C20 Holiday Stays

Modernist House, Bridlington, Yorkshire

Architect: Tim French
Location: Bridlington, Yorkshire Sleeps: 5

1954

Architect designed light filled house overlooking the North Sea, available on Airbnb.

Recommended by: Wendy Akers, C20 Society volunteer

“My husband and I stayed here in August 2021 and had a fantastic time.  The house lived up to all our expectations; the architecture and interior decor were wonderful and the wrap around garden was beautiful. We booked because of the house rather than for the location, but we were pleasantly surprised by Bridlington itself. There is a fantastic old town, about a half hour walk from the centre with some fabulous Georgian buildings, great craft shops and lovely restaurants and cafes. And, of course, the beach at Bridlington is magnificent. The house is also ideally situated to walk along the cliffs to Flamborough. It was very good value to stay there and our Airbnb hosts Natalie and Stephen were extremely friendly and helpful.”

Newly qualified architect Tim French was asked to design the house by a friend and fellow architect, the only stipulations being that it should be modern and that it should maximise the sea views.

It certainly delivers on both fronts with a striking Modernist design and show stopping living space on the first floor featuring a double height floor to ceiling panel of windows running its entire length, providing dramatic views across the sea to where the cliffs of Flamborough Head curve into sight. And when you are not looking at the view there is a large wood burning stove and 28” flat screen TV to occupy your attention along with some fabulous mid century furniture as well as some original built in pieces.  A sunroom/studio and double bedroom are also on this floor.

When you arrive, you are greeted by a double height hallway – with a beautifully detailed  open staircase – which flows through into an open plan dining area and kitchen.  Two double bedrooms overlooking the beautiful garden and a retro turquoise bathroom are also on the ground floor.

Other design features include a butterfly roof and original wooden panelling. A short walk takes you to Bridlington harbour while nearby to the north is RSPB Bempton.

Having never seen the house he designed, Tim knocked on the door one day in 2007 when he was in Bridlington researching a book on T E Lawrence.  In a letter to the current owners, he wrote: “I was extremely pleased to find the house in such an unaltered state.  I had feared that in the houses’s 53 years of existence, one of the previous owners would surely have wanted to put his ‘mark’ on the property.  But no, it is still just as I remembered it, apart from the Studio extension at first floor level, which is quite appropriate and is in harmony with the overall concept.”

At the time, Tim was working in Hull with the City Architect, specialising in commercial buildings. This was his first residential building.