Courtesy of Proctor and Matthews Architects

Proctor and Matthews Architects have released its plans for 140 homes in the first development phase of Mountfield Park, a major urban extension of Canterbury, England as a 21st-century garden city. 

Inspired by the local landscape and vernacular forms, namely nearby courtyard farms and the site’s existing landscape of hops fields and fruit orchards, this first phase of the development will feature six residential clusters with houses interconnected around an orchard landscape. These clusters will be configured as a series of stepped terraces, in response to the site’s topography.

Courtesy of Proctor and Matthews Architects

Courtesy of Proctor and Matthews Architects

Each residential court cluster is contained within a red brick perimeter wall incorporating gables, chimneys and perforated brick panels. This echoes Kent village streetscapes, and provides a distinctive profile to the clusters. White masonry gables rise above the wall – a hint of the predominantly white courtyard façade walls of each home. Red clay tile roofs dominate, while natural slate is used in places to add variety and accentuate particular buildings. A scattering of different gable treatments offers further visual interest – described the architects. 

Courtesy of Proctor and Matthews Architects

Courtesy of Proctor and Matthews Architects

Houses will range in typology and size, from one-bedroom apartments to six bedroom family homes.

Courtesy of Proctor and Matthews Architects

Courtesy of Proctor and Matthews Architects

The elevated siting of the project will afford views of Bell Harry, the tower of Canterbury Cathedral.

Courtesy of Proctor and Matthews Architects

Development is expected to begin in early 2017, if planning consent is granted, and the first homes will be completed by March 2018.

News via Proctor and Matthews Architects. 

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© Todd Watson

• Architects: Nest Architects
• Location: Portballintrae, Bushmills BT57, United Kingdom
• Area: 40.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2015
• Photographs: Todd Watson

• Structural Engineers: Design ID
• Qs: Philip Barbour Associates
• Contractor: DLane Construction

© Todd Watson

The existing 1920’s two storey dwelling is situated at Portballintrae, a small seaside village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Portballintrae takes its name from the Irish ‘Port Bhaile an Tra’, meaning ; ‘port of the beach settlement’ and lies within the Causeway Coast and Glens District Council area. 

© Todd Watson

The original building character consisted of whitewashed cottages nestled around the Ballintrae bay, although that character has changed in no small part through the areas popularity as a seaside resort.

© Todd Watson

Brief
The client wished to reconfigure the existing accommodation to facilitate modern family living for three generations of their family in an open plan arrangement. The requirements set out at the initial briefing meeting included the aspiration to create spaces that engaged with the external environment and moved away from the existing cellular accommodation. The client had a specific requirement to provide an external hot shower area for use following surfing and family visits to the nearby beach. This reinforced the idea that the scheme should act as the family ‘hub’, a place to meet and spend quality time together. Coupled with the visual and emotive element of the brief there was a pragmatic requirement to improve the existing building performance and deal with any issues present simply due to the buildings age.

© Todd Watson

Concept Development
The existing building line facing Ballaghmore Road, had long been established and the intention was to develop a rear extension that would extend beyond the existing gable wall and benefit from views toward the hills beyond and from the evening sun. This approach allowed the visual impact from the public street to be subtle yet provide an interesting modern bookend and give a suggestion of what was beyond.

© Todd Watson

A new extension was added to the building to create an open aspect to the private garden at the rear whilst the poorly lit cellular accommodation was altered to facilitate the families open plan living aspirations and improve the internal environment. The conceptual building form was inspired by the family interest in surfing. The surf board profile manifests itself as a cantilever over the newly formed courtyard and coupled with the use of a hardwood timber soffit provides both protection from the elements and a tactile building face. The remaining building is formed in traditional masonry construction and covered with self-coloured white render that makes reference to the historic character of the area. The material palette used was simple and restrained with the emphasis being placed on strong elements of hardwood timber to add warmth.

Floor Plan

The new extension is bounded by an existing corrugated roofed outhouse which provides an important link to the past. The client wanted to ensure this building element was retained as it represented an emotional link to their early family life in the house. The new extension provides a visual representation of the next generation of their family life without forgetting the past. Their aspiration for the new building extension to be a significant part of their grand-children’s formative years is evident.

© Todd Watson

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