Another new Facit Home has now been submitted for planning approval. Located in Essex, the site contains a large woodland to the rear with a dated, inefficient bungalow facing on to the street.
Being positioned opposite a relatively recent housing development, our clients wanted to replace the tired bungalow with a new home that gave them more privacy from the public realm and opened up on to their much loved garden and woodland beyond. This is their forever home, on a site that has been in the family for generations, so the challenge was on to create something truly exceptional that would meet their needs and stand the test of time.
It is set in a Conservation Area which meant we had to take a very sensitive approach to the external design. Fortunately the village contains a broad mix of architectural styles including large industrial buildings and some more contemporary forms and materials which gave us confidence in our bold design. Long timber fences screen off much of the approach to the home, creating a private feel and the asymmetric, zinc-clad forms of the first floor that peek out above reference elements of the vernacular.
With the main open plan living accommodation opening up to the rear, upon entry to the home you are met with stunning views right through to the garden.
A small snug can be closed off from the main space with pocket doors and a generous utility room creates a separate ‘muddy’ entrance where the dogs can be washed off after walks. An en-suite guest room completes the ground floor layout. Upstairs are the bedrooms, a family bathroom, study and laundry, with the master suite commanding the best views and enjoying high ceilings that run up in to the roof space.
We have also made provision for a platform lift within the plan, allowing our clients to use the entire house even if the stairs become too tricky to negotiate later in life.
It’s been a really engaging and enjoyable design process for the team, with clients who allowed us to challenge their preconceptions and a site that had both opportunity and restriction. Everyone is very excited about the final developed design and we can’t wait to crack on and bring this one to life.
