Sea, Sky House, Whitstable

This is not the first time these architects have self-built their own home. But this one on the Kent coast is for the long term, reflected in the relaxed attitude to completion and an eclectic approach to finishes, fittings and detailing. 

The site was purchased by three families – all architects and friends. The front driveway and back of the gardens are shared, and the rest sliced up into equal portions for development. The friends shared a contractor to undertake some initial below-ground works, including the installation of services, after which each family pursued their own construction path (with varying stages of completion still apparent) and supported one another in doing so. 

Sea, Sky House is at the east end of the group. Its north–south orientation provides the opportunity of generous framed sea views without the risk of overheating, and the chance of west-facing windows that might have provoked an objection from less amenable neighbours. The street-facing south elevation unexpectedly has just a single window opening, the vast expanse of wall defending the interiors against both heat and traffic noise. 

The simple form, with a gabled pitched roof, satisfied an early decision to live at first-floor level within the vast volume reaching the rafters. Lowering the sea-facing rear terrace was a clever move to maintain the views above a solid balustrade, but it also meant the ground-floor bedrooms could follow the natural lie of the land, stepping down in section towards the rear. The pale duck-egg colour of the painted exterior boarding, corrugated cement board roof, and galvanised steel gutters and drainpipes gives a cloud-like softness to the house, despite being set with generous glazed openings and cut-outs. 

For the architects to afford to remain in occupation, they had to adhere to a limited budget. They achieved this by managing the construction trades themselves, but also by their early stockpiling of salvaged materials, fittings and fixtures, in the years before construction. 

The resulting interiors are surprisingly eclectic and entertaining in character. An enormous airport light fitting hangs over the dining table, massive stone copings form the base for the wood-burning stove, and ornate panelled doors from a 1930s public building serve the ground-floor rooms.