A House in a Landscape

In his elegantly written book on England's Greatest Houses Simon Jenkins describes Chatsworth as "above all a house in a landscape", capable of looking good in whatever season or weather. The key to its success is, he says, that "it defers to the landscape" unlike Blenheim or Castle Howard which respectively 'shout' or 'roar' at theirs.

These sensibilities will be way over the heads of the architects and developers who designed Fairthorn and the Sheffield Council planners who decided it was acceptable. The comparison may be odious but it's worth making because Fairthorn occupies a position in the views from Blacka and around similar to that of the great Derbyshire house. But that's where the comparison ends. Chatsworth has immense architectural distinction and while it takes a lot from the setting in the form of magnificent views from the windows of each room, it adds much back through its artistry, classical proportions and local materials. Fairthorn forces itself on your attention because of its raised position, its appalling white PVC window frames. The views from the appartments out towards Blacka must be magnificent especially in the mornings. But it is all take and no give. It detracts from its setting, something the residents are probably unaware of. Blenheim may shout but Fairthorn thumbs its nose and puts out its tongue. What an opportunity was missed here. In a setting like this architects around the world would have given money to have had the chance to design something.

These thoughts come from seeing the planting scheme for trees around Fairthorn. When we went to the planning board to protest last year the councillors reluctantly made a tiny concession to our view insisting that trees be planted to help screen the building from the national park. It's typical that the trees chosen to be in front of the building where most impact would be felt are small deciduous trees like rowan and field maple. Given that the ground slopes away dramatically immediately in front they will make no impression and crucially for the developer will not obscure the outward view from any appartments. I'm trying to think of quick growing evergreens that should be there instead. Perhaps some eucalyptus and a couple of thuja occidentalis?