Seaside living: a Margate housing development is inspired by beach huts

A mere hour away from London by train, Margate is known for its cultural heritage, tourist charms and glorious sunsets over the Channel coast, as famously immortalised by JMW Turner. And now, this sunset could be within your daily views, should you choose to set up camp in one of Guy Hollaway’s latest residential offerings.

The series of 11 beachfront houses was created for Harriss Property. The architect sought to reinterpret the ’iconic English beach hut typology’, explains the developers.

Indeed, Hollaway, who grew up and lives locally, feels very close to the recent regeneration wave that hit Margate – starting with the Turner Contemporary museum by David Chipperfield, opened in 2011, and followed by several leisure and hospitality destinations spread across the coast since.

’Here, we wanted to create the ultimate beach hut for 21st century living’, says Hollaway. ’Architecturally, our open-plan design allows for flexible spaces that are ideal for the modern family.’

The house’s simple outlines – clad in larch wood and topped by a pebbled flat roof – are matched by an equally straightforward and pared down interior, where everything was purposefully chosen to be functional and durable. The high level finishing brings the element of luxury needed, while the clean spaces remain flexible.

The complex includes two single storey homes and nine two-storey builds; the latter feature an open plan kitchen, and living and dining room areas on the ground floor. On the same level, a double bedroom and bathroom are set next to a spiral staircase leading to the master bedroom and en-suite located on the first floor.