Let us remind you that the ambitious project Living Architecture aims to promote modern architecture in action. The world's leading designers are building villas for short-term rent in different parts of England, and for the price of an average hotel room anyone can appreciate the advantages of modern architecture and interior design "from the master". This time, the NORD Architecture Bureau from Glasgow was the conductor of the ideas of architecture of the XXI century. The villa designed by them is designed for 8 people and outwardly most resembles several traditional rural houses with gable roofs glued together.
The Beach at Cape Dungeness, selected as the site of another Living Architecture project, is considered one of the most poetic and desolate places in England. This area has the status of a nature reserve, and the harsh romance of local landscapes has attracted artists to Kent more than once. For example, the closest neighbor of the Shingle house is the house of director Derek Jarman, so the creators of the villa have every reason to believe that it will be in demand.
The status of a protected area imposed its own restrictions on architects. In particular, the foundation of the house had to be completely shallow, and the facades had to be in harmony with the environment. That is why the choice of the authors fell on wood - the villa is sheathed with panels of dark tarred shingle, and on the side facades and roof they are overlapped like tiles, which gives the surface an additional texture. The architects deliberately gave the villa a traditional form - it not only visually harmonizes with the deserted beach and rare fishing huts on it, but in itself is the most ergonomic and energy efficient.
The northern facade of the villa is made as closed as possible, which allows you to minimize heat loss in the cold season, while the rest, on the contrary, are generously glazed. In particular, the panoramic glazing of the living room, dining room and bedrooms on the ground floor is designed as a sliding screen, opening which, you can "let" the beach into the interior.
The Shingle house has four bedrooms, one living room with a fireplace, a dining room combined with a kitchen, a dressing room and a sauna - located in a separate volume, which contrasts with the main house due to its light paneling. In the interiors, in contrast to the facades, white also dominates.
A. M.
