Step inside a Dungeness coastal house nestled within the eerie panorama

The archetypal British panorama is usually imagined as rolling inexperienced hills, patchworked with fields and persistently damp. Describing any a part of the UK as a ‘desert’ would appear inconceivable. But, a shingle seashore on the Kent headland of Dungenessis usually declared simply that – the UK’s solely desert. The Particular Safety Space has an eerie, apocalyptic really feel. It’s a location the architects of Hollaway Studio have usually labored with and an ideal setting for his or her newest undertaking, Westview, a brand new Dungeness home.

Tour a coastal Dungeness home

Nestled on this architecturally distinctive panorama, which is peppered with deserted fishermen’s shacks, lighthouses, and Second World Warfare sound mirrors (massive concrete constructions conceived to detect plane), the brand new home – a reimagining of an present cottage – was composed to be in tune with its setting, formed by isolation.

Hollaway Studio is a deft hand at working within the space. Previous completions right here embody Pobble Home, which has progressively matured into the panorama. Westview is the observe’s latest completion, and can quickly be joined by Windwhistle, the conversion of a historic railway carriage right into a dwelling. Via such case research, the agency has developed a mode that responds particularly to the native environment.

Westview is situated on the sting of the Dungeness Property. From right here, guests can get pleasure from uninterrupted views that unfold throughout the western horizon. Wanting on the constructing’s unique framework, the architects determined to maintain its present bones and as an alternative enhance the inside orientation and area. Surrounding outbuildings had been woven into the design, which contains a humble, sturdy façade primed to face up to the coastal parts.

Materiality displays the constructing’s context. Charred and handled timber, completed with a white coating, nods to the looks of the earlier cottage. This chalky-coloured exterior is paired with corrugated metallic and Corten metal parts, that are purposeful whereas additionally offering a up to date contact. The flooring, which extends throughout the dwelling areas, is a salt-and-pepper concrete flooring and acts as a continuation of the shingle seashore itself.

Whereas its location can provide creative inspiration by way of its uncooked and rugged nature, Dungeness is usually a hit-or-miss location that challenges the customer. Nonetheless, Westview brings a thought-about, up to date interpretation to its distinctive setting, bridging historical past and geography, and showcasing how creating a deep understanding of a spot can yield spectacular outcomes.

‘With Westview, we retained the silhouette and footprint of the unique constructing however utterly rethought the way it engages with the panorama,’ says Man Hollaway, founding father of his namesake studio. ‘The result’s a home that feels each protecting and open. It’s grounded within the vernacular, however unmistakably up to date.’