The Glasshouse

Overview

The Glasshouse is an exclusive house and architectural masterpiece located in the private estate of The Lakes by Yoo in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, which can be reached in less than two hours from Central London making it ideal both for Londoners’ weekend getaways as well as longer stays. Tucked away in the estate’s 820 acres of Cotswolds woodland, The Glasshouse is sitting in the lake like no other house on the estate, and benefits from natural light, plenty of outdoors spaces, designer furniture, state-of-the-art electric appliances as well as lush relaxation facilities, such us a sauna, and spectacular views to Huntsmans lake allowing guests to admire Mother Nature in all her glory. If there is one place to consider a true ambassador of innovative architecture that is definitely The Glasshouse which stands out for its glass façade and elevates the outdoors-in feel by offering a truly experiential stay to up to 8 guests -12 guests if with children.

The Property

The house, which was built in 2018, has 600sqm. (approx. 6,000 sq. ft.) of interior space spreading into three (3) levels, each of which offers separate private areas, all connected with a central staircase that leads to the roof terrace. Each room has two glass walls, creating that 100% glass façade looks, and lofty ceilings going as high as 3.5 meters.

The ground floor exhales a truly welcoming feel and strikes the perfect balance between form and function as the living room links with the open plan kitchen which can work well both as an entertainment island and as a food preparation area. Use the tandoori over or the pizza oven of the Varenna kitchen as well as the wine fridge which can be stocked up by the Concierge to create delicious meals and dive into special culinary experiences. Not to mention that the Concierge can also arrange for you to have a mixologist’s services upon request. On that level, the large windows open to a wide outdoors terrace where the lavish outdoors furniture invite guests to relax, enjoy the idyllic sunset and have fun. The sophisticated aspect of the outdoors expands to the indoors, too, where a delicate ambience has been created; luxury brands like the Poliform Bristol sofa, which is capable of seating up to 12 people, have been matched with light elements from Phillipe Starck, Bocci, Tom Dixon and Davide Groppi adding even more character to the indoors. There is also an ensuite bedroom there with direct access to the outdoors and relaxing views to the lake.

The 1st floor is dedicated to sleep and work; the three (3) bedrooms found on that level, including the master bedroom, are all ensuite and offer and enjoy stunning lake views through the floor to ceiling windows while the study, which also overlooks towards the lake, has its own open contemporary wood fired fire place.

The top floor with its own terrace and garden provides a 360 degree panoramic view, capturing views of 3 different lakes and the surrounding nature, and that’s where guests can have a BBQ or make use of the dining bench.
Last but not least, the basement where the wellness facilities, such as the sauna and the Jacuzzi, and the games room with the full size snooker table, the bar and the nine-seater cinema are located, would most definitely keep a family or a group of friends happy and busy for quite a while. Although this is basement, the rooms are bright due to the windows found at 3 meters height.

Room & Suite Types

Four (4) double occupancy ensuite bedrooms located at the ground and the first floors of the house allow up to eight (8) guests enjoy a great sleep as they lay on the comfortable mattresses. The bedrooms are defined by the minimalistic design that consistently applies to the entire house and all of them have ensuite, with 2 of the bedrooms having shower area glazed views of the lake and the surrounding woods. The master bathroom tub sits directly against the glazing with enchanting views of the lake when sat in the tub. The earthy colour palette of the rooms creates a cosy, warm atmosphere where one can feel like home and rest whilst enjoying the view to the lake from their bed. High quality linen and luxury towels complement the luxury hotel-living experience offered at The Glasshouse while the spacious bathrooms with the luxury bathroom amenities from Rituals can make even the most active person extend their refreshing shower as they feel indulged during their own pampering time.

Location

The Glasshouse is located within the gated community of the ‘Lakes by Yoo’ private estate in the United Kingdom. The estate has attracted locals who invested in quality of life, including some celebrities. It is mainly people who chose that estate to be their own paradise on earth and since it is within close proximity to Central London the houses are often visited during the weekends, bank holidays and school holiday periods while it is a great place to spend Christmas, too. Due to the high profile of the estate security is something than can be taken for granted.

Within the estate one can find the Orchard Spa, giving guests a good reason to leave their beautiful houses in order to enjoy a treatment or even the sauna, the indoor swimming pool and outdoor hot tub. Of course, the pizza from Elsa’s tipi remains another good reason to leave the houses while there are other great activities, such as water-skiing and horse riding, that can be arranged through the Concierge if more action is preferred.

If you decide to leave the comfort of the estate’s surroundings, you will be able to easily access some of the Cotswolds’ most spectacular attractions, such as Burton on the water, in just 15mins. For those who would like to receive some assistance with certain activities’ planning concierge services can be offered from the estate’s team or through One Nice Hotel and in collaboration with the owners of The Glasshouse.

Experience

The great thing about choosing The Glasshouse for your short-term or long-term stay is that you will enjoy an eclectic accommodation experience with direct access to nature dressed in sophisticated aesthetics and inspirational deco influences. Imagine waking up to the view of the lake, enjoying an energising run at the estate’s forest, inviting friends over for a barbeque and relaxing in your blankets in the evenings as the sun sets. The variety of activities that can be enjoyed by families or groups of friends is good enough to keep them busy for a few days, especially if combined with the indoors options, such as the home cinema and the games. For special occasion the staff of the Concierge can enrich your experiences in many ways; for example, a gourmet Christmas feast can be organised or they can prepare a picnic hamper for you or even book a mixologist and make flower arrangements for an event you wish to host at the house.

What we like about it

The house’s construction details and the finishes are one of a kind. For example, the house’s exterior wood has undergone the ancient Japanese processing of burning timber, a natural technique with no chemical preservatives, paints and retardants involved in it, which provides a long-lasting, fire-resistant finish. The conscious approach expands towards the house’s energy management methods applying to the heating, too, as the house uses a variety of green technologies including air thermal heat pump, solar panels, heat recovery systems and triple-glazed glass.