Meloy Architects spent a long weekend at the Shingle House in Dungeness, Kent. Part of the living Architecture series its a stunning property by NORD architects in the UK’s only desert. This amazing contemporary residence has a timeless attention to detail which reflects the spirit of Dungeness.
Here is some blurb from the living architecture site (www.living-architecture.co.uk);
NORD have embraced the extremes of the location. Their 'Shingle House' is a dramatic sleek black building made up out of stained black timber shingles and boards. Inside a polished white concrete fireplace is surrounded by comfortable seating, with views out onto the shingle beach beyond. The house has its own small bath house, with an imposing sunken bath, and fittings made up of carefully hand-crafted metalwork and timber.
NORD have not overlooked any detail of the house, from the Shaker inspired pegs inset around the walls of each room, to the door and tap handles fashioned from either Purpleheart or ebonised black hardwood, to the brass sinks and the careful selection of switch plates and accessories. Within the bath house the basin and bath have been cast as black concrete, with white cast concrete being formed to create the kitchen work surfaces and floor.
The furniture, lighting and fabrics have been selected to give the interior a contemporary eclectic feel whilst keeping in mind the scale of the house. NORD have consciously varied the scale of rooms in the house, keeping the intimacy of the original cottage for the bedrooms, along with the more open spaces for communal eating, drinking and socialising.
Taking advantage of the roof space within the main house, NORD created a small bedroom and bathroom ‘in the eaves’ and a small mezzanine seating area; a restful space overlooking the main sitting room below, and giving elevated views across Dungeness through a large ‘picture’ window.
If you get a chance to stay here I can’t recommend it enough.
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