Dorset Beach House is a minimalist residence located in Swanage, United Kingdom, designed by Architecture for London. This early twentieth-century timber-framed beach house refurbishment on the Ballard Estate demonstrates how historic structures can achieve contemporary thermal performance through fabric-first retrofit strategies while maintaining visual estate character. The seafront location within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty imposes planning constraints that preserve the estate’s original massing and detailing established when structures evolved from 1907 tented military encampment to First World War timber-framed barracks later converted into homes.
The client acquired the property for its Swanage Bay edge location providing kitesurfing access, driving the refurbishment toward creating warm light-filled interiors through natural material emphasis including timber flooring, terracotta, and lime plaster. This material palette introduces tactile warmth appropriate for coastal occupation while supporting breathable construction assemblies that manage moisture inherent in beachfront environments.
The fabric-first approach prioritizes thermal envelope and window improvements through natural wood fiber and cork insulation combined with comprehensive airtightness strategy. This methodology addresses heat loss through building skin before considering mechanical systems, reflecting contemporary retrofit best practices that maximize passive performance. The natural insulation materials provide thermal resistance while maintaining vapor permeability essential for timber-frame construction longevity.
Locally manufactured British Western Red Cedar cladding replacement ensures material durability appropriate for coastal salt exposure while minimizing embodied carbon through regional sourcing. Triple-glazed windows provide thermal performance meeting current standards while the black linseed paint finish offers breathable weatherproofing that protects external timber without trapping moisture that might cause rot. This paint selection maintains the estate’s visual character established through local planning policy.
