• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Project Name: Driftwood

Location: Essex, United Kingdom

Date Completed: September 2020

Interior Designer: Clear Architects

Architect: Clear Architects

The brief for Clear Architects was to refurbish and extend a 1980’s house into a contemporary property reviewing items like the position of the previous kitchen and staircase. However, during the initial concept process, it became apparent that the changes were too great to accommodate in a refurbishment, and because it was more economical with less constraints, a new build was proposed.

A desire to create their dream home on the plot where they had brought their family up in the 80’s and 90’s before moving to America drove this project. A place that epitomised great design and where they would retire to, to enjoy with their now grown-up family, completed it.

The client wished for a David Chipperfield influenced by Mies van de Rohe style property as a precedent from The Modern Home; hence why the changes were so great from a starting point of the existing property. They wanted an impressive open plan kitchen/dining/living area as well as a ground floor master suite, with 2 further bedrooms upstairs, alongside a cinema room.

Clear Architects were to create a more impactful principal elevation, a home designed with sharpness, with beautiful detailing, and contrasting modern materials. It was crucial to have vast swathes of daylight flooding the interior and creating views to their secluded garden, and also incorporating outdoor living too which they had been used to in Texas, so Clear Architects needed to ensure that both areas were covered and/or heated.

When you eventually arrive at Driftwood, after winding down the newly located designed driveway, it strikes you as soon as you enter through the front door and see directly through to the landscaped garden just how open and light the house truly is. The sunken lounge area provides a subtle connection to the outside with its open corner, yet also provides snugness at night being a lower level, with the fire on looking out to the carefully lit garden space.

The house really melds inside-outside all the way through, each room with a connection to the outside either on the ground floor, or the first floor looking over the green roof or connected to the mature trees surrounding the house. It really has been created with architectural sharpness, journey, and light in mind and Clear Architects believe it resolutely lands that.