Property of the Month

Award-winning architectural practice OB Architecture has unveiled its latest project, ‘Strawberry Close’, a contemporary residential development of seven units set within a verdant site on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells, Kent. An ambitious project given the steeply sloped terrain, OB Architecture has created a building that manages to blend subtly into its leafy surroundings whilst also introducing an imaginative and distinctly modern form.

Strawberry Close is set within a clearing of trees overlooking the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Hargate Forest, one mile from the town’s central Pantiles. Building within the ‘Broadwater Down’ conservation area required a design that responded sensitively to its environment and context and to the deep contours of the curved triangular site. Tiered setbacks and organic curves achieve this and create terraces that extend the living spaces of the apartments to the outside, maximising the far-reaching views.

Olly Bray, Founder of OB Architecture, comments: ‘This peaceful and secluded area close to Tunbridge Wells is typically known for single dwellings and so we wanted to soften the impact of creating a multi-unit scheme by ensuring the building felt embedded into the site. By excavating at ground level and creating tiered levels which step down across the three storeys, the building has less of a bearing on the outlook but still creates a strong visual impression through the undulating brick brands and the blending of timber, brick and glass on the external elevation.’

The palette of varied materials allows the building to further blend into its surroundings and anchors Strawberry Close within its locale. The team has used textured yellow brick, traditionally found on the façades of grand Victorian villas in Tunbridge Wells. This robust, warm brick of the ground floor supports light vertical timber cladding and oversailing brick branding of the upper floors, which appears lightweight in contrast.

Strawberry Close has recently been voted the Best Apartment Scheme 2022 in the What House? Awards and been awarded a 2022 Tunbridge Wells Civic Society Award.

www.obarchitecture.co.uk

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