After we built her house in London, our client retuned and asked us to build her a light filled home in Wivenhoe, close to the Colne Estuary. A house to welcome friends, for art, for entertaining.
„The meticulous design of our house has exceeded all our expectations. It is an absolute joy living here; it is bright and light even on gloomy days and it never fails to lift the spirits with its playful details and quirkiness.”

The site had been neglected for years. The previous owner had installed concrete foundations for a previously approved design, but as their circumstances changed, the full construction of the house never materialised. Rather than removing the previous foundations we decided to work with them and modify them to suit our new design. This approach resulted in minimising groundwork, waste from the site, and reusing what was already there.

Inspired by the rich maritime history of Wivenhoe, the design employs a double-gable roof, timber cladding in a dark colour, and metal cladding on the roof. Typology and materials forming a close link to local boat-building sheds.

The house is broken down into two volumes, comfortable in their setting along St John Road. Buildings are laid out around a courtyard garden.

The client’s brief asked to provide enough flexibility that the two volumes can be separated in the future.

The first floor features different ceiling levels, creating a lower ceiling towards the front, with the house opening to a double-height vaulted space to the rear.