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Aerial view of a coastal town with rows of pastel-colored houses, narrow streets, small boats on the water, and a harbor with docks.

Contemporary hillside home renovation in Dartmouth

Home › Case Studies › Contemporary hillside home renovation in Dartmouth

Aluminium bifold doorsBalustradestheEDGE2.0Tilt and turn windows

Sitting at the mouth of the River Dart and sheltered by steep hillsides, the beautiful town of Dartmouth has long been a popular spot for those escaping to the coast. Built into the side of one of those steep hillsides this incredible house is just one-storey high at the kerbside and yet extends over four floors facing the river.

With panoramic views across the water and Kingswear on the opposite bank beyond, the project centred on using glazing to connect the interior spaces with their dramatic coastal setting, while responding to the technical challenges of a constrained site.

Making the most of the view – and the light

With the rear of the house built into the hillside the brief to BBH Architects for the renovation and remodel focused on maximising natural light and uninterrupted views. Large expanses of glass were required across multiple levels of the home, framing the views and on the lower floors providing the connection with the terraces. To achieve this, a combination of IDSystems aluminium sliding doors and bifold doors were specified, carefully selected to suit the layout and function of each floor.

To protect the doors and windows from the harsh environment so close to salt water, the aluminium frames were pre-anodised and powder-coated with a marine grade paint finish that offers superior corrosion resistance.

Four levels, three different solutions

On the lowest level bifold doors were selected to provide a connection between the open plan kitchen space and large terrace. Whilst the middle and ground floor levels feature narrow-framed theEDGE2.0 sliding doors that maximise the amount of glass. The minimal sightlines of the system, along with the frameless glass balustrades ensure the river views remain almost uninterrupted.

The middle floor includes the main living space, with the furniture arranged to make the most of the view, whilst on the ground floor level above the master-bedroom enjoys stunning views over the rooftops and down towards the estuary thanks to a second three-panel set of theEDGE2.0 doors.

The house’s second and third bedrooms are on the extended upper floor under the eaves of the roof. The house has been carefully expanded towards the road, creating room for an additional bedroom whilst allowing for full-height tilt & turn windows and a gable that helps to draw light deep into the rooms.

A lot of planning and a challenging installation

The installation itself presented a significant challenge. Due to the home’s hillside position, access to the site was only possible from the rear, the home’s third floor. Careful planning and coordination were essential to ensure each door system could be safely transported and installed without compromising the building or glazing.

In addition the incredibly narrow lanes, limited parking and steep gradients of the roads around Dartmouth presented challenges for vehicles, but IDSystems’ experience with complex and restricted-access projects proved crucial in delivering the scheme successfully.

A stunning finished home

The completed home is a clear demonstration of how high-performance aluminium glazing can enhance both architecture and lifestyle. Working with local architects and contractors the owners have created a home that provides expansive views, clean contemporary lines and a strong indoor-outdoor connection, while the systems deliver the thermal performance and durability required for an exposed coastal environment.

This Dartmouth project highlights how tailored glazing solutions, combined with expert planning and installation, can unlock the full potential of even the most challenging locations.

Location: Dartmouth, Devon
Contractor: TJD Construction
Architects: BBH Architects
Photos: Chris Taylor Photography

Gallery

A bedroom with a large window overlooking a coastal bay, with houses on a hillside, boats on the water, and a small vanity desk to the right.
A bedroom with a large glass sliding door opens to a scenic view of a marina, hillside houses, and greenery across a body of water.
A row of modern and traditional multi-story houses with large windows and balconies, facing a patio and garden area, on a sloped hillside.
Aerial view of a coastal town with colorful houses on a hillside, boats docked at the waterfront, and green hills in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Coastal town with colorful houses on a hillside, a marina with boats, and green fields in the background under a clear sky.
Glass sliding doors on a modern building, reflecting nearby houses and greenery, with potted plants on the tiled patio.
Modern living room with blue sofa, tiled floor, and large glass doors opening to a patio with views of hills, water, and boats. Curtains feature a geometric pattern.
Modern living room with a blue sofa and chair, potted plants, and glass doors opening to a patio overlooking a hillside town and marina.
Aerial view of a coastal town with houses on a hillside, a river estuary, boats on the water, and green hills under a clear blue sky.
Modern living room with tiled floor, blue sofa, and teal chair, featuring sliding glass doors opening to a patio with a view of a coastal town and hills.
A modern patio with potted plants opens to a balcony overlooking a river, sailboats, and green hills under a partly cloudy sky.
A modern living room with a light blue sofa and turquoise chair opens to a patio with potted plants and a view of a harbor, hills, and houses under a clear sky.
A balcony with two teal chairs and a table with drinks overlooks a coastal town, marina, and hills under a clear sky.
A modern terrace with two chairs and a table set with wine overlooks a marina and hills, viewed through a glass door.
Colorful houses line a hillside above a waterfront street where people walk along the edge of the water, with small boats floating nearby.
A large window in an attic room opens to a view of a river estuary with sailboats, hills, and houses on the opposite shore.
View of a coastal river with sailboats, hillside houses, and greenery, seen through an open window under a partly cloudy sky.
View through a glass door showing a modern interior with stairs and a console table, and an outdoor patio with potted plants overlooking water and green hills.
A modern living room with a light blue sofa, decorative cushions, a small side table with a globe, and open glass doors leading to a patio with plants.
A bedroom with a large window overlooking a coastal bay, with houses on a hillside, boats on the water, and a small vanity desk to the right.
A bedroom with a large glass sliding door opens to a scenic view of a marina, hillside houses, and greenery across a body of water.
A row of modern and traditional multi-story houses with large windows and balconies, facing a patio and garden area, on a sloped hillside.
Aerial view of a coastal town with colorful houses on a hillside, boats docked at the waterfront, and green hills in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Coastal town with colorful houses on a hillside, a marina with boats, and green fields in the background under a clear sky.
Glass sliding doors on a modern building, reflecting nearby houses and greenery, with potted plants on the tiled patio.
Modern living room with blue sofa, tiled floor, and large glass doors opening to a patio with views of hills, water, and boats. Curtains feature a geometric pattern.
Modern living room with a blue sofa and chair, potted plants, and glass doors opening to a patio overlooking a hillside town and marina.
Aerial view of a coastal town with houses on a hillside, a river estuary, boats on the water, and green hills under a clear blue sky.
Modern living room with tiled floor, blue sofa, and teal chair, featuring sliding glass doors opening to a patio with a view of a coastal town and hills.
A modern patio with potted plants opens to a balcony overlooking a river, sailboats, and green hills under a partly cloudy sky.
A modern living room with a light blue sofa and turquoise chair opens to a patio with potted plants and a view of a harbor, hills, and houses under a clear sky.
A balcony with two teal chairs and a table with drinks overlooks a coastal town, marina, and hills under a clear sky.
A modern terrace with two chairs and a table set with wine overlooks a marina and hills, viewed through a glass door.
Colorful houses line a hillside above a waterfront street where people walk along the edge of the water, with small boats floating nearby.
A large window in an attic room opens to a view of a river estuary with sailboats, hills, and houses on the opposite shore.
View of a coastal river with sailboats, hillside houses, and greenery, seen through an open window under a partly cloudy sky.
View through a glass door showing a modern interior with stairs and a console table, and an outdoor patio with potted plants overlooking water and green hills.
A modern living room with a light blue sofa, decorative cushions, a small side table with a globe, and open glass doors leading to a patio with plants.

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