Cubist-style home with magnificent views of the downs and harbour on Hayling Island

Meticulous planning and a passion for modernist style has seen a Hayling Island home transformed to make the most of sweeping views and coastal light and bring the outside indoors.

Strutt & Parker31 North StreetChichester

01243 885199

Ivory House is a contemporary Cubist-style home, set a stone’s throw from Chichester Harbour to the front and encircled by open farmland to the rear.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Its owners have always been admirers of modernist buildings, which offer clean, square edges and the extensive use of glass throughout.

They said: “Inside, they provide large, airy, light spaces that invite you throughout the different sections.

“Outside, they provide interest through their staggered design, which merges differing materials in equal proportions.”

Having moved from west Berkshire to the coast a decade or so ago, they could not find a house they liked enough to call home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

So, “We contacted a local architect, Dwell Design, who specialise in this type of design, to undertake the project to completely transform a traditional Spanish villa, complete with white render and traditional red roof tiles, into the contemporary cubist home of today.”

Today, their transformed home is largely constructed from glass, cedar cladding, ivory render and distinct dark grey aluminium, for the copings and doors.

“From the outset, it was important to us to incorporate the outdoors and the final designs from the architect reflected this objective.”

Inside, the house expands centrally from all sides from a sweeping hall way, where light floods from a glass skylight into a dramatic, T-shaped grand staircase.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Other spectacular treats include a solar farm, which feeds into the National Grid, plus a rooftop terrace with hot tub and seating area, which is accessed from the master bedroom and has magnificent views of Chichester Harbour, the local marina and the South Downs.

Ivory House also comes with a self-contained building outside, with two offices linked by a kitchenette and shower/cloakroom, where the owners spend much time working: “It’s a highly usable space ... and a great deal of thought has been placed on usability.”

Undoubtedly, however, ‘it’s the location that we adore and will miss most’.

“Just one field away from the coast, our daily morning walk takes us round the banks of Chichester Harbour to view sunrises, birds, and yachts on swinging moorings, back across fields through to the ancient Norman church in Northney.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Biking is a passion on the island and within a mile you can reach two farm tearooms and a traditional pub, complete with giant Hampshire pigs in the garden, and of course the car-free Hayling Billy coastal cycle track, that takes you from the island’s bridge down to the blue flag beaches.”

As the owners are not gardeners ‘by any stretch’, their garden has been designed to be not only private but also as low maintenance as possible and seems to blend seamlessly into farmland and copses.

“A family of deer lives in one of the copses, so it’s not unusual to have these beautiful creatures as visitors – especially in springtime.”

Above all, Ivory House is a family home, with ample space for teenagers and elderly relatives given its modular design and roomy interiors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It would suit a family who entertain – as well as those who enjoy chilled-out family relaxing, living in more intimate spaces and snugs.”

A superb, architect designed and built contemporary cubist home in a unique position offering coastal and countryside views and delivering excellent accommodation of 4,139sqft finished to a high specification.

Five bedrooms, five bathrooms and six reception rooms.

Roof-top decked and glazed terrace, which affords breathtaking views of the harbour and open fields to the South Downs, as well as a built-in hot tub.

Secluded, large rear garden with an expanse of lawn and views over open fields beyond.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Located on the outer-edge of the pretty countryside village of Northney, and designated within Chichester Harbour’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Guide Price £2,150,000