Location
Exquisite, award-winning family home, ideally located on a quiet residential road, a short walk from the city centre
Showcasing award-wining architecture and intelligent design, this is an exquisite family home, ideally located on a quiet residential road, a short walk from the city centre.
Winner of the prestigious 2023 RIBA prize in architecture, Cross house provides a wonderful mix of old and new, with original Victorian gothic features (designed by renowned churchbuilder James Harrison in the late 1850's) beautifully complemented by innovative design and modern convenience. The end result is a stylish and manageable modern home, yet packed with character, all within a stone's throw of the city centre.
The property opens into the original hallway, given a modern twist with pink banister and painted floorboards, a feature which continues throughout much of the house. Two large front reception rooms offer versatile living space, with features including bay window, original fireplaces and wood burning stove. These rooms are currently arranged as a sitting room and a gym/dining room, but are easily reconfigurable depending on a tenant's requirements.
The heart of the house is the ground floor extension to the rear, where the owners, in collaboration with Scott Donald architects, have created a very special, open-plan indoor/outdoor living, dining and entertaining space. Home to the luxurious kitchen, with dining and lounge areas, the showpiece is the 11m wall of crittall glazing which floods the space with natural light; lattice-patterned to complement the front facade, fully opening via sliding doors to extend the living space into the tropical walled garden. It's a fabulous piece of architecture and design and makes for a wonderful, sociable family space. This section of the house continues past a utility room and wet room into another versatile space - currently a playroom, but equally suitable as a snug, study or ground floor bedroom.
Upstairs, four double bedrooms enjoy lovely high ceilings and views over Chester's rooftops through signature windows. There are two stylish bathrooms, newly updated.
Externally to the front, the gravel driveway provides parking for at least 3 vehicles. To the rear, the tropical walled garden is private, secure and South-West facing, perfect for afternoon and evening sun.