Creek House - Revisited

2 years on from its completion, photographer Martin Gardner revisited Creek House to find the cedar cladding weathering beautifully, the house looking more settled on the estuary front day by day.

This success did not go without much deliberation in the design process. The ocean and the weather are not a building's best friend, posing constant threat from wind, salt, UV and water. The number one consideration is working out which materials are durable in the particular location and age gracefully.  

Our director Andy said:
’A great place to start is to take a walk around where the house is located and look at other properties in similar positions. The materials on these houses will indicate what works and what doesn’t. You should also look at traditional and vernacular buildings; experience from generation to generation would have informed the makers what lasts well with the minimum maintenance. Ideally, you should identify the materials that appear to have improved with age and weathering. Certain materials will take on a patina or growths that will enhance a building’s appearance, often making it feel more of its place. One thinks of Cornish coastal stone walls or the slate roof of a Welsh mountain cottage.

 In my experience materials to think about that will age gracefully will be stone, metal cladding, and certain types of timber. Larch, cedar, copper, bronze, slate and granite would all be pleasing solutions, with excellent life spans.

 Windows are tricky. We have used good quality Aluminium frames with a powder coat or anodised finish in coastal locations with success. Be careful of exposed or cut edges on the frames as these will corrode. If you do use PVC then go for quality and consider the ranges of dark greys that they now do that look really crisp and will remain untarnished for longer.’ 

Read more about the project here

Photography by Martin Gardner