Building in Context: New Housing at an Historic Mill
Saltcote Mill is an historic maltings on the Blackwater river estuary on the Essex coast. The site is of great importance to local wildlife as well as having historic significance.
The mill was to be converted to residential use, but its viability depended upon the development of new homes around it. Inkpen Downie were commissioned to design the new houses after the developer was unable to obtain support from the local authority for an earlier scheme.
Our successful design followed the principles of the English Heritage/CABE policy of "Building in Context". This states that a new building in an historic context should:
- Relate well to the geography and history of a place
- Sit happily in the existing context
- Respect the scale of neighbouring buildings and retain important views
- Use materials and techniques of the same high quality as the existing buildings
- Create new views and relationships, which add to the setting.
Saltcote Mill demonstrates how good quality design can bring financial success and contribute to the preservation of an historic building for future generations.
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