Architectural Styles in Essex
Essex is an abundance of architectural styles, with such a wealth of Modernist design, the Essex Architecture Weekend evolved to showcase some of the finest examples.
Modernist gems include Silver End, built by Frances Henry Crittal, the pioneer of steel-framed windows, for his workers. Unsurprisingly, the modernist white boxes all feature metal window frames.
The Bata estate in East Tilbury was built by Tomáš Baťa for his shoe factory workers. The 1930s houses are box-shaped, pebble-dashed precursors for the 1960s semi-detached houses.
Frinton-on-sea features a collection of Modernist designed homes and other noteworthy buildings include the Yacht Club in Burnham-on-Crouch and Labworth Cafe, Canvey Island.
Not just white boxes and Art Deco design, Essex is also home to the quirky A House For Essex, designed by Grayson Perry and EAT as part of Alain de Botton's Living Architecture project. Progressive house design at the South Chase development on the outskirts of Harlow and Passivhaus accredited estates of affordable housing in the village of Wimbish.
In contrast to the architecturally designed homes are the traditional houses and cottages in villages such as Dedham and Thaxted. One of the predominant traditional styles of Essex architecture is the half timber building, with lime-rendered walls and pargeting patterns etched into the rendering found mostly in Essex and Suffolk. The roof is low and sloping with clay tiles – slate tiles are rarely found on houses in Essex. Thatched roofs are also found across Essex.
Like the rest of Britain, Essex has the ubiquitous Millennial-style housing which appears in the many commuter towns of high-density housing estates, such as Colchester, Brentwood, Basildon and Braintree.
90/00s New Build
Houses built between 1990 and today represent the new build that has become the most prolific style of housing in the UK. Usually, an economical footprint, built from either light brown or red brick featuring a minimal front and back garden with a drive and integrated garage too small to house most modern cars. The new builds are driven by energy efficiency and have small windows and early designs sometimes have Georgian bars for decoration.
The most versatile style of housing that has double or triple glazing in either white or popular anthracite grey frames. Front doors are uPVC or composite with a small glazed panel.
For 90/00s New Build properties, we recommend:
Windows: uPVC casement or tilt and turn windows in grey or white.
Doors: Composite door with a glazed panel in grey to match the windows or a range of bright colours to suit the brickwork.
Modern/Architectural
Architecturally designed homes worthy of Grand Designs are usually detached houses built on generous plots.
The modern designs feature large expanses of glass to maximise light and often borrow materials and building techniques used in commercial construction. Large sheets of glass need strong frames to support them, so aluminium frames are popular for structure and to achieve a signature sleek look.
Doors can be oversized in natural timber, aluminium or a continuation of glazing.
For modern/architectural properties, we recommend:
Windows: Aluminium windows or uPVC flush casement frames in a dark grey or black.
Doors: Natural wooden door or fully glazed door and aluminium frame in contemporary dark grey or classic black.
Thatched Cottages
Traditional English country cottages are highly desired and none more so than the chocolate box style of the thatched roof cottage.
Most cottages fall within conservation areas, or listed building status and this limits any changes that can be made to the appearance of the building and the windows must be in an original style. Usually timber casement or sash.
A front door is usually timber with stable door styles popular.
For thatched cottage properties, we recommend:
Windows: Wooden (sometimes uPVC) flush casement windows with traditional Georgian bar styling in muted colours, or wooden sash windows.
Doors: Wooden door or composite door in classic green, brown or grey.