1960s modern house in Eccleston Park, Prescot, Merseyside
Good architecture never ages. And this 1960s modern house in Eccleston Park, Prescot, Merseyside is a case in point.
It’s not the most architecturally bold house I have featured, nor is it the most expensive. But it’s a wonderful design. The kind of design that just doesn’t get built anymore. And that’s a real shame.
With land prices at a premium and glazing being less of a feature of new-builds, you see less and less houses of this type on the market. Not that design this was ever a mass-produced house. This was/is a unique architect-led property, which I am presuming dates from the 1960s, although I am happy to be corrected on that if you know better.
It certainly has the look of a modern (or even midcentury modern) house of that era in the UK, with many of its key features of the day still in place. But this isn’t a time capsule of the era. Far from it. However, the architectural components that made it stand out are still in place decades on.
The design itself looks largely untouched. Walls of glass look out over the extensive gardens and ensure plenty of natural light. But it’s the interior that really brings this one to life for me.
Again, it is largely untouched, except for the areas you would expect to be updated: a recent kitchen upgrade, the bathroom, furniture, and fixtures and fittings. But the frame of this one is still the original design.
As you can see, all that glazing really does create a bright, light-filled space and offers some great views out over the extensive gardens. Very much bringing the outside in.
But I also love the open-plan layout for the reception areas, the original wood ceilings (with what looks like the original lights), the exposed brick, the wooden floors, and the brick fireplace. The modern kitchen is understated and works well within the house.
It’s a house that offers options for going contemporary, but it could also ‘go sixties’ if you want to create something more midcentury modern. The bones are here—it just needs the fixtures and furnishings, which is the easy part.
There’s also a lot of living space here. Perhaps more than you might expect at first glance.
That starts with the entrance reception hall with storage, which in turn accesses the main living room with the brick (and working) open fire and dining room. I love this area, which has glazing aplenty, original doors and dividers, plus those lovely wood ceilings and the exposed brick finish. It’s a modern dream.
Beyond that is the modern fitted kitchen with integral appliances and a separate utility room with a guest cloakroom and a storage room.
Access via the dining room leads to a summer room, too. Again, there is plenty of glazing, wood ceilings with beams, and access to the patio area just beyond.
You also get three double bedrooms with full-height glazing and a modern family bathroom with a separate WC. That’s not quite all, as the first floor has a further double bedroom with access to an office area with skylights.
The outside space is also a selling point. To the front is a long, private, gated driveway with lots of parking space and access to the side and rear.
A paved patio area is ideal for entertaining and includes a hot tub, wooden playhouse, and summerhouse with power and light, which might well be adapted for some extra living or working space.
And the gardens too. The photos tell the story of that one, but it’s fair to say that the amount of garden you get here is far in excess of what you would expect of a contemporary build. Half an acre in total, all secluded and with mature shrubs and plenty of lawn. All immaculately maintained, too.
If this is your kind of place, it is just on the market, with an asking price of £749,950.
Images and details courtesy of Burns & Reid. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
