Nithurst by Adam Richards Architects is a much-lauded, multi-award-winning house designed by the architect for his family, and situated in the picturesque South Downs National Park. The building intentionally feels both ancient and contemporary and the character of the house is informed by Renaissance drawings and by Palladio’s plan for the Villa Barbaro. With influences ranging from Vanbrugh to Tarkovsky, the design has multiple layers of reference and association, each informing the whole, enhancing its meaning, whilst creating a beautiful place to live.

This book tells the full story of the evolution of the house, offering thematic essays written by specialists in the fields of film, architectural history, interiors and art – Geoff Dyer, Takero Shimazaki, Jeremy Musson and Corinna Dean – which explore specific aspects of the design in greater detail. Central to it all is a detailed and analytical narrative by Adam Richards, illustrated by beautiful colour photography and architectural drawings.

Adam Richards is a British architect whose work has encompassed architecture, interior design and furniture. As well as designing private houses, his practice has earned a reputation for making highly-crafted buildings in the fields of culture, heritage, the arts, including Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft in Sussex. He has taught architecture at Cambridge University and Kingston University.