Goldsmith Mews
Goldsmith Mews is a development of four homes that replaces a row of derelict garages. The design channels the
memory of the neighbouring Lord Nelson pub – long since demolished – taking
the name of the pub’s first landlady, Sarah Goldsmith.
Having been appointed in March 2020, we successfully took the project through pre-application, and obtained planning consent for three homes in under 12 months via delegated powers. Subsequently, following the purchase of an additional strip of land, the scheme was seamlessly extended to four homes, which achieved planning permission in February 2022. The project is our third in a series of schemes on infill sites for the same development team, having originally obtained planning consent for them with Chipstead Way.
The village of Chalk has a rich history,
most notably as the seaside resort frequented by Charles Dickens, who holidayed
and honeymooned there, and based his novel Great Expectations on what he
observed in Chalk. The design is inspired by the character of the local village,
which up until the 1940s was characterised by timber weatherboard buildings,
including the former pub. This scheme seeks to reinstate the weatherboard aesthetic,
but with a contemporary twist: using a high-quality robust material which will
not weather. The cladding panels replicate the rhythm and
dimensions of timber weatherboarding, yet are durable enough to withstand the
conditions of this exposed location on the edge of the Thames.
While the proposal is a characterful re-interpretation of historic elements from the site, this is a contemporary scheme with overtly modernist detailing. Office S&M’s admiration for the work of Jean Prouvé and his innovation with detailing is referenced in the porthole windows that provide a contrast to the otherwise historic material character. Similarly, the proposed colour palette circumvents the traditional colours associated with weatherboard, avoiding being described as vernacular.
While the proposal is a characterful re-interpretation of historic elements from the site, this is a contemporary scheme with overtly modernist detailing. Office S&M’s admiration for the work of Jean Prouvé and his innovation with detailing is referenced in the porthole windows that provide a contrast to the otherwise historic material character. Similarly, the proposed colour palette circumvents the traditional colours associated with weatherboard, avoiding being described as vernacular.
‘The proposals are bespoke to the site and acknowledge its complexities and constraints. This should be recognised as a positive approach and far better than placing generic designs on to the site, which so often happens.‘
Design South East
At ground level, the
houses are set back to create a sheltered entrance and car parking space under
pilotis, in a design inspired by Erno Goldfinger’s Willow Road. This level is
differentiated materially by its cladding, which runs vertically instead of horizontally,
and is coloured yellow to create a bright, welcoming entrance.
The row of houses also adopts the gable roof form ubiquitous in the village. A dormer, differentiated by its cladding of metal standing seam, will house ‘a room in the roof’ in each of the three houses. The roof space accommodates two bedrooms, an en-suite and bathroom. Meanwhile, the staggered front elevation creates a more inviting entrance, and allows clear views of the Thames from the bedrooms.
The kitchen is on the ground floor, opening out to the generous garden, while the open-plan living room is on the first floor, providing views over the 10m-long private gardens. A third bedroom on the first floor can be adapted as a home office or as an annex space with independent access for multi-generational living. Ideas around flexible living were key to the project, with the two living spaces offering options for a variety of configurations.
To understand more about how we provide services to optimise sites for our developer clients, just click here.
The row of houses also adopts the gable roof form ubiquitous in the village. A dormer, differentiated by its cladding of metal standing seam, will house ‘a room in the roof’ in each of the three houses. The roof space accommodates two bedrooms, an en-suite and bathroom. Meanwhile, the staggered front elevation creates a more inviting entrance, and allows clear views of the Thames from the bedrooms.
The kitchen is on the ground floor, opening out to the generous garden, while the open-plan living room is on the first floor, providing views over the 10m-long private gardens. A third bedroom on the first floor can be adapted as a home office or as an annex space with independent access for multi-generational living. Ideas around flexible living were key to the project, with the two living spaces offering options for a variety of configurations.
To understand more about how we provide services to optimise sites for our developer clients, just click here.
Detail
Location: Gravesham, KentProject: Planning consent for three new build houses on an infill site
Client: Stem Homes
Planning Consent: March 2022
Team
Architect: Office S&MLandscape : Maude Pinet
Daylight/Sunlight : T16 Design
Transport : Paul Mew Associates
Flood Risk and SUDS : Herrington Consulting
Archaeological : Wessex Archaeology
Visual : William Bryan
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Building Design