Victorian Origins – A Modern Classic
First Look At Our ‘Stanford Villa’ Project
This property has had many distinct faces throughout its storied history – it was formerly a grand Victorian Villa, magnificently built on land owned by the prestigious Stanford Estate in Hove, East Sussex. Throughout the transformative years from the 1960s to the 1980s, the building transitioned into an assisted living facility. The additions made during this era resulted in a disjointed configuration that lacked cohesion not only with the internal spaces but also with the surrounding gardens. Today, it stands as a cherished home for a caring family who are passionate about restoring the building to its original 18th Century Victorian splendor while simultaneously incorporating modern extensions and thoughtful additions that complement its handcrafted features.
Altered Simplicity - Refined History
Alter’s innovative design strategy for the house involved the removal of the previously installed unsympathetic piecemeal extensions carried out by earlier custodians, paving the way for the introduction of a series of minimalist-classic alterations.
Horizontal Flow & Purity of External Appearance
Conservation & Heritage Hove Architects
After successfully obtaining full planning permission in a conservation area for this exceptional bespoke series of rear extensions to the expansive 18th Century property, we reveal a stunning transformation. The building is now elegantly enveloped in a light, sandy-coloured ‘Petersen Kolumba Brick,’ complemented by an off-white mortar that reflects the inherent sense of grandeur and timeless elegance characteristic of this former Grand Victorian villa, while also echoing the distinctive chalk cliffs native to the Sussex area.
Grandeur & Timeless Elegance
Artfully Framing The Gardens
The modern, sophisticated design stands out strikingly against the backdrop of neighbouring historical buildings. This project is fundamentally concerned with proportions, scale, and meticulous attention to detail – the design composition artfully frames the existing villa through a large horizontal ground-floor mass crafted from brick, glass, and aluminium, lightly divided by vertical uprights. Refined by a delicate fenestration grid of materials, the subtle colour palette of pale greys, chalky bricks, stucco render, and light timbers contribute to the overall classical composition of this remarkable house.
