Dwell Design
“This five bedroom contemporary family home situated on the North East corner of Hayling Island provides stunning views across Chichester Harbour and the Solent. This spacious, environmentally sustainable, and energy efficient luxury house comprises two elements. A first floor timber-clad cantilevered box provides a glass balcony to the master suite. This sits on a white-rendered base providing the spacious ground floor accommodation.
Our clients loved their huge garden but were not keen on the design of the house they had bought which was mock- Spanish and showing signs of real wear even though it was only ten years old. We analysed what they had working in their favour with the size of plot and which parts enjoyed sunshine at what part of the day and set to work.
The arrival at Ivory House was changed completely with the new west- facing vestibule providing access into the double- height staircase area that was lit from the south- facing roof windows. Now, internally, the generous ground floor open plan living areas include: a feature staircase, double height space and grand entrance. Extensive glazing on both floors creates a light contemporary space, but we avoided directly south- facing windows. Carefully positioned sliding doors provide strong connections between the internal spaces and the extensive garden. The reception rooms are accessed from this central volume. The kitchen space has carefully planned and discretely located pantry and utility areas.
A simple palette of vertical timber and white render complement the building’s bold form and this was seized upon early in the design process and carried through. An extensive remodelling and extension of the existing Spanish-style property created a stylish, contemporary house the clients wished for. In addition to the attention paid to the look of the home we also wanted to future- proof the house and minimise its environmental impact. For this reason the photovoltaic cells on the roof terrace are hidden from view. This feature, in addition to the high insulation levels, means that the home costs less to run and is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter despite the expansive areas of glass. Our attention to detail did not stop here. To provide the clients with their perfect living environment we designed for them a bespoke kitchen island and a master suite wet- room with every aspect of the space drawn for them before work started.
We worked with the clients to ensure that all their fixtures and fittings were exactly as they would like and that the interior of the house was crisp and clutter free with concealed routes for the wiring and electrical fittings. This was all done before the project was sent for pricing.
Arguably this home has become the work most recognisable and most associated with the practice as one of our earliest projects. Our aim was to create a sensational experience upon arrival at the home and link the new and existing spaces together in a more communicative and exciting way.
The house is now unrecognisable and has been completely transformed into something of a local landmark.”
Anthony Brown of dwell design ltd
Credits for photos are:
Penny Plimmer