Rowan Atkinson has reportedly finally moved into his ‘space age petrol station’ mansion after a decade-long planning row with neighbours.
The Blackadder star, 67, initially bought the 1930s quaint English home – known as Handsmooth House – and its 16 acres of land for £2.6million in 2006, with his wife of 24 years, Sunetra Sastry, but they were granted a ‘quickie’ divorce in November 2015.
He shocked locals in the charming seventh century village of Ipsden in Oxfordshire when he knocked it down and installed a modern 8,000 sq. ft. glass and steel mansion designed by top U.S. architect Richard Meier in its place.
Finally: Rowan Atkinson has reportedly finally moved into his ‘space age petrol station’ mansion after a decade-long planning row with neighbours
Neighbours nicknamed it a ‘space-age petrol station’ and some said the ‘modernist’ plans were not in keeping with the rest of the village – but the Mr Bean star pressed ahead with his multi-million pound property plans and the planning application was approved by South Oxfordshire Council despite having been recommended for refusal.
And after more than a decade of rowing with neighbours over his vision and investing a reported £5m into the build, he has now finally moved into the property.
He is said to be living there with his partner Louise Ford, 41, known to fans for playing Kate Middleton in comedy soap opera The Windsors.
In December 2017 the couple welcomed their first child together whom they named Isla.
Family home: The Blackadder star, 67, initially bought the 1930s quaint English home – known as Handsmooth House – and its 16 acres of land for £2.6million in 2006 – and is now said to be living in the home with partner Louise Ford (pictured 2015)
Not to be: Neighbours had hoped Atkinson might restore the empty 1930s Handsmooth House (pictured above) after purchasing it in 2006 for £2.6million, but he instead chose to replace it with an 8,000 sq. ft. white and glass structure designed by top U.S. architect Richard Meier
The original application included plans to demolish existing accommodation and build a detached house with a ‘guest pavilion’ and a tennis court.
The site already included a main house, garage, tennis court and other buildings.
Speaking at the planning meeting Atkinson, who has lived in the area for 28 years, agreed with the council’s conclusion that the house would stand out from, rather than blend in with, the landscape.
However, he said this was not grounds to reject the plans, but simply a description on how good architecture works.
Talking about the colour of the house, Atkinson said there was nothing inappropriate about its stark white colour if the building was proportionally designed and he pointed out that the existing house on the site was white.
Scenic: He shocked locals in the charming seventh century village of Ipsden in Oxfordshire when he knocked it down and installed a modern 8,000 sq. ft. glass and steel mansion designed by top U.S. architect Richard Meier in its place – Some said the ‘modernist’ plans were not in keeping with the rest of the village – but the planning application was approved
Wow: Talking about the colour of the house, Atkinson said there was nothing inappropriate about its stark white colour if the building was proportionally designed and he pointed out that the existing house on the site was white
Tucked away: The main home comes with a Japanese garden and even its own wood
The application described the design of the property as ‘not a departure, but rather a reinvention of the traditional country house’.
It added: ‘The home will add to our architectural heritage rather than parody it.’
Atkinson’s planning consultant Haydn Morris said this would be the first building in the UK which had been designed by Richard Meier – ‘regarded as one of the world’s leading architects’.
Not to his taste? Rowan’s futuristic new abode looked worlds away from the Seventies-inspired abode that his famous character Mr Bean lived in
The actor said he understood the concerns but said his neighbours ‘need have no fear’. He said he did not want to live in a house that was ‘weird or futuristic’ but one that is ‘simple, graceful and elegant’.
Ipsden Parish Council and the Chilterns Conservation Board were among those to raise objections that the building would be ‘conspicuous’ and look out of character.
One local resident said: ‘ ‘Money and fame have been used to bulldoze their way through the planning process.
‘The decision on this monstrosity is outrageous and sets a very dangerous precedent.’
However, some residents also wrote letters of support for the design as did a number of architects giving their backing to Mr Meier’s work.
Planning officers for South Oxfordshire District Council had recommended the plans were refused due to ‘the angular form, white finish and the extent of the glazing which would result in buildings which appear as stark features in contrast to the rolling rural landscape of the AONB.’
In 2017 the state-of-the-art home won the highly-coveted Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) South East award.
Ex: Atkinson originally bought the sprawling Oxfordshire estate with his wife of 24 years, Sunetra Sastry (pictured together in 2000), but they were granted a ‘quickie’ divorce in November 2015