Shingle House
- Location
- Kent
- Size
- Sleeps 8
Shingle House is designed by Scottish practice, NORD (Northern Office for Research and Design) and situated on the shingle beach of Dungeness, near Romney Marsh, one of the most unusual and poetic landscapes in England.
Accommodation
Shingle House
- Expansive views of the sea and surrounding nature reserve.
- Privately located in the unique and protected environment of Dungeness.
- Freshly caught local fish and shellfish available (when in season).
- Beautifully crafted private house with exquisite architectural detailing.
- For up to eight guests all ages; dog friendly.
- Four bedrooms, and three bathrooms.
Shingle House is greatly admired by all who come to stay, and was the first architect-designed house where visitors to this unusual and protected natural environment, could spend a holiday.
Surrounded by shingle, with the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch miniature railway passing by the end of the garden, the house is designed for guests seeking out a comfortable and relaxed place to stay with friends and family; you can bring your architecture loving dog too!
The large open plan kitchen and dining room afford views across Dungeness, here guests can cook, eat and chat in this elegant and refined space. Two large folding windows can be fully opened, one onto the surrounding landscape, the other onto a sheltered inner courtyard area, which is ideal for alfresco eating or taking in the afternoon sun.
Along a short corridor is the main living area, set around a large concrete fireplace with inset wood burner; here guests can relax, read, listen to music or just gaze across the shingle to the sea beyond. A smaller quieter sitting room, with views to the sea, is positioned on a mezzanine above; leading to a bedroom and en-suite bathroom, all set within the eaves of the house.
To the rear of the house, overlooking the gardens, are three bedrooms and two bathrooms, one of which features a large walk-in shower and views to the sea.
Set well back from the road, with no near neighbours, this exquisitely detailed and private house, is perfect for those wishing to experience life by the sea in an exceptional environment.
Location
About Your Stay
During Your Stay
Floor Plan
What Guests Say
I found the house very relaxing, like being cocooned and I was very sad to leave. We loved to go for walks on the beach - you could do so much on the doorstep. It was a treat to myself for my 47th birthday and I invited my parents and family to stay with us as I wanted to share the experience of staying somewhere very different.
House magnificent - enjoyed by everyone.
This is architecture at its best, marvellously interacting with its landscape and a joy to stay in.
A fantastic house and a great experience.
We simply loved everything about the house and location. It was the best weekend!
Just the most beautiful house - amazing. We were all sad to leave.
It was an absolute joy to stay in the house, I loved it so much I have reserved for next year already.
We thought the house was wonderful and enjoyed being there very much. It is a very memorable experience to be able to exist, even for a few days, in that kind of designed space, within that amazing landscape.
The whole experience was great and all our friends and family who stayed agreed. The house is simple and beautiful and the attention to design detail very impressive. We especially loved the rather mid/century feel mixed with Scandi/American West! The setting is of course also fantastic and atmospheric.
The experience provided by Living Architecture did not prepare us for the reaction to the reality. Each member of my extended family confessed to the uniqueness of the feeling as we entered the house. It was the best example of how a home and location could knit together and create a magical atmosphere.
About The Architecture
We commissioned NORD on the strength of their finding simple and elegant solutions to complex problems.
Dungeness is environmentally protected and a conservation area, due to the abundance of rare flora and fauna, and many unusual houses that have evolved over the last two hundred years. Therefore, designing and building a new house required very careful consideration.
The architects looked to create three separate elements to the house, linking them by glazed corridors. These parts were to respect the size and shape of the dilapidated house and sheds they replaced.
Referencing the old tarred sheds of the local fisherman’s huts dotted along the shoreline, the exterior is cloaked in black stained cedar shingles and timber. With tinted windows and black frames, the house appears as a series of huts silhouetted against the surrounding landscape.
By contrast the interior of the house is a palette of white stained wood, and concrete, set against the warmth of a rich dark Purpleheart timber floor. An eclectic mix of contemporary furniture and rugs have been sourced, along with specific pieces being commissioned for the house.
The Shingle House responds perfectly to the geography of Dungeness, and the changing environmental conditions and seasons.
Whilst its contemporary origins are clear, the design of the house seeks to visually integrate with this unique landscape.