Rich Pickings: three homes for sale in Kent
Fruit may be Kent’s greatest export, but as regular explorers of our listings will know, there are other sweet surprises to be found here – albeit of a more architectural streak. And while there’s plenty of history to be found in this corner of the country, the landing point for the Romans when they arrived on our shores 2,000 years ago, there’s also a multitude of magnificent modern and contemporary houses, lived in and lusted over by those drawn to the spa towns, seaside resorts and rolling hills of this part of the world. Fancy it yourself? These three homes, from an old schoolhouse in Margate to boundary-pushing new-build in Broadstairs, give a taste of the good life in the Garden of England.
Ashdown Close, Tunbridge Wells
We’re obviously biased, but we’d wager this four-bedroom mid-century house is among the finest in its development of 10. It’s all thanks to the sensitive renovations of its most recent owners, who have installed parquet floors across its three levels, as well as a super-smart kitchen (think Corian surfaces and Siemens appliances). We love the way this room – joined by the dining and living areas – occupies not the ground but first floor. Bracketed by bedrooms upstairs and down, these open-plan spaces really centre the layout, allowing residents to make the most of the leafy treetop views during daylight hours.
Woven, North Foreland Avenue, Broadstairs
The brainchild of Giles Miller Studios, this extraordinary materials-led house is a thing to behold – when you can see it, that is. Almost hidden by the mature trees that surrounds it, Woven gets its name from the sculptural cladding that partially encases the central structure, acting as a trellis for climbing plants and casting the interiors in gorgeous dappled light at different times of day. Light is a big thing in this part of the world (“The skies over Thanet are the loveliest in all Europe,” wrote Kent’s greatest painter, JMW Turner), which is why the open-plan downstairs spaces here have been arranged to make the most of it, radiating around the outer edge of the floorplan and anchored by a central service area. Upstairs, all four bedrooms have views of the surrounding greenery, while two look towards the sea – just a few minutes away on foot.
The Meadow, Westcliffe
Designed by Hollaway Studio, a RIBA award-winning architecture practice known for its work in Kent, this house sits within the grounds of the Wallet’s Court. Standing as a distinct counterpoint to the 17th-century building, the Meadow is a neat expression of 21st-century architectural ideals: light and space, yes, but with its environment – both local and wider – in mind. Surrounded by a garden carefully planted to enhance biodiversity, the low-lying structure, which takes cues from traditional staddle huts, is concealed behind a wall, its flint chosen specially to speak to the vernacular in this part of the world. Incredibly airtight, fitted with an air-source heat pump, underfloor heating and south-facing solar panels, and topped by a zinc-covered hyperbolic paraboloid roof, this is a shining example of how referential, local design can still push the envelope.
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