![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_1.jpg)
Wickstead Lodge by Baynes & Co
An electronically controlled stone wall slides across the facade of this house in Warwickshire, England, to conceal a large window.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_2.jpg)
Designed by British architects Baynes & Co, Wickstead Lodge replaces a traditional vernacular house that formerly occupied the site.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_3.jpg)
The moving wall was created to overcome a planning requirement stating that the new house should have only small windows, like its predecessor.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_4.jpg)
Narrow gaps in the stonework let light pass through the wall into the dining room behind.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_13.jpg)
The whole of this lower floor was also set just below ground level so that the two-storey house wouldn't be taller than permitted.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_12.jpg)
We also recently featured a house in Bath constructed from a similar pale stone - take a look here.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_5.jpg)
Photography is by Stuart Whipps.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_6.jpg)
The text below is a description from Adrian Baynes:
The project was a new house to replace an existing one.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_7.jpg)
The planning authority imposed considerable constraints in terms of massing, roof height, materials & design.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_11.jpg)
They wanted a replacement single storey house, with small windows, of traditional construction.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_8.jpg)
The client wanted a two storey, contemporary house.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_9.jpg)
The solution was to sink the building into the ground and create three gables so as to minimise the impact from the road.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_10.jpg)
However from the rear it is a substantial two storey development.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_14.gif)
The biggest difficulty was the planners requirement for small windows to match those in the original house.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_15.gif)
The answer was to install the largest double glazed window available and then construct a steel framed stone wall in front of it.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_16.gif)
The stone was bonded in place so as to allow the light to penetrate through the joints.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_17.gif)
However the entire wall was mounted on an geared electric motor powered track to allow it to move like a giant curtain.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_18.gif)
By careful engineering the wall was mounted without any top support.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_19.gif)
The building was constructed with stone gables & a matching brick, with terne coated stainless steel roof with roll batten joints to replicate a traditional lead roof.
![Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes Wickstead Lodge by Adrian Baynes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/Dezeen_Wickstead-Lodge-by-Adrian-Baynes_20.gif)