Life Aquatic: waterside homes for sale in the UK
The Norfolk Broads was the destination of our latest ‘My Modern House’ series, where architect Patrick Michell showed us around Backwater, his family holiday home overlooking a secluded lagoon. Inspired by Patrick’s set up, we’ve put together a collection of waterside homes for sale in the UK.
Westbank, London N16
Looking across this waterlily-topped pond with its verdant environs of wildflowers and leafy overhangs, you can’t help but think Monet might have found something to paint at this double-fronted Victorian home in north London. It has certainly inspired an artistic response from its current owner, who built her ceramic studio to overlook the water.
Marine Court, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex
What could be more soul-enriching than drawing the curtains every morning at this south-facing apartment in St Leonards-on-Sea, with its panoramic, uninterrupted views of the sea? Inside, the views are just as impressive, with the 1938 flat retaining original features like parquet flooring, wardrobes, electric heaters and a sliding glass serving hatch.
Crowan, Cornwall
A pond is just a pond until you can jump in, at which point it becomes a swimming pond, which is, of course, infinitely better. This is the case at this former vicarage in Cornwall, where a former ornamental pond, fed by a tributary of the River Hayle, has been repurposed for the sake of being able to take a dip. A wise move indeed.
Frinton-on-Sea, Essex
The Streamline Moderne houses of the Frinton Park Estate are a collection of 35 homes built between 1934-5 that were intended to showcase the best in British Modern design. This Grade II-listed house is one of the finest on the ‘Modernist resort’, and is just a short stroll away from the sandy beaches of Frinton-on-Sea.
The Waterworks, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
Water is a concomitant element to this home in Shropshire, which has been converted from a former waterworks and sits on the banks of the River Severn, to which there is private access. The generous volumes of the original building have been retained in the refurbishment so that interior spaces have an airy, generous feel.
Bedford Towers, Brighton
This updated apartment occupies part of the tenth floor of Bedford Towers, a Modernist block originally designed by Swiss-British architect Richard Seifert in 1967. A mid-century feel endures today, with the current owners imbuing retro charm across the space, which includes a winter garden with views over the English Channel.
Whet your appetite? Explore our collection of coastal homes for more
Read more: My Modern House: architect Patrick Michell at Backwater, his waterside holiday home in Norfolk
My Modern House: interior architect Fiona Naylor on converting industrial buildings in Dungeness
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