First, the fun bits. Invigorate your day with a dip in the wild-swimming pool. Towel off in the poolside cabin and hit the tennis court. Stay out for supper from the barbecue on the terrace. Get steamy in the sauna. Walk the woodland sculpture trail. Stargaze at night from the wood-fired hot tub, embedded seamlessly in a waterscaped wonderland.
Now the conscience-friendly part. On a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the 1.5-acre landscaping of The Water Shed is an ecological balancing act, with architecture and nature in harmony and the site alive with planting and wildlife.
The silvered, cantilevered building sits naturally within this ecoscape, a property with pristine principles overseen by newts and herons.
There’s shock and awe here. Not just in the scale of the eco-friendly project: seamlessly incorporating photovoltaics, a ground-source heat pump and more. But in the scale of the architecture. Be wowed by the triple-height atrium space with three-storey chimney, double-sweeping staircase and floating balconies over the dining space.
It’d be easy to just sit back, slack-jawed, and gaze. At the pared-back Californian-style material palette. At the tonal variation of the matt walls. At the use of Venetian plaster. At the views from the double-height glazing. Very, very easy. But you’re on holiday and this place doesn’t skimp on frolics.
After a day at the harbour, pick a spot by one of four cosy log burners. Then fire up one of four smart TVs and summon up a series or two on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video powered by Zen superfast broadband (you’re going to need Instagram, trust me).
This is a celeb of a home, lauded as one of the finest properties ever seen on TV’s Grand Designs, and featured in The Sunday Times, Modern Rustic, and Country Homes and Interiors. Once you get over being starstruck, you’ll stop wanting its autograph and simply enjoy it for what it is. A home and a half, in a magical setting.
Make it silver service in your silver-clad eco-house. Call up the expert chefs from Baffin’s Farm Catering or Earth Catering, put your glad rags on and clink your glasses on the dining table in the three-tiered atrium beneath the suspended ceiling lights. Or show your own prowess on the two ovens and electric Smeg hob.
Want to watch the wildlife while you eat? There’s space for ten out in the sunshine with meat from the Goodwood Farm Shop and the coal barbie firing in the summer air. Stock up at local farm shops, with fish from Fresh From the Boat, goodies from Emsworth Bakery and wine from Majestic. Wrap up mealtimes with coffee from the DeLonghi.
Grab great takeaways from So India in Bosham, Memories of India, or Butler’s Fish and Chips. Find a cosy pub overlooking the sea at Anchor Bleu, awash with fresh local ingredients. Catch the sunset at The Crown and Anchor and eat octopus or flat-iron steak around cosy fires. Or try lighter bites at The Crate in Bosham.
Head to The Giggling Squid for a lovely Thai restaurant. Try bourbon burger or fish pie at Bill’s Chichester Restaurant – great for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Or go for Asian fusion at Lime Squeezy in Chichester for Nori squid, the best calamari on the block. Special occasion? Go all out, with Michelin dining at Interlude in Horsham.
The Water Shed sleeps up to twelve in five glorious bedrooms, wrapped in extra soft muslin linen, with toppers, microfibre duvets and one-and-a-half acres of wildlife-rich silence.
On the first floor, the master bedroom offers a king size bed, en-suite and balcony, while bedroom two has a double bed with bathroom with bath and shower.
Bedroom three is an en-suite kids’ room with twin beds that can be pulled together, while bedroom four is another room for young mischief, with a triple bunk bed and en-suite shower room. Bedroom five, in the loft, comes with a double bed, double pull-out sofa bed and small en-suite toilet.
