Backwater

Norfolk, United Kingdom – Platform 5 Architects

Project Year : 2016
Developed Area : 165.0 m2
Photographs : Alan Williams

“A house can’t blend in when it’s built to stand out.”

This must have been the architect’s design premise in the construction of this home. Backwater is the contemporary antithesis to other traditional homes in the Norfolk area. This was successfully achieved while maintaining respect to the peacefulness of the location.

Modern in design and architecture, this is home to Platform 5 Architects’ practice director, Patrick Michell, and his family. Part of the brief was to provide contemporary living spaces that are simple, comfortable, and will take great advantage of the surrounding views.

The product is a bright, airy, and relaxing home that’s perfect for the family. It features white interiors interspersed with black and neutral shades of brown and grey. Furniture is mostly minimalist in design except for the plush, comfy-looking couch in the living area.

Sleek lines, shapes, and textures give the home a clean finish, making it look sophisticated and inviting at the same time.

One can easily see the smart integration of a new design in a traditional community. Backwater exemplifies the old adage “unity in variety; beauty in diversity.”

Notes from the Architect:

The house sits on a small promontory in a secluded lagoon in the Norfolk Broads and offers a contemporary counterpoint to more traditionally designed neighbouring houses, while respecting the peaceful natural setting. It is arranged as three low rise bays beneath a series of pitched roofs, which are reminiscent of nearby boat sheds. The house is clad in black-stained timber shingles, a traditional material forming a unifying ribbon element that emphasises its classic Broads silhouette. On the lagoon elevation, extensive glazing gives a more transparent appearance from the waterfront, and a deep canopy creates a sheltered outdoor area
where you can enjoy the setting and the elements.

The house is raised above the waterline, allowing floodwater to flow beneath a landscaped timber deck. Its remote, largely off-grid location requires on-site sewage treatment and a water borehole whilst solar panels and timber stove provide power and heating. The limited access has resulted in the design being developed as a lightweight timber frame sitting on a piled ground structure as construction materials will need to be brought in by barge.

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