Ventura 1970s modern house in Crockham Hill, Kent
It has been updated, but the Ventura 1970s modern house in Crockham Hill, Kent is still a very appealing prospect.
The house dates back to 1972, which is a surprise because at first glance I had this down as much older. Not so. But it was the house the original owner wanted. He was an architect going by the name of J Torrens and designed it for himself and presumably his family.
You’ll find it in Crockham Hill and more specifically, what is described as a ‘tranquil position’ in the heart of the Kent countryside, surrounded by protected fields and bordering woodland. In fact, two additional ‘pockets’ of land have been acquired by the owners in recent years, extending the garden to approximately a third of an acre. So quite a plot.
But the plot doesn’t sell this one for me, it’s the architecture itself, as well as the period details that remain. I say remain because it is obvious that work has been carried out on the house in the not-too-distant past.
The agent describes it as ‘sensitive modernisation’, which sounds about right to me when I browse through the images. Work has been carried out, but the soul of the original design is still very much in place and the exterior seems largely unchanged. That’s always key.
The standout feature is that entrance hall and its glass blocks, which is all original (as you might have guessed) and a dramatic start to any home. The only downside is that it’s hard to maintain impact for the rest of the house.
But there is still plenty to catch the eye. The open-tread staircase of course, as well as the stone fireplace, which also separates the large open space of the reception, the full-height glazing to the rear and the clean, muted finish throughout. This is a dream of a family home.
It’s also quite a spacious family home too, offering something like 1,800 sq. ft. of living space over its two floors.
As I said, the dramatic entrance kicks thing off, with a a double-height entrance hall and the blocks of glass. I could stand and look at that for quite some time before entering into the main space. But eventually, I will and to the immediate left of the entrance is a study overlooking the garden, with a wall of ‘bespoke cabinetry’ within.
The living and dining areas are part of an open-plan layout across the ground floor, with a wall of York stone running the length of the room. A modern log-burner now a part of the original brick hearth, with an engineered wood flooring throughout.
A new addition to this part of the house is a wall of sliding glass doors, which brings both added light and the views of the garden into the mix.
The dining area leads into the modern kitchen and its built-in appliances, with a large picture window spanning one wall. A shower room finishes off the layout of the ground floor.
Head up that wonderful staircase and you will find the master bedroom taking up one end of the first floor, complete with bespoke cabinetry along one wall. The family bathroom and three additional bedrooms can be found on the opposite side of the floor, each with ‘elevated views’ across the treetops.
The outside space is quite significant too. As I said earlier, more land has been acquired by the current owners, so quite a sizeable space to work with.
The garden has also seen a lot of work and as such, is quite a selling point. A mix of formal beds, mature trees and raised vegetable and flower beds, as well as seating areas throughout the garden and a large patio that leads onto a raised deck. Ideal for the summer.
Beyond that is a corner of woodland, a wildlife pond and your very own treehouse, along with two timber-framed storage sheds and an attached double garage with parking for two vehicles.
A lovely house, one that will cost you in the region of £820,000.
Images and details courtesy of The Modern House. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
