Staithe End, Dorset Residence, Christchurch Harbour House, England Residential Development, English Architecture

Staithe End, England

Christchurch Harbour Home: New English Residential Property – design by Henry Goss Architects

31 Jul 2013

Dorset House

Design: Henry Goss Architects

Location: Christchurch Harbour, Dorset, England

photo from architect

Staithe End Residence Dorset

This four bed private house on the banks of Christchurch Harbour represents a real coup and a major precedent for high quality contemporary architecture in the most sensitive of historic environments.

photo from architect

The dwelling is located in the centre of an important conservation area and adjoined to a listed building. The uncompromising contemporary nature of the design seeks to distinguish it’s self from the listed building thus providing a strong contrast in design that compliments and emphasises the design qualities of each.

photo from architect

A further constraint is in the form of coastal flooding. Many design approaches were tested and much negotiation with the Environment Agency was conducted. The final solution was to treat the entire site as a tanked excavation including basement, and artist studio which fall below the 4.0m AOD set by the Environment Agency. This allowed for a free flowing series of terraces, split levels and courtyards down the length of the site manipulating the penetration of natural light and providing natural cross ventilation to all parts of the dwelling.

photo from architect

Passive solar gain through the extensive South facing glazing is controlled by overhangs and sliding louvered screens. Exposed concrete floors provide thermal mass to absorb heat during the day and release it during the night providing a level of natural thermal regulation to the internal environment. The result is a development which has an ambiguous relationship between inside and out, between built form and nature.

photo from architect

The basement contains the master bedroom opening out onto the sunken courtyard with the artist studio adjacent, along with a guest room, bathrooms and utility. Ground floor contains living, kitchen and dining areas which spill out onto a South facing kitchen terrace. At first floor level a lightweight steel and glass box floats atop the exposed concrete base providing two further ensuite bedrooms and private living area with views across the harbour to Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve.

Staithe End Residence images / information from Henry Goss Architects

Location:Christchurch Harour, Dorset, UK ‘

English Houses

Dorset Buildings