Lakeside Drive, Esher, Surrey

Designed by the renowned architect Royston Summers in 1975, this remarkable house is one of a prestigious collection of modernist homes arranged around a tranquil lake on a quiet no-through road. The houses on Lakeside Drive are among the most refined examples of 20th-century British architecture and won Summers a RIBA Award in 1976 and a DoE Medal and Diploma for Good Design in 1980. This particular house has five bedrooms and unfolds across approximately 3,700 sq ft. Of all the homes, it has the largest stretch of lake frontage and is immersed in private gardens filled with mature trees and a swimming pool. Lakeside Drive lies near the town centre of Esher, Surrey, from which railway services run to London Waterloo in around 25 minutes.



The Development



Lakeside Drive is a designated conservation area within the borough of Elmbridge. Before its current use, the land that forms the development constituted part of the gardens of Milbourne House (a former hunting lodge of Claremont House). The nine-acre site retains its original serpentine lake, dating probably from the early 1800s, which has largely retained its shape and collection of fine mature and specimen trees, many of which are subject to preservation orders.



Each of the 16 houses on Lakeside Drive is unique. All were designed with privacy firmly in mind and employ a modular form, enabling a great deal of flexibility in terms of internal layout.



The Tour



This house has a private driveway that serves as a large forecourt with space for several cars. It also leads to a generous double garage, complete with three-phase power.



Externally, the house is composed of rich-hued Ockley brick with a mass of glazing on two storeys. Internally, the house is incredibly spacious and filled with light from swathes of glazing across the front aspect, a rooflight above the central void and floor-to-ceiling windows in every room.



The glazed doors open into a generous hallway lined with a large slab of Italian marble - a material motif repeated, to great effect, throughout the house. Modular in design, the plan has limited load-bearing walls, which have been redesigned downstairs by the current owners.



The ground floor is both open plan and cleverly delineated by a slatted wooden partition that allows light to permeate the space, while also gently dividing up distinct areas. The main formal sitting room has striking views over the lake, and a gas fire which provides a secondary focal point in the winter months. The dining room is home to wine storage and a wine fridge, as well as a concealed drinks cabinet. Glazed doors slide open to a patio beyond, where there is ample space for dining outdoors.



At the rear, the kitchen has white cabinets, marble worktops and Gaggenau appliances, including a separate steam oven. The room is wonderfully bright, with a window above the sink and another set of tall glazed doors that open onto a smaller terrace, this time raised above the water. Large-format ceramic tiles line the floor, where there is also a guest WC with a quartz sink, and a door into the garage.



A sculptural, open-tread staircase with glass bannister leads upstairs to the first floor, where there is a second large sitting room, sharing the same far-reaching and impressive views across the lake - along with all its avian activity, from moorhens to ducks. The addition of timber flooring and a renewed lighting system are two of many thoughtful contemporary interventions.



The principal bedroom is also on this floor, with a generous walk-in wardrobe lined with bespoke cupboards. This in turn opens into a luxurious bathroom, defined by another large panel of marble with its incredible colourful veins, two sinks, and crowned by a skylight over the rain-style shower. There are also three other evenly sized bedrooms, each with an en suite on this floor.



Outdoor Space



The sweeping lawn sweeps around most of the house, much of it running along the perimeter of the lake. There is a pontoon here, with space to keep a rowing boat. High hedges provide excellent privacy. Both the seating area and heated swimming pool are angled to receive an optimal amount of sunlight on brighter days.



The Area



Esher is a popular historic town in the heart of the borough of Elmbridge, which has regularly topped the annual Halifax 'Quality of Life' survey. The high street is within walking distance of Lakeside Drive and the area has several excellent restaurants, including Hummings (a popular café by day and bar by night), as well as other pubs, boutiques, and an Everyman Cinema. Sandown Park Racecourse hosts a variety of events throughout the year.



There are some wonderful local walks in Claremont Park and Gardens and the woodlands of Esher Common. Several of Britain's best architect-designed modern houses are also situated nearby, including Patrick Gwynne's 'The Homewood' (1937), which is now owned by the National Trust.



There are several excellent schools nearby, both state and private, including Esher Church School, Esher Sixth Form College, Esher Church of England High School, Claremont Fan Court, Shrewsbury Lodge School and Rowan Preparatory School.



The railway station is within walking distance and provides fast train services direct to London Waterloo in around 25 minutes or Claygate station in approximately 30 minutes. The A3 is moments away for easy access in or out of London and to the M25.



Council Tax Band: G