WowHaus

This rather striking 1930s Oliver Hill art deco house in Frinton-On-Sea, Essex, is back on the market, around five years since I last spotted it.

I have featured quite a number of 1930s houses in Frinton-On-Sea in the past, but few seem to come up for sale these days after a dash to market for many some years back. So let’s appreciate the one that is for sale.

Of course, you know the story of Frinton-On-Sea in Essex and its modernist designs. The Frinton Park Estate was due to be a showcase for architecture and modern living, with 200 acres of land purchased for 1,100 houses, a town hall, college, churches, a shopping area and a hotel.

The part of this land nearest the sea was the ’show home’ area, featuring architecture by lead architect Oliver Hill and assisted by the likes of Wells Coates, Maxwell Fry, Erich Mendelsohn, Serge Chermayeff and Frederick Gibberd.

Sadly the project didn’t quite work on the scale envisaged, but some of the houses were built. Around 404 houses were constructed in the area, which included 12 Oliver Hill designs, Amazingly, 10 still exist in some form or other, with this being one of them.

In terms of the architecture, this is pretty much what Oliver Hill designed to take full advantage of the sea views. But it has been significantly updated over the years.

I know that’s often an issue for ‘purists’ who love the original 1930s detailing, but I don’t know the back story to this one. All too often, these designs are left to crumble, and a full restoration is required. When that happens, it’s up to the owner to decide if they want to go ‘old’ or ‘new’. In this case, it’s very much a case of ‘new’.

There are some interesting details within (not least the internal doors), but this is a contemporary finish no matter where you look. I can’t find any obvious period details inside the house. Some modern details have a ‘nod’ to the 1930s and art deco architecture and style, but ultimately this is a modern-day finish.

That likely dictates if this house is for you (asking price aside). Someone has obviously spent a lot of time and money on this house, but if you want something ‘period’, you probably want to hold fire. Although very few houses of this style come up for sale these days. I spot the occasional one. But expecting a house to have significant originality around 100 years since construction isn’t necessarily realistic.

If you like the modern/contemporary finish, let’s focus on this one.

You are looking at a seafront house with bi-fold doors and balconies to take advantage of the views. Some amazing period railings around it and the kind of curved design that is typical of these modernist Frinton designs.

Key spaces within include the ‘entrance room’ with large windows for more of those views and the first-floor entertaining room with bi-folding doors onto a walk-on balcony, as well as a feature pool table to match the design of the room. The main bedroom next door also has the benefit of a door onto a separate balcony to the front, as well as that wall of curved glazing.

The layout as it stands offers a living room, a kitchen/dining/sitting room (opening onto the garden), study, utility and WC on the ground floor, with a double garage also built into the house. The kitchen is as modern as they come, with an array of upmarket appliances previously listed as a coffee machine, rotisserie oven, induction hob and under-counter family-sized oven and grill, microwave and wine cooler.

Head upstairs and the space is dominated by that entertaining area, but also includes the master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and bathroom, three more bedrooms and a further bathroom.

That’s not quite all, as there are two summer houses outside, a garden to the rear, currently with a large hot tub (I’m not sure if that stays or not). Like the inside, this is all about entertaining.

There is also a paved area to the front and something you will spot on the listing, which is a beach hut. But note that the beach hut will be available by separate negotiation.

Presumably, all the tech from the previous listing is still there too. That was down as a lighting system which was individually controlled for each room, a hi-tech alarm system and a telephone control point located in the kitchen. Note that all of the internal doors and joinery are made of luxury bespoke walnut too. This was and still is a luxury renovation.

That is reflected in the price, with the house on the market for offers in the region of £1,500,000.

Images and details courtesy of Fine and Country. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.