1950s Alexander C. Hardy midcentury modern house in Old Hunstanton, Norfolk
A time capsule and a wonderful design, this 1950s Alexander C. Hardy midcentury modern house in Old Hunstanton, Norfolk, is up for sale.
In fact, I don’t know what I love more: the setting, the architecture, or the untouched interior. But I don’t have to pick. This one offers all three, and although not cheap, it’s a rare opportunity to step back in time and also to step out onto the beach whenever you like.
As you might have guessed, the house has remained in the same family since construction in 1957. Updates are minimal. In fact, you would have to look closely to see anything at all. Apart from the odd appliance and fitting, this is pretty much untouched.
The house, architecturally bold for the era, was designed by Alexander C. Hardy, who was recommended to the owners by Leslie Martin, the first Professor of Architecture at the University of Cambridge.
It took a year to complete and was described by the owners as their ‘seaside novelty’. One of the owners wrote in his diary: ’It is so attractive in this lounge, in the sun and out of the wind, with a lovely outlook over a sea sunlit and masterful. Nothing could beat this.’
With all architecture, tastes and styles come and go, and I suspect this wasn’t viewed positively 20 or 30 years later. But midcentury modern architecture is hot right now, and this wonderful example of it shouldn’t have had difficulty finding a new owner.
Yes, some updating will be needed. After all, this hasn’t changed in over 60 years. But the bones of a truly stunning house are still in place, as are original details that will be nigh-on impossible to replicate.
I could spend some time discussing all of the original touches still here, but the best thing to do is check out all of the photos from the agent. There’s so much to see, and I suspect many more hidden away from the photographer’s lens.
The wood panelling, the flooring, the built-in units, the narrow vertical window arrangement in the living room, that gas fire in the same room, the staircase and the double-height space it creates, the distinctive tiling around the stairs, an original kitchen, and of course, that large window framing the views out to sea.
That’s just a taster of what is in place here. But every glance shows another lovely little detail. As I said, it’s a house in need of some updating. But it would be nice to think that someone could work with the key details here rather than ripping everything out. It would be impossible to replicate the same 1950s look and feel, no matter how much you spend on period fixtures and fittings.
As for the house itself, it is set back from a ‘quiet approaching lane’ from Old Hunstanton, sitting behind mature trees and beyond a shingled entranceway. A ‘generous’ garage is on the roadside, which is likely good news for the car buffs out there.
The lower level of the building is dominated by a white masonry plinth, while the upper level features a wooden facade with contrasting vertical strips of wood and glass in one corner.
As you would expect from a house built for the views, the configuration is upside down over the two levels to give the reception areas the best chance of seeing the sea from the rear of the house.
The main entrance leads into a ‘bright and welcoming’ glass-fronted hall with cloakroom storage, a utility area, a WC and a separate shower room. It also gives you a glance at that open-tread staircase, which is very much of the era.
Head up the stairs, and you’ll see what looks like some graphic tiled wall. It could be wallpaper; it isn’t clear, and the agent doesn’t mention it. Either way, it’s incredibly striking and another detail you would want to preserve.
Past that and on the upper floor is the main living room, described as a ‘wonderfully sociable spot to gather’. Pine-panelled walls, cork-tiled flooring, some original design touches and a wall of glass framing the coastal view. French windows lead to a ‘small sheltered space’ and on down to the stone terrace and the garden.
An open-plan dining and kitchen space looks over the entrance hall and stairs. The kitchen is tucked into one corner, and although small, it screams the 1950s with those sunshine-hued cupboard fronts. Another keeper for me.
The bedrooms are plentiful, too. Two of the five bedrooms are on the first floor, each with good storage and views of the front garden. The family bathroom, illuminated by an overhead roof light, sits between. The remaining three bedrooms are on the ground floor.
That’s not quite all, as the outdoor space is a selling point, too. Long flower beds developed over the decades, stone steps to an upper terrace to take in those views once more, a barbecue area and a good-sized grassy lawn. A gate at the rear of the garden leads directly to the beach.
I really hope this midcentury modern house in Old Hunstanton finds the right owner. If that owner is potentially you, the asking price is £1,250,000.
Images and details courtesy of The Modern House. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
