natural stone creates a calm and contemporary atmosphere. Vertical oak boards follow the undulating curves of the walls, ingeniously disguising doors to the more utilitarian areas of the house.

All ground floor rooms interconnect making for a pleasing flow throughout. The two main reception rooms, both with wide sliding doors opening to the decked terrace, are divided by a double height, natural stone chimney breast housing a striking double sided fireplace. Beyond is the Bulthaup kitchen, echoing the minimal ethos of the rest of the house. Contemporary cabinetry sits beneath composite stone worktops. A large island unit houses an oak breakfast bar to one end and two sinks.

Appliances are Miele and include an induction hob, two fan ovens, steam oven, two warming drawers, teppanyaki hotplate, fridge/freezer, full height wine cooler and two dishwashers. Both sinks have InSinkErators and the extractors are by Gaggenau. Directly off is a temperature controlled wine store, with bespoke oak storage for approximately 1000 bottles. A walk in pantry, boot room, cloakroom, dog wash room and access to the garage are also directly off.

A large coat store, cloakroom, laundry room, gun room and plant room are all cleverly hidden from sight behind the oak panelling. Opposite, a large utility room provides ample storage and access to the pool and spa.

The spa complex has full height glazed walls to two sides with views out over the woodland and grounds. Sliding doors open to the terrace. A 3m x 15m pool has a retractable motorised bench to the far end with pressurised air bubble ground jets. There is also sauna and steam rooms, both by Klafs, with glass walls overlooking the pool and views beyond, and a shower and plunge bath.

A wide staircase rises to a stunning galleried landing, which follows the contours of the outside walls. The principal bedroom suite has panoramic views from two full height glazed walls. The bathroom houses a double vanity unit with separate bath and shower and the walk in dressing room is fitted with bespoke joinery. Adjacent, a further room, presently a study, would make an ideal nursery/bedroom 5.

To the far end of the galleried landing is the library with bespoke oak bookshelves to two walls and a drop down cinema screen. Just beyond is the guest bedroom suite with kitchenette and shower room. From here a second staircase drops to the ground floor. There are two further bedrooms, both with inbuilt wardrobes and en suite shower rooms. The double garage is accessed from just beyond the kitchen

Annexe

Situated to the far side of the drive is the annexe. The first floor houses a self-contained one bedroomed flat with its own outside staircase. Below is a double garage, gardener’s garage, workshop, plant room and cloakroom.

Gym

A self-contained room within the grounds is triple glazed, has a sound system and a ceiling mounted projector. This is presently used as a gym.

Outside

Oaklands is tucked away off the road down a private drive. Much of the grounds are mature broadleaf woodland, ensuring privacy and enchantment. At the far end of the woods is a stream with four wooden bridges criss-crossing it and a naturally fed pond.

The grounds are fully enclosed with dog and deer proof fencing with a gate opening directly onto the highly regarded Frilford Heath Golf Club course.

Nearer to the house is a large pond stocked with algae-eating Grass carp, a tennis court and a circular, thatched tree house within a mature beech tree, fullyglazed with power supplied.
Oaklands is an outstanding example of true 21st century design. Built with meticulous attention to every detail in both design and execution.

Technical Specification

• UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for all critical comms.
• Burglar alarm monitored 24hrs by Southern Security.
• Fire alarm system throughout.
• CCTV at gate and throughout house.
• Three-phase electric supply to house. Single phase to annexe.
• Cat 5 wiring throughout with floor power boxes.
• Ground source heat pumps with air source heat pump back up.
• ZYCOO CooVox unified telephone communication system.
• Gigaclear superfast fibre broadband with BT back up.
• 24 sq mts solar heating panels to roof.
• Buffer tanks to support heat pumps and solar panel supply.
• Triple glazing throughout house, annexe and gym.
• Heat exchange system throughout.
• Sonos sound system throughout.
• Lutron lighting system throughout.
• Underfloor heating in the main house, annexe has air source heating.
• Heating, security, lighting and sound system can all be controlled remotely.
• Car charging in main garage is 3-phase Tesla and single phase universal plug, annexe is single phase.
• 6 person Schindler lift in the house.
• Epson ceiling mounted projector in library and gym.
• Filtered water to kitchen, first floor kitchenette and drinking water supply on landing.
• Rainwater harvesting system for garden irrigation.
• Two-pen kennel with two dog houses.
• Vitsoe shelves throughout.
• Electric gate on the drive, intercom connected to the house telephone exchange.

Services

• Mains water and electric connected.
• Central heating is fuelled by ground source heat pumps in the main house and air source heat pumps in the Annexe.
• The main house has backup air source heat pumps in critical areas such as the main bedroom/Studio.
• Air source cooling in the wine cellar, the gym and the IT room.
• Solar panels.
• Private drainage.
• Superfast fibre broadband.

Local information

• Oaklands nestles in just under 14 acres, tucked away at the end of a private drive. Ideally situated for easy access to Oxford, London and the north via road and rail links. The A34, just four miles away, opens up to the national motorway network and Didcot and Oxford Parkway stations offer fast and regular rail services to London, both Paddington and Marylebone.
• Appleton, under two miles away boasts a community owned village shop, pub, primary school and church, with nearby Fyfield being home to the multi award winning White Hart.
• Abingdon, just four miles away, is well equipped for everyday shopping needs. A wide choice of schooling is on offer in the area including St Hugh’s and Chandlings Manor prep schools and the highly regarded senior day schools including St Helen & St Katharine’s in Abingdon, Abingdon Prep School in Frilford Heath and Oxford High, Magdalen College School and Headington School in Oxford.

Additional information

• Directions: From Oxford take the A420 towards Swindon. After approximately five miles take the first exit off the roundabout towards Wantage. After approximately 1.5 miles, the driveway to Oaklands can be found on the right. what3words: ///dubbing.unpacked.owner
• EPC Rating: D
• Tenure: Freehold
• Council Tax Band: H