Appledore Development, Kent Houses – e-architect

Appledore property development, Kent rural properties, English homes architecture photos

June 14, 2022

Design: RX architects

Location: Appledore, Kent, South East England, United Kingdom

photos by Ashley Gendek

Appledore Development, England

The Appledore Development the site is situated along the bank of the Royal Military Canal overlooking the canal and adjacent National Trust land with rural views beyond. The canal stretches 28 miles along the southern coast and was built as a defense against a possible Napoleonic invasion. The canal itself is designated a classified ancient monument and the land surrounding it is classified as a site of special scientific interest.

The Grade I listed Parish Church sits directly to the rear of the site with a border of mature trees which forms the edge of the historic village of Appledore. The site plan consists of 4 detached houses of 4 bedrooms each with private gardens overlooking the canal and National Trust lands. Full planning approval was granted at the end of 2018 to replace the redundant warehouses with the new development, alongside the restoration of the original Victoria factory.

The houses have large open-plan ground floors, with a kitchen-dining area overlooking the private gardens. On the first floor there are 2 double bedrooms, one with bathroom and a single bedroom and on the second floor there is a large master suite with dressing room, bathroom and a balcony terrace overlooking the canal.

The houses were designed to reference the traditional materials commonly found in the historic village, but detailed and executed in a contemporary manner. Kebony wood cladding was used, along with local hand-made clay tiles and bricks. There are green glazed brick details on the entrance doors with projecting awnings.

The homes were constructed using an off-site pre-engineered timber frame system as the structural framework, with a highly insulated and sealed envelope. The buildings are heated by Air Source heat pumps.

At the entrance to the site there is also a Victorian mill which is a key feature of the scheme, facing the main road frontage. The program included a complete restoration, refurbishment and extension of the mill to provide commercial premises with a potential café and a village museum overlooking the canal.