Houses on Portland Harbour, Dorset coastal residence design, English esidential property development images

Castle Cove Houses on Portland Harbour

Waterfront Property in Dorset design by AR Design Studio, England, UK

18 Sep 2017

Architects: AR Design Studio

Location: Portland Harbour, Dorset, Southern England

Castle Cove Houses on Portland Harbour

AR Design Studio is delighted to announce the recent planning approval of its latest project, Castle Cove.

Castle Cove Houses on Portland Harbour
pictures courtesy of architects office

Castle Cove Residences overlooking Portland Harbour

Situated on the Jurrasic Coast, the three house development sits above the public beach Castle Cove, overlooking the Portland Harbour. The area is famous for its sailing and watersports, hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing events in 2012. These ideal views are enjoyed throughout Weymouth, however on the site of Castle Cove, these have come at a price.

The site constraints include a Site of Special Scientific Interest and World Heritage Site in the lower section, as well as land instability, which is common along this area of the coast. The condition of the site is deceiving; the steep slope is untouched by development, with the existing ground condition hidden under hedgerow.

Castle Cove Houses Portland Harbour property

The public footpath leading down to Castle Cove beach has already been victim to this instability, the remaining path now a dirt track for those who choose to access the beach at their own risk.

Castle Cove Houses Portland Harbour

The client, C&L Developments came to AR Design Studio in February 2016 with a brief to improve upon the extant planning approval for three houses. The budding developers were after a set of houses with the ‘wow factor’ to match that of the site.

Castle Cove Houses Portland Harbour

Due to the constraints on site, the massing was kept similar to that already approved. AR’s contemporary approach focused on simplifying the massing and materials to create a set of stream-lined, modest homes.

Castle Cove Houses Portland Harbour

Spread over three floors, the house is designed to appear at one storey from Old Castle Road, a flat roof employed for minimum impact. Two elements sit below, pushed around a central core to break up their mass. The façade is opened in spaces to capture aspect, and the pods rotated to avoid overlooking between the houses, and maximise views in all directions. Finally, the two lower floors are submerged in the landscape, obscuring the lower elements.

Castle Cove Houses Portland Harbour

Castle Cove’s site has been a determining factor in both the design and planning application, the project being submitted in April 2017. Five months later, the approval has assured the new proposal will add a modest contemporary approach to the picturesque Portland Harbour.
Want to visit Castle Cove for yourself? Click on the video below to explore the site.

Castle Cove Houses Portland Harbour

The site plan as well as generic floor plans can be seen below.

Castle Cove Houses on Portland Harbour in Dorset images / information received 180917 from AR Design Studio

AR Design Studio

Location: Castle Cove, Dorset, England, UK

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Comments / photos for the Castle Cove Property – Portland Harbour Residence in Dorset design by AR Design Studio Architects, UK, page welcome.