Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Guardian Property. Read the original article for full details.
Five stand-out facade homes for sale in England
Guardian Property has published a picture gallery of five homes for sale in England, each chosen for a distinctive facade. The properties range from a £495,000 converted chapel in Chester to an £850,000 new-build in Wivenhoe, Essex.
The properties
In Wivenhoe, Essex, a house completed in 2023 takes inspiration from the boat-building sheds that once lined the estuary. It is clad in dark Siberian larch beneath a pair of zinc roofs, with two connected parts arranged around a patio garden. Inside, 11 roof lights and triple-glazed sliding doors fill the home with light, which bounces off polished concrete floors and pink panelling. It has three bedrooms and is on the market at £850,000 through Aucoot.
In Chester, a blue-grey converted iron chapel, known as a "tin tabernacle", dates back to 1909 and sits on a corner of a street lined with red-brick Victorian terraces. A new structure sits within the old building to ensure full insulation, and the tin walls were replaced in 2014. The open-plan sitting room and kitchen feature vaulted ceilings and exposed structural beams, with two bedrooms to the rear. Priced at £495,000, the Little Tin Chapel is under a mile from the main station and marketed by Strutt & Parker.
In Hackney Wick, London, a three-storey infill townhouse completed in 2016 in gated Trafalgar Mews features a shiny black facade of water-resistant, timber-effect cladding. Inside, an oak staircase has handmade balustrades, shadow gaps replace skirting, and LED lighting strips are used throughout. The property has two bedrooms, two bathrooms with ceramic flooring and a roof terrace with hydraulic glazing. It is listed at £800,000 through Dexters.
In Totnes, Devon, the three-bedroom Greenflow was built to Passivhaus standards, with triple-glazing and a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system. Its facade and structure are formed of cork and Douglas fir, with interiors using bamboo, microcement and cork. Two large balconies wrap around the house, and the ground-floor balcony steps down into a forest garden with a stream. It is for sale at £595,000 through The Modern House.
In Bath, Somerset, a mid-century semi-detached house with four bedrooms stands out for its dark terracotta tiles hung on the front, a design popular in the 1960s and 1970s to add interest to plain houses. Following a renovation, the property has a new roof, electrics and central heating, with soft pink tiles in the bathroom. It is priced at £650,000, also through The Modern House.
Why it matters for agents and clerks
For letting agents and inventory clerks, the gallery is a reminder of the range of specialist materials and construction types now appearing on the market, from Passivhaus MVHR systems and triple-glazing to cork, microcement and timber-effect cladding. All warrant careful note-taking during inspections and inventory preparation.
Source: Guardian Property