Whitburn

The site is on the cliff tops at Whitburn, boasting unrivalled views down the north-east coast of England.  The bespoke executive home is configured to exploit these views.

Constraints included keeping the owners privacy from the school at the rear, retaining the neighbours sea views from their side window and respecting the easement on the existing drainage run passing the boundary of the site.

Living accommodation on the ground floor includes an ensuite double bedroom and a kitchen-living-dining room with dual aspect onto the south facing garden.  The kitchen includes sliding glass doors that open up to a covered terrace protected by the projecting lounge above.  All non-habitable rooms are located on the north (rear) elevation.

The entrance is accentuated between one of three peaked gables, rotated radially to give a different view from each room.

From the entrance hall the stair rises and turns to face the sea.  This glazed flat roof space allows access to the master bedroom and also the hallway to the other bedrooms and lounge. The journey along the hallway gives a glimpse through the lounge to the sea beyond and a covered roof terrace exploits these views.

The upper lounge is triple aspect with openable roof lights at high level for natural ventilation and cooling.

The material palette is simple and traditional but arranged in a contemporary manner.  White render to the first floor of each gable will compliment a buff multi brick beneath which is also used to the sides and rear.  It is the expanse of glass and the contrasting dark grey cladding that give the building it’s cutting edge, complimenting the dark framed windows and slate roof.

Each south-facing, first floor room is dramatised by huge glass windows which follow the 50 degree roof pitch and framed by the dark grey cladding which masks the material change between elevations.